Allan Katz is a transformational Chief Financial Officer known for guiding operational improvement, expense control, and crisis management in financial service firms. A CPA with strong domestic and international experience, Allan is a valued member of executive teams, trusted for raising the bar on strategic decision-making and operational efficiency. He has strong executive mentorship and partnership skills, with a reputation for ensuring that business leaders are knowledgeable and accountable for their full P&L, not just revenue. He is hands-on, detail-oriented, and willing to challenge the status quo, all while providing succinct and transparent financial analysis to support value creation.
As CFO of Guggenheim Securities, a $1.1B FINRA-regulated broker-dealer, since 2013, Allan has elevated the finance function in an era with significant growth in revenue (400%), EBITDA (1,000%), and overall headcount (200%), even as he reduced finance headcount by 50%. A member of the Executive Management Committee and a Series 27 Operating Principal, Allan has been integrally involved in determining business strategy, including compensation and termination decisions and business planning. He has leveraged technology to automate manually intensive processes, providing immediate access to trading desk-level financial results. He leads the firmwide strategic planning and business review processes and was part of the decision-making team that acquired a European-based broker-dealer to obtain licensing for business expansion. He also guided assessments that led to the shuttering of non-core businesses, leading to bottom-line improvement. Allan joined the firm in 2012 as Head of Strategic Sourcing and Expense Management, delivering over $10M in cost reductions while improving service levels across all non-compensation expense categories, including Market Data and Travel & Entertainment. He also created a low-cost shared services center in Kansas, allowing higher-paid talent in New York and Chicago to focus on higher-level analysis.
Allan joined Guggenheim from Citigroup, where, as Managing Director, Expense Management and Services, he facilitated efficiencies across the firm’s infrastructure and corporate functions. Earlier, he led the global planning process for Nomura Holding America, with significant travel to Japan, London, and Mumbai. He also led the transition services team responsible for negotiating infrastructure services and guiding the disposition of assets after the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
Allan, who earned an MBA in Finance and International Business from the Stern School of Business at New York University and a BS in Accounting from Binghamton University, began his career in the Middle Markets Practice at Coopers & Lybrand before moving on to accounting and finance roles at J.P. Morgan & Co. and Mercer Management Consulting. He also held Planning & Analysis roles at Merrill Lynch for 10 years.
A longtime participant and advocate for nonprofit groups, Allan has been a supporter of PanCAN (the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network), PENCIL (New York City Principal for a Day program), and Junior Achievement. He was a member of Guggenheim’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee and participated in several Guggenheim-sponsored mentoring programs.