Strauss Financial Services

Our Services

Our primary focus is to provide assistance to entrepreneurs and leaders of early stage and small companies based in Israel with fundamental and basic financial management and related services which they do not have internally. We can provide part-time CFO/Finance Director services, assistance needed to help understand and manage cash requirements, preparation of reports that allow managers of early stage and small companies and their investors to understand how their business is doing as well as find and/or oversee the professional service providers your business needs at each stage of its growth. We also assist our clients with short term or one-time projects such as assessing procedures and controls, selecting and implementing a bookkeeping system, assistance with employee benefits and insurance needs and more. We understand that the entrepreneur has lots to do with developing products and customers - we are here to help with the back office headaches that, while not fun, must get done!

Larger companies can also benefit by using our services to supplement internal finance staff for special projects when internal resources are insufficient.

We are also available to assist foreign non-Israeli based companies with identifying potential start up investment opportunities as well as financial and operational matters related to the establishment and/or oversight of an Israel based subsidiary or affiliate, due diligence on potential acquisition targets and other matters. We can also assist with the closure of Israeli entities in the unfortunate event that it is necessary,

Among the services we can provide your company with are:

Part-time CFO/Finance Director services
Preparation of Financial Models and Projections for Investor Decks
Cash Flow Planning, Projections and Burn Analysis
Preparation of Management and Financial Reports
Budget Development, Monitoring Variances & Projections
Development of Policies and Procedures
Internal Controls Gap Analysis and Closure of Control Weaknesses
Finding, oversight of or coordination with auditors, outsource bookkeepers, payroll providers and foreign statutory reporting and tax preparers.
HR and office management related services for foreign owned entities
Supplier payments and bank transfers
Translation of Hebrew documents

Assistance with:

Contract Review and Negotiation
Connecting start ups and potential investors
Business Plans and Investor Presentations
Employee Benefits insurance broker selection
Special projects
Due Diligence
Transition from outsourced to internal finance function
Closing of Israeli entities
Recruitment of Finance and Accounting staff at various levels

About Me

Alan Strauss

After earning my BS in Accounting (with high honors) from Yeshiva University in N.Y., I began my career with Ernst & Young in their New York office. At EY, I audited clients in a variety of industries including financial services, retail, manufacturing, non-profits and government. During this time, I earned my CPA license. I then moved to MetLife where I held a number of accounting and budget related positions in their Pensions Department ultimately becoming Director of Financial Management for MetLife’s 401K services business. In this role, I played a key part in growing the business from about 80 employees and #28 in our market to approximately 1,000 employees and #3 in our market. This growth came primarily via acquisitions during a short 3 year period. In this position, I also had operational and business development responsibilities. During this time I also earned my MBA in Corporate Finance. Later, I joined the management team of the Corporate Finance Department of TIAA CREF, one of the largest Pension and Insurance related companies in the U.S. While there, I was responsible for various budget and expense analysis functions for the Company's various product lines and other corporate matters.

In 2003 I moved to Israel. Since then I have been enmeshed in Israel’s hi-tech manufacturing scene holding financial management positions at large multinationals such as NICE Systems where I worked on implementing Sarbanes Oxley compliance and SEC reporting and Lumenis where I served as Global Corporate Controller and Director of Finance. At Lumenis, in addition to being responsible for external SEC reporting and overseeing accounting teams around the world, I played a leading role in the Company's multi-year financial restatement effort resulting in the company being eligible to have its shares trade again on US exchanges. In addition, among other achievements, I successfully re-established accounting functions and statutory compliance at various subsidiaries around the world, established improved procedures and internal controls as well as a SOX compliance program, was principal technical accounting director, and played a managerial role in implementing a global ERP system.

Since 2009, I have focused on much smaller companies and have served as the senior financial executive at several smaller companies (Axell Wireless, Lumio Ltd/Inc and ZORE) ranging in size from an early stage start up to a small subsidiary (30 people) of a foreign owned company. In these companies, I have been responsible for the full range of accounting and finance activities from building strategic plans and investor presentations to cash planning & management, monthly, quarterly & annual reporting, inventory management and valuation, supply chain matters, transfer pricing, dealing with customers and suppliers, etc. as well as payroll, HR, legal, insurance matters, contract review, facilities and office management, Israel & U.S. tax compliance, and more.

