We are pleased to announce that Justin Lammert recently joined HBM as a Finance Manager, reporting to Don Roberts. We had a chance recently to sit down with Justin and learn more about what brought him to HBM, what charges him up about the platform and some of the big accounting changes on the horizon over the next couple of years.
Please tell us a little about your professional background.
JL: Prior to joining HBM, I worked in public accounting with a global Big 4 firm, most recently as an Assurance Manager. I served a number of publicly-traded and privately-held clients in a variety of industries during my time in public accounting, so in addition to audits, I also worked on complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and financing arrangements.
That range of exposure gives me a strong foundation in accounting and financial reporting as well as experience in financial analysis, project management and people management, all of which will help me add value in my role at HBM.
What interested you about the opportunity with HBM?
I’m really excited to be part of a growing, dynamic organization with a value-driven culture. From the moment I stepped in the door at HBM’s office, the passion and enthusiasm of the HBM team were obvious. I love that not only has HBM come a long way in a relatively short time but also that there’s a vision for continued growth and refinement of the firm’s model.
I’m also energized by the sense of purpose here, particularly around our integrity as investors, the safety of all our employees and our responsibility to the communities where we operate.
What do you foresee as the top accounting challenges and opportunities that lie ahead?
The new revenue recognition standard (which takes effect in 2019) and the new lease accounting standard (which takes effect in 2020) will be big areas of focus in the next couple of years. We’ll have to analyze data and processes across the portfolio and navigate many technical complexities.
With that said, the requirement to look at these areas is also an opportunity to streamline processes and implement enterprise-wide solutions. I’m excited to dig in over the next few months and get to know the portfolio companies and the unique characteristics of each of their businesses.
I look forward to working with our portfolio company finance teams to make these transitions as smooth, painless and ultimately successful as possible.
When you take off your CPA hat, what else do you like to do?
My wife and I enjoy scuba diving on vacation – preferably in tropical destinations. And I’ve played the piano since I was a kid. My favorites to play over the last few years have been Ben Folds and Scott Joplin. Quite different eras, I realize, but both styles present a challenge and have a lot of character!