McDermott + Bull has successfully placed James Traynor as the Vice President of Operational Finance and Michael Gorely as Senior Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at Valence Surface Technologies.
As the Vice President of Operational Finance, James will be responsible across the company’s sites for core finance responsibilities, including providing leadership and personnel development to the site finance managers as well as deploying the company’s financial policies in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, he will drive the budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and operation standards at the site level. He will deploy systems and processes to provide financial analysis at the highest standard, enabling timely strategic and operational decision making at the site and executive level.
James is a results-oriented finance professional with significant experience in all aspects of financial management, including controllership, financial planning and analysis, and treasury. He is operations-centric and is viewed as an invaluable partner to the general management team wherever he has served. Most recently, he served as the Vice President of Finance at Mason Controls, a business unit of TransDigm Company. He earned his BBA in finance from Stephen F Austin University, his MBA in finance and operations from Indiana University-Kelley School of Business, and his CPA license in the state of Texas.
As Senior Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, Michael will work closely with the executive team to deliver comprehensive analyses and documentation for reporting to the company’s board of directors and other financing parties. He will also work closely with operations leadership, acting as a key finance partner to the President and Chief Operating Officer to evaluate monthly financial and operating results. He will play a key role in analyzing variances versus budgets and forecasts, developing new forecasting tools at both the site and corporate level, and identifying cost efficiencies and related improvements.  
Michael is a strong finance and operations leader. He is accomplished in building and leading strategic planning, financial management, and business operations in global publicly traded companies and startup environments. He is a creative problem solver who drives continuous improvement and transformation across the organization, involving automation of revenue forecasting, data aggregation and analysis, and BI reporting. Most recently, he served as Manager of FP+A at Xperi. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration at California State University, Northridge and a graduate certificate in finance at UCLA.
Valence Surface Technologies is a full-service surface finishing company specializing in the commercial aerospace, defense, space, and satellite industries. With nine strategically located centers of excellence across the United States, Valence provides a start to finish solution from NDT and chemical processing to paint and subassembly. Currently headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Valence is positioned for growth and is highly acquisitive.
These executive searches were completed by McDermott + Bull Co-Founder + Managing Partner Chris Bull, Director Anne Terry, and Senior Executive Recruiter Jessica Combs.