Since December 2018, I have served as Finance and Site Director for an Israeli R&D subsidiary of a UK conglomerate on a part-time basis.

During my experience at these companies, I have developed relationships with key people at companies providing a broad spectrum of services needed to successfully operate and fund your business. As a result, if you require professional assistance in an area which I cannot personally provide, odds are that I can connect you with expert professionals who can meet your needs.

Finally, during 2018 I served as a mentor to several start ups at the MassChallenge Israel accelerator. I have also been an Instructor of Financial Accounting at Me'ohr Womens College in Jerusalem.

Testimonials

"Alan joined our company, ZORE, at an early stage (seed, pre-revenue) as our first part-time CFO and the difference was felt immediately. Alan brought with him years of financial and managerial experience, meticulousness and order which are often very lacking in entrepreneurs at the start of their business endeavors. It is impossible to overstate the very significant contributions he made to our company. Alan is a dedicated and talented professional of the first order. Despite his vast experience and knowledge, he worked and dealt with everyone at all levels in a respectful and pleasant manner. I recommend to any company that is considering engaging his services to do so - you will not regret it."

Yonatan Zimmerman

ZORE, co-founder

"I had the pleasure to work with Alan Strauss when I was VP & General Counsel at Lumenis Ltd. I was impressed by his knowledge and understanding of the complicated issues that we had to deal with because of the company's situation at the time, and of his professional and practical approach to resolving those issues. I look forward to working with Alan again should the opportunity arise and would recommend to those in need of financial management assistance to utilize his services."

Bill Weisel

General Counsel, Sarine Technologies Ltd.

"I worked very closely with Alan for years at Lumenis. He is a top notch financial professional who is very dedicated and gets the job done even under the most difficult of circumstances. Alan built and successfully led a highly effective team of finance professionals in multiple locations around the world. He was respected throughout all levels of the company for his knowledge, dedication, broad business approach and ethics. I would highly recommend use of Alan's financial services."

Gal Eisenberg

COO, LifeBond

"Alan and I worked together at Lumio where he was V.P. Finance and I was CTO during very difficult times for the company. Nevertheless, and with very few resources at his disposal, Alan maintained a professional and dedicated outlook throughout. Whether dealing with financial, legal, HR or operational matters, Alan took on whatever needed to get done from senior management level tasks to low level, manual work. I have little doubt that he will provide his clients with the same dedication and professionalism to getting the job done which I saw during my experience working with him."

Klony Lieberman

Co-founder and VP R&D,

Six Degrees Space Ltd.

"Alan & I worked together at Axell Wireless (now Coham Wireless) for several years. Alan came on board upon the Company being acquired by our UK parent and their looking for someone to assume a senior finance & managerial role in Axell Israel LTD, our subsidiary of about 30 people . Alan managed all aspects of finance, HR, legal and many aspects of our operations in a most professional manner. He was key in closing all post acquisition issues and successfully migrating to our parent's ERP system. He was well respected and liked at all levels of the company both in Israel and the UK for his honesty, professionalism, dedication, knowledge and friendly manner. Initially I was working as General Manager of Axell Israel and later as Director for Strategic Planning and EXEC team member of Axell UK . In both of my roles, I enjoyed working with Alan and knew I could always rely on his professional support and cooperation. I would be happy to serve as a reference to anyone considering using his services."

Rami Hasarchi

" I had the distinct pleasure of working with Alan on a tight schedule on a complicated financial plan. Alan proved a valuable asset, as he quickly learned the situation, provided valuable feedback, and constructed tools that were extremely useful when building the new plan.

Alan is a true professional - nothing slips by him and he has professional integrity I can only admire. He is a devoted team player and goes all out on every task. I look forward to the next opportunity we will have to work together. "

Rowee Benbenishty

CEO

Sesame Enable Ltd.

"Alan has a strong financial background that he is able to easily leverage to work with startups. It was a good experience working with Alan. Many thanks for your hard work!"

Anuja Sonalker, Ph.D

CEO

Steer Tech

Welcome to Strauss Financial Services