FDTI Executive Director

Margaret assumed ownership of the FDTI Best Practices Alliance (www.fdti.org), in July 2021 after managing the program for over 15 years. She is a business professional with diverse work experience demonstrating expertise in finance, human resources, training and development and marketing research.

Margaret worked with GE for 12 years in finance, accounting, FP&A, and human resources leadership roles and completed GE’s highly touted Financial Management Program. She executed many Six Sigma, business process acceleration, business transformation and work-out projects during her time with GE. Since leaving GE, Margaret led professional consulting engagements on behalf of Schiff Consulting Group with clients including American Express, CIGNA, JPMorgan Chase, Liberty Mutual Group, Kimberly-Clark, SNET and Warnaco, in realizing finance excellence.

Margaret is an exceptionally effective facilitator and holds professional certification in moderation and survey development.  Not only does she facilitate the FDTI Alliance but also designs and facilitates high energy, engaging co-creation and innovation sessions for clients such as Savvas Learning Company, Johnson & Johnson, Church & Dwight and LIXIL.

Margaret received her B.A. in International Relations, from Lafayette College. Continued education and training include Marketing Research/Facilitation Training from Burke Institute, and Survey Creation and Programming from Qualtrics. Margaret currently resides in Cheshire, Connecticut

FDTI Alliance founder and advisor

Jonathan is the author of over 70 articles and research studies on accounting, controls, performance management, CFO practice development, and financial and cost management.  Jonathan launched Schiff Consulting in 1989.  He founded, in 1995, of the Finance Development & Training Institute (www.FDTI.org), a best practices alliance composed of leading global companies, chaired by Johnson & Johnson.  He is also the founder of other best practice alliances, including the China Finance Institute.  He advised some of the most recognized global companies including: Airbus, AT&T, American Express, Cargill, CVS, Daimler, GE, General Mills, Kimberly-Clark, JPMorgan Chase, Johnson & Johnson, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Microsoft, Nabisco, NBC, Prudential, Turner Construction, and the US Mint.  Jonathan served as chairman of a Nasdaq-listed company’s audit committee. His unique viewpoint and perspective are cited in the national business media, including BusinessWeek, The Washington Post, USA Today and New York Times.

Jonathan received his Ph.D. from New York University.  Before completing his Master’s degree in accounting at NYU, he worked as a staff auditor with Price Waterhouse.  Jonathan collaborated with Bob Kaplan on the Harvard Business School case “MiCRUS: Activity-based Management for Business Turnaround.” He is also the author of The Conference Board Research Report, New Directions in Internal Auditing.  He was also lead author of the COSO sponsored study, Guidance on Internal Control.  The Wall Street Journal referred to Jonathan as “an authority on corporate internal controls.”  More recently Jonathan and his team authored Accounting Policy and Practice Portfolios on Segment Reporting and Contingent Liabilities for the Bureau of National Affairs.

Jon served as visiting professor of accounting at Columbia University’s School of Business and taught in their MBA and executive MBA programs.  He is professor of accounting at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is the developer of Smartool™, the first cloud-based skills, assessment, management and reporting program designed specifically for the CFO community.

FDTI Chairperson

Alicia Davis serves Dell Technologies as Sr. Director, CFO Org Learning and Development. In this capacity, Alicia and her team coordinate the Finance Internship Program, the Finance Development Program, the Accounting & Tax Development Programs, the Finance Rotation Program, the Finance ADVANCE program, the Finance Leadership Program and the Sr. Executive program.  Her team is also responsible for CFO University, Compliance Training, Strategy Cascade, Executive Mentor Circles Learning Maps by level, and delivering skillsets of the future.

Alicia has been with Dell for over twenty years in multiple capacities including sales support, operations, corporate functions in the US, Europe and Asia, and the design and implementation of Dell’s Financial and Reporting System.  Previous roles with Dell also include controllership, strategic planning, business support, people planning assistance, and cross-functional projects including the design and operation of Dell’s Ethics Department, now known as Dell Financial Services. Alicia served as the interim controller for Dell’s plant operations in Penang and coordinated media events in partnership with Corporate Communications globally for the CFO.

Prior to Dell, Alicia spent four years at Deloitte, and one year at Exxon/Mobil. Alicia served as the Assistant Treasurer for EMEA and APJ while based in England and as EMEA internal auditor and EMEA controller. Alicia has held finance management positions in the international segments as controller of Mexico, Japan, Australia, Czech Republic, Poland and the distributor sales division.

Alicia has provides continuous leadership around talent, diversity and development initiatives through the ONE council which sponsors the CFO Organization’s efforts including recruiting, internships, diversity, on-boarding, career enrichment, mentoring, competencies, product & brand certification, community service, winning culture and internal communications.

Educated at Western Kentucky University, Alicia holds the equivalent of a MPA in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant.