Franchise Consultants
At HORNE, our consultants leverage their extensive network to provide operational, financial and accounting advisory services tailored to franchise clients. Through strategic insights and hands-on support, we help businesses optimize their financial and operational performance.
Our consultants are the glue to what we do and help to ensure a seamless experience with HORNE.
Accounting Advisory
Accuracy | Compliance | Support
Our accounting consultants oversee the financial accounting and reporting process, ensuring compliance and accuracy in the financials. They assist with complex transactions, create schedules for timely and precise account reviews, perform loan covenant calculations, support audits and financial reviews and act as a liaison between clients and HORNE’s financial compilation team.
Financial Advisory
Strategy | Insights | Growth
Our finance consultants offer high-level financial strategy, planning and forecasting services. They analyze financial data to drive profitability, manage cash flow and provide insights for sustainable growth. Their expertise includes developing financial strategies, overseeing financial planning and reporting, succession planning, store split analyses and delivering in-depth financial analysis to support business objectives, to name a few.
Operational Advisory
Efficiency | Optimization | Process Advisors
Operational consultants work closely with clients to identify opportunities for increased efficiency, optimized processes and improved team management. By refining operational workflows and implementing industry best practices, they help businesses streamline their operations and drive long-term success.
Charles Arinder
Charles has over 15 years of experience and specializes in operational consulting and financial advisory for franchisees. Prior to HORNE, Charles was an owner and operational leader in the restaurant industry. He has experience developing tools and strategies that drove operational efficiency and profitability at both corporate and store levels. Since joining HORNE in 2021, he has focused on helping his clients understand and improve their financial performance through tailored insights and provides executive-level guidance. Charles holds a BA in accounting and finance from The University of Southern Mississippi.
Financial Advisory
Operational Advisory
Jana Harden
Jana has over 30 years of experience in retail and QSR operations. She specializes in optimizing business performance through effective expense management, data-driven analysis and turning financial data into impactful initiatives. As a Market Operations Manager she implemented expense reduction initiatives that saved over $60,000 average per store annually. Dedicated to enhancing operational efficiency, Jana leverages benchmarking and precise analysis to support informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
Operational Advisory
Kelsey Rogers
Kelsey has over 11 years of experience in the accounting industry. She serves as an accounting consultant for large franchisees, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, timely financial reports. Kelsey manages complex technical accounting issues, provides strategic advice on internal controls and oversees audits to ensure compliance. She builds strong client relationships, proactively addressing their needs and offering insights for informed decision-making. Her role emphasizes cross-departmental collaboration to drive efficient and high-impact financial operations. Kelsey holds a BS in Accounting from Belhaven University.
Accounting Advisory
Alec Stieffel
Alec has over seven years of experience in operational accounting. Throughout his career, Alec has demonstrated expertise in financial management, reporting and strategic planning. His strong background in accounting and finance, paired with his leadership skills, has allowed him to consistently drive improvements in financial processes and team performance. Alec is dedicated to leveraging his knowledge to contribute to the growth and success of any organization he works with. He holds an MBA from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a BS in finance from Nicholls State University.
Accounting Advisory
Mike Bozarth
Michael has over 30 years of experience and serves as an accounting consultant at HORNE. He has extensive experience in overseeing financial operations and ensuring corporate compliance. Areas of expertise include financial reporting, budgeting and audits for large multi-unit franchisees. Michael excels in leading disbursement, accounts receivable and payroll functions, ensuring accuracy in financial transactions and timely reporting. He holds a BS in accounting from George Mason University.
Accounting Advisory
David Fugol
David has over 30 years of experience and serves as an accounting consultant for large franchisees. He navigates complex technical accounting challenges, provides financial insights to management, advises on strengthening internal controls and oversees audits to ensure compliance. David takes pride in building strong relationships with management, becoming an integral part of their teams to understand their needs and deliver strategic, actionable insights. David holds an associate degree in accounting from Nashville State Community College.
Accounting Advisory
Sadie Benoit
Sadie brings over three years of experience in accounting and focused franchise operations. Her expertise includes financial analysis, budgeting and performance reporting for her clients. Sadie is committed to delivering actionable insights that help business owners optimize operations and maximize profitability. Sadie holds a BS in accounting from Nicholls State University as well as an MS degree in business administration.
Financial Advisory
Operational Advisory
Mike Vaughn
Mike has over 10 years of experience in franchise accounting and consulting. He specializes in operational and accounting advisory services, cash flow and EBITDA analysis and process improvement strategies. He navigates complex technical accounting challenges, provides financial insights to management, advises on strengthening internal controls and oversees audits to ensure compliance. Working in the health club and fast casual dining space, Mike is skilled in producing financial statements with an emphasis on 4-wall EBITDA to optimize capital investment and M&A opportunities. Mike holds a BBA from Middle Tennessee State University.Â
Operational Advisory
Joelle Diamond
Joelle has over 20 years of accounting experience and serves as an accounting consultant. She prioritizes financial accuracy, enhancing efficiency and optimizing financial performance. She serves as a high-level resource for financial management and reporting processes, assists with annual budgeting and forecasting, completes loan covenant calculations and analyzes financial information for decision making purposes. She acts as the primary liaison with the external auditors, ensuring audit readiness and providing audit requests. Prior to HORNE, she served as a Regulatory Manager in the medical device industry, Internal Audit Manager in the biotechnology field and an Auditor in public accounting. Joelle holds a BA degree in accounting from Mississippi State University and an MBA from the University of South Mississippi.
Accounting Advisory
Scott Johnson
Scott has more than 15 years of financial and accounting experience. He joined the firm in 2021 and specializes in providing business insights and accounting services to multiunit franchisees. He also works to help his clients interpret financial data to improve their business processes by solving complex accounting issues and analyzing financial statements. Over the course of his career, he has worked on financial statement audits in various industries. He has also worked in industry, and understands the processes involved in a financial statement close each month. Scott graduated from Western Kentucky University with a BA in accounting and is a CPA.
Accounting Advisory
Financial Advisory
Hussain Ahmed
Hussain has more than nine years of accounting and focused franchise expertise and joined HORNE in 2019. Hussain has a keen interest in developing strong relationships with clients for long term sustainable growth. He excels in providing valuable insights using financials models, forecasting trends and taking account of macroeconomic factors. He is skilled at translating complex financial data into clear actionable recommendations, both short term and long term. Hussain holds a BA in accounting and finance from the University of South Alabama, an MS in Accounting from the University of South Alabama and is a CPA.
Financial Advisory
Operational Advisory
Ramsey Salloum
Ramsey is a Relationship Manager at HORNE, bringing over five years of experience in accounting with a strong focus on franchise operations. Before joining HORNE in 2022, he served as a financial analyst in Phoenix, Arizona, where he specialized in internal audits. Upon returning to the Gulf Coast, Ramsey transitioned into franchise-focused financial analysis at HORNE, leveraging his analytical expertise to support client success. His deep understanding of financial data and strategic insight now supports his role in client relationship management. Ramsey holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Mississippi.
Operational Advisory