James Yang

Irvine, CA, United States

Member since September 14, 2016

James is a seasoned finance professional with broad experience in pricing and strategic analysis, FP&A, investment banking, and investment management. He leads AT&T's Mobility & Entertainment Group's pricing analytics and insights capabilities. Previously, he built a robust, complex financial model for a $100+ million global capital project at Capital Group. He joined the Toptal network to work on challenging projects with talented people.

Three Statement Operating Model Financial Modeling Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)Pricing Analysis Valuation Equity Research Market Research Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)Show more

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Career Highlights

Pricing Analytics & Insights
AT&T
Financial Strategist
Capital Group
Head of FP&A
Spark Networks

Education

MBA
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
BBA
Emory University

Select Certifications

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
CFA Institute

Case studies

Turo Operating Model
- Financial Modeling
- Operations
Solvency Analysis
- Financial Modeling
- Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
- Communication
Key Performance Indicators
- Financial Reporting
- Financial Modeling
- Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
TripAdvisor
- Stock Analysis
- Financial Modeling
- Valuation

Industry Expertise

Financial Services
Technology

Other Expertise

Cost Reduction & Optimization
Financial Modeling
Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
Pricing Analysis
Three Statement Operating Model
Valuation

Employment

Pricing Analytics & Insights
2017 - PRESENT
AT&T
- Developed various pricing strategies for AT&T Mobility to drive revenue, maximize flow share/market share, and reduce churn for a $100+ billion annual revenue portfolio.
- Created business cases and led pricing analysis for Unlimited and Mobile Share plans, affecting 50+ million subscribers.
- Revamped monthly reporting capabilities to enhance the tracking of key metrics: Gross Adds, Migrations, single-line vs. multi-line, CRU/IRU/CON, ARPA, ARPU, LPG, LTV, CIPGA, OI, Migration step-up/step-down, breakeven, lift, etc.
- Built dynamic pricing models for new and existing plans, affecting 23+ million groups and 68+ million lines.
- Created a business case for removing the individual responsible user (IRU) discount to increase operating income net of incremental churn.
Financial Strategist
2016 - 2017
Capital Group
- Created optimal pricing and cost models for American Funds Service Company, affecting millions of accounts responsible for generating hundreds of millions in annual revenue while minimizing impact to thousands of FTEs and fund expense ratios.
- Built a robust, complex model that runs scenario analysis for Project Falcon—a $100+ million company-wide fixed income project involving hundreds of people across IT and Investment Operations (IO)—saving the project team 400+ hours.
- Conducted an in-depth pricing strategy analysis for Retirement Plan Services (RPS) and implemented a comprehensive pricing change to increase the contribution margin by double digits within two years.
- Completed an in-depth cost study across five legal entities for strategic sourcing and procurement that is responsible for managing and influencing over $1 billion in annual third-party spend across Capital Group.
- Implemented a new global policy for identifying at-risk vendors and manage a team of five analysts to oversee all the financial assessments conducted by Global Finance (~3-5 per month).
Focus areas: Financial Modeling & Valuation, Pricing Analysis, Strategy
Head of FP&A
2015 - 2016
Spark Networks
- Led the development of the company’s 2016 annual plan, supporting business leaders with analytics and insight to help define financial operating priorities.
- Built a five-year lender model and secured a new, more favorable $10 million credit facility than with the prior lender.
- Conducted due diligence and provided financial modeling and analysis for new initiatives and acquisitions. Acquired Smooch Labs, owner of JSwipe, for $7 million and successfully integrated the company’s financials.
- Spearheaded FP&A efforts at a global public company, owner and operator of ChristianMingle and JDate.
- Contributed key elements as the finance partner responsible for strategic and operations planning, investment planning, forecasting, insightful analysis, and timely reporting.
- Re-engineered company-wide planning processes to significantly improve forecasting accuracy and accountability.
Focus areas: Financial Planning & Analysis, Budgeting, Mergers & Acquisitions
Senior Associate
2014 - 2015
Duff & Phelps, LLC
- Developed and communicated complex financial analysis through fairness opinions, solvency opinions, and other valuations to guide decision makers in corporate finance transactions.
- Created presentations summarizing the analysis and conclusions supporting the opinion being provided to the client.
- Performed company, industry, market, and competitor research and due diligence.
- Mentored, managed, and developed staff, including analysts and associates.
Focus areas: Transaction Opinions
Investment Associate
2012 - 2014
Sirius Partners, L.P.
- Supported the CIO and founder by analyzing equity and credit investments across sectors with a small to mid-cap and special situations emphasis.
- Created financial models and evaluated companies based on asset quality, normalized earnings, and free cash flow generation informed through proprietary industry research and frequent management interactions.
- Recommended and monitored portfolio positions that included CPG companies, REITs, pharmaceutical companies, payment service providers, etc., to senior partners on a weekly basis, resulting in a 61% return in 2013.
- Conducted industry and company competitive analysis and extensive third-party research with suppliers, customers, and competitors to identify attractive investment opportunities across assets globally.
- Developed and maintained new and existing analytical tools used for performance and portfolio analysis.
Focus areas: Equity Investing, Credit Investing, Small Cap, Mid Cap, Special Situations
Research Analyst Intern
2011 - 2011
Nuveen Asset Management
- Performed fundamental credit analysis on bond issues and sectors, and presented recommendations to senior research analysts and portfolio managers on a credit and price (spread) basis.
- Analyzed financial statements, collateral, structure, competitive and industry trends, and security provisions for new issues, and surveilled and updated information for current holdings.
- Interviewed all NAM business line managers in Chicago and Minneapolis to identify specific needs and processes, and implemented changes to NAM’s firm-wide business continuity plan.
Focus areas: Credit Analysis

Education

MBA in Finance, Accounting, and Economics
2010 - 2012
University of Chicago Booth School of Business - Chicago, IL
BBA in Finance
2003 - 2006
Emory University - Atlanta, GA