James S. J. Liao

Jim Liao provides finance, administration/back office and investment banking services (strategic planning, financial planning/budgeting, financial structuring and business financing) to HSA Consulting’s retail clients. He has 30 years of senior management and consulting experience, with Deloitte & Touché. Jim also provides interim CFO services.

In 2009, he participated in HSA Consulting LLC joint venture with Organización Soriana (Mexico’s second largest retail group) to acquire Controladora Comercial Mexicana’s 50% stake in Costco de Mexico.

Most recently, Jim was Chief Financial Officer for the Municipal Arts Society of New York and The Jockey Club. Previously, he was President of Christiansen Capital Advisors, LLC a leading pari-mutuel/gaming consulting firm, providing strategic advisory, litigation support and investment banking services to internet and first/second tier gaming companies. He also provided acquisition services to snack food manufacturing clients, acting as interim CFO following completion of early rounds of financing.

Jim has also held senior corporate finance positions with Siemens, AG, as part of a small team responsible for the strategic planning, budgeting and acquisition activities of this diverse, $7 billion electronics manufacturer’s North American subsidiary. He was also Manager of Management Consulting services with Deloitte & Touché, in their Retail Acquisition Advisory Services Group, based in New York. He led the financial due diligence efforts in several large retail transactions, including Macy’s, Allied Stores, Talbots, Brooks Brothers and Kings Supermarkets. In addition, he also provided litigation support to retail client involved in asset valuation disputes.

Jim spent the first 12 years of his career at Manufacturers Hanover Leasing Corp, where he rose to VP, Europe and Asia Pacific. He managed a $350 million portfolio of construction loans primarily in Indonesia, Korea and Taiwan.

Jim received his B.Sc. Finance (Magna Cum Laude) from Fordham University and his MBA from New York University. He is also a CPA (licensed in New York). Since 1983 he has served on the Board of Trustees of Cabrini Medical Center, New York, and as Chairman of the Finance Committee since 1999. He has also served as a Board member of Swarthmore College, New York. back»