Stephen Michels, CPA

Business Development Executive

Seattle, Washington, United States18 yrs 7 mos experience
Highly Stable

Key Highlights

  • Expert in financial analysis and compensation management.
  • Proven track record in high-growth environments.
  • Military background enhances leadership and operational efficiency.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a finance and accounting professional with expertise in SaaS compensation management.

Contact

Skills

Other Skills

Compensation & BenefitsAccountingFinancial AnalysisU.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)Tax AccountingFinancial ReportingFinancial AccountingFinancial StatementsData AnalysisMilitary ExperienceSpreadsheetsGenerally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)Internal ControlsManagement AccountingSales Performance

About

As a Certified Public Accountant, Stephen Michels is an experienced and well-rounded finance and accounting professional. His time working in public accounting, and at billion dollar publicly traded corporations has acclimated him to high-growth, fast-paced environments that demand results. Prior to beginning his finance and accounting career, Stephen served in the United States Air Force as a drone operator. His influence as an instructor and flight evaluator helped shape this emerging field into the robust, efficient and effective operation that exists today. Stephen possesses sought-after skills with his understanding of financial analysis, data visualizations, relational databases, ERP systems, US GAAP, auditing and attestation, federal income taxation, compensation and benefits, and sales performance management. This skillset makes him an invaluable member of any finance or accounting team.

Experience

18 yrs 7 mos
Total Experience
3 yrs
Average Tenure
6 mos
Current Experience

Confluent

Senior Sales Compensation Analyst

Oct 2025Present · 6 mos · Poulsbo, Washington, United States · Remote

Captivateiq

3 roles

Manager, Professional Services

Mar 2023Oct 2025 · 2 yrs 7 mos · Kirkland, Washington, United States

Lead Consultant

Jan 2023Mar 2023 · 2 mos · Kirkland, Washington, United States

  • CaptivateIQ is on a mission to bring transparency and joy to commissions management. We believe that getting paid should be fun and that work should be a breeze for compensation plan administrators. Yet, most companies still rely on spreadsheets or legacy software providers to manage what is often the largest and most influential line item in a sales budget. That’s why we’ve created a scalable, flexible, no-code solution that enables finance and operations teams to model, automate, and optimize performance incentives. Twenty of the Forbes’ Cloud 100 including leading brands like Amplitude, Gong, and Hopin use CaptivateIQ to power their incentive compensation programs.

Senior Product Solutions Consultant

Jan 2022Jan 2023 · 1 yr · Kirkland, Washington, United States

  • I create reporting that helps our customers in their efforts to comply with ASC 606/340 and/or IFRS 19. I'm responsible for managing sales commissions cost accounting and reporting implementations. These engagements include requirements gathering, designing and building the cost accounting report model, and testing & training.

Amazon web services (aws)

Sales Operations Compensation Analyst

Aug 2020Jan 2022 · 1 yr 5 mos · Seattle, Washington, United States

  • Responsible for all aspects of Americas Commercial Sales Greenfield Hybrid Plan administration; support over 50% growth in sales rep population
  • Field all compensation related questions from Greenfield sellers and field sales operations leads
  • Issue quarterly Incentive Compensation Plans for all Greenfield reps; Assign Management-by-Objectives (MBO) targets and report on attainment
  • Designed, proposed, and implemented creative solutions for recognizing MBO attainment resulting from partner-related revenue adjustments
  • Addressed reporting shortfalls by defining improved measurement logic; resulted in approximately 20% increase in MBO Attainment

Gartner

Variable Compensation Analyst

Dec 2016Aug 2020 · 3 yrs 8 mos · Fort Myers, Florida Area

  • Responsible for maintaining, processing and validating global sales compensation data within Incentive Compensation Management tool (Varicent). Includes sales performance metrics, quota, total target compensation, actual commission payments; 180% growth in payee population
  • Key member of Compensation System implementation; worked with consultants and software engineers to gather requirements, perform QA testing, maintain production support responsibilities, code compensation plan updates, design and perfect web reports
  • Member of 2019 Finance Transformation team; worked with multiple members across the corporate controller’s group to improve and replace antiquated sales order reporting
  • Improved Eagle Award Analysis reporting and selection criteria for Sales; Conducted data analysis and recommended new criteria for attaining Eagle status based on financial modeling, applying statistical methodologies
  • Collaborated with VP and SVP of Accounting to spearhead the design and launch of the Compensation KPI Dashboard;
  • Used by Senior Finance Leaders to benchmark data, measure performance indicators, and identify areas for operational
  • and process improvements
  • Cross-functional work with accounting department; reconcile and post system generated journal entries and manually post corrections to the general ledger
  • Automated time-consuming manual sales manager compensation process; Resulting in 120 hours freed up annually
  • Liaison with external auditors and internal Sox Compliance team for testing of internal controls

Hbk cpas & consultants

Associate

Feb 2015Dec 2016 · 1 yr 10 mos · Fort Myers, Florida Area

  • Responsible for client financial statement audits, reviews, and compilations in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards.
  • Utilized clients’ financial statements and work papers to prepare 1120, 1120S, 1065, 1041, 709 and 706 Tax returns.
  • Engagement lead for Fort Myers not-for-profit financial statement audit.
  • Clients consisted of high-net worth individuals, corporations, not-for-profit entities and construction contractors

Florida gulf coast university

Student

Aug 2013May 2015 · 1 yr 9 mos · Fort Myers, Florida Area

Usaf

Sensor Operator

Jul 2005Jul 2011 · 6 yrs

  • Sensor Operator for Predator Drone and its intelligence systems; Trained team members and worked alongside Squadron Commander in assessing whether individuals were qualified to fly; Resulted in 300% growth in flight capabilities.

Education

Florida Gulf Coast University

Bachelor's degree — Accounting

Jan 2013Jan 2015

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