Robert

Burkett, CPA

Robert Burkett has more than 25 years of experience as a hands-on finance professional with a focus on process improvements, modeling, and internal controls. He has helped clients manage risk through operational integrity. He has increased efficiency and effectiveness in corporate finance by developing organizational teams, establishing cross-functional relationships, streamlining processes, and implementing systems to support critical accounting initiatives. Burkett has helped solve critical accounting issues in asset reporting, transfer pricing, close efficiency and effectiveness, and policy and procedure alignment. 

At Abt Burkett will manage a variety of finance functions. He will oversee development and implementation of domestic and international tax and reporting processes to ensure compliance. For international projects, he will oversee the accounting, reporting, and reconciliation of all transactions. In addition, Burkett will be responsible for the set-up, maintenance, and control of all bank accounts and Abt’s risk management processes and insurance program. He also will oversee and coordinate all client audits and financial reporting and all country-level statutory compliance and financial reporting.

Before coming to Abt, Burkett was managing director of Kinetic CPA Group, a consulting firm specializing in tax, accounting, process improvement, and internal controls projects for mid to large-sized multi-national enterprises. Before that, he had been vice president and chief accounting officer for XO Communications, a $1.5 billion facilities-based telecommunications service provider, which Verizon acquired in 2017. Burkett also served in leadership positions at Sunrise Senior Living, Fannie Mae, Home Depot, MCI, Teleglobe, and Arthur Anderson.

Expertise

• Finance
• Taxes
• Internal controls
• Accounting
• Financial reporting
• Reconciliation
• Risk management
• Audits
• Compliance

Key Projects

• Led large multi-national through internal control improvements and general ledger accounting close efficiencies.
• Managed global tax and equity restructuring project for $2B multi-national.
• Led a team of 50 directors, managers, and staff through several significant process improvement initiatives. 
• Served as XO Communications’ primary lead for all finance-related integration efforts for Verizon’s acquisition of the company.