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Chris Olson

,

CPA

Partner
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Chris Olson is an accomplished business leader with deep expertise in finance, accounting, business operations, and strategic growth planning. Over a career span of more than three decades, he has helped organizations strengthen performance, improve operational efficiency, and execute long-term growth strategies.

Chris brings extensive executive leadership experience in finance and operations, with a strong background in strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, business integration, and organizational growth. As Vice President of Finance & Operations for a subsidiary of a global company, Chris oversaw financial management and operations, led corporate planning initiatives, supported strategic acquisitions and integrations, and helped guide the organization through significant periods of growth and transformation.

 Known for his practical leadership style and broad business expertise, Chris is a licensed North Carolina CPA with extensive experience in financial planning and analysis, accounting and reporting, mergers and acquisitions, governance, compliance, and risk management. He began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers and has held financial leadership positions in software, entertainment, healthcare, and technology-focused organizations.

A versatile and resourceful finance leader, Mr. Olson brings extensive experience in:

Accounting & Financial Management

  • Budgeting, forecasting and financial modeling
  • Accounting, reporting and timely close processes
  • Cash and treasury management

Compliance, Controls & Tax

  • Audit and Tax management
  • R&D tax credit
  • Internal controls

Human Resources & Operations

  • Human Resources and employee benefit program management
  • Employee retirement plan management (401k) and conversions

Leadership & Coaching

  • Helping non-finance managers understand budgeting concepts and use them to build value
  • Entrepreneurial and Start-Up environments

Mr. Olson graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a Masters of Accounting. He is a North Carolina CPA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Career Timeline

  • 2026: Joined Rankin McKenzie as Partner.
  • 2001-2026: Vice President, Finance and Operations at Red Storm Entertainment, Inc., a subsidiary of interactive software publisher Ubisoft Entertainment S.A.
    • Directed all financial aspects of the company, including accounting, budgeting, forecasting, treasury, tax, compliance and audit, as well as real estate transactions and benefits management (401k, insurance). Absorbed the accounting for four acquisitions without adding staff, closed a $5.6 million office building purchase, and managed an IRS Appeals process supporting increased R&D tax credit claims.
  • 1999-2001: Controller at Red Storm Entertainment, Inc., then an independent publisher of interactive entertainment software (video games), prior to its acquisition by Ubisoft.
    • Prepared the investor due diligence package and managed daily broker and buyer correspondence leading to the company’s sale to Ubisoft. With the CFO, he twice expanded the credit facility (400% and later 500%); also served as interim CFO during a transition and shortened the monthly close to five days.
  • 1997-1999: Division Controller at Housecall Medical Resources, Inc., a $200 million publicly traded provider of home health, infusion therapy and RT/HME services.
    • Created a multi-facility-level budgeting and reporting structure in an organization that had none prior to his tenure, streamlined accounting for a newly acquired division, and implemented a monthly sales incentive compensation plan.
  • 1996-1997: Assistant Controller at American Care Communities, Inc., an owner/manager of 15 assisted living facilities with $15 million in revenue.
    • Managed monthly accounting and reporting, supervised NC Medicaid billing, and prepared financial information for SEC reporting.
  • 1995-1996: Financial Planning and Reporting Accountant for the Mail Processing division of Bell+Howell, a publicly traded manufacturer/seller of mass-mailing equipment.
    • Compiled internal financial statements and variance analysis for the $300 million division.
  • 1991-1995: Began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers (then Coopers & Lybrand) in Raleigh, NC.
    • Performed and supervised audits of companies in various industries, including SEC-compliance audits.
Linkedin-in
Linkedin-in

Chris Olson is an accomplished business leader with deep expertise in finance, accounting, business operations, and strategic growth planning. Over a career span of more than three decades, he has helped organizations strengthen performance, improve operational efficiency, and execute long-term growth strategies.

Chris brings extensive executive leadership experience in finance and operations, with a strong background in strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, business integration, and organizational growth. As Vice President of Finance & Operations for a subsidiary of a global company, Chris oversaw financial management and operations, led corporate planning initiatives, supported strategic acquisitions and integrations, and helped guide the organization through significant periods of growth and transformation.

 Known for his practical leadership style and broad business expertise, Chris is a licensed North Carolina CPA with extensive experience in financial planning and analysis, accounting and reporting, mergers and acquisitions, governance, compliance, and risk management. He began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers and has held financial leadership positions in software, entertainment, healthcare, and technology-focused organizations.

A versatile and resourceful finance leader, Mr. Olson brings extensive experience in:

Accounting & Financial Management

  • Budgeting, forecasting and financial modeling
  • Accounting, reporting and timely close processes
  • Cash and treasury management

Compliance, Controls & Tax

  • Audit and Tax management
  • R&D tax credit
  • Internal controls

Human Resources & Operations

  • Human Resources and employee benefit program management
  • Employee retirement plan management (401k) and conversions

Leadership & Coaching

  • Helping non-finance managers understand budgeting concepts and use them to build value
  • Entrepreneurial and Start-Up environments

Mr. Olson graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a Masters of Accounting. He is a North Carolina CPA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Career Timeline

  • 2026: Joined Rankin McKenzie as Partner.
  • 2001-2026: Vice President, Finance and Operations at Red Storm Entertainment, Inc., a subsidiary of interactive software publisher Ubisoft Entertainment S.A.
    • Directed all financial aspects of the company, including accounting, budgeting, forecasting, treasury, tax, compliance and audit, as well as real estate transactions and benefits management (401k, insurance). Absorbed the accounting for four acquisitions without adding staff, closed a $5.6 million office building purchase, and managed an IRS Appeals process supporting increased R&D tax credit claims.
  • 1999-2001: Controller at Red Storm Entertainment, Inc., then an independent publisher of interactive entertainment software (video games), prior to its acquisition by Ubisoft.
    • Prepared the investor due diligence package and managed daily broker and buyer correspondence leading to the company’s sale to Ubisoft. With the CFO, he twice expanded the credit facility (400% and later 500%); also served as interim CFO during a transition and shortened the monthly close to five days.
  • 1997-1999: Division Controller at Housecall Medical Resources, Inc., a $200 million publicly traded provider of home health, infusion therapy and RT/HME services.
    • Created a multi-facility-level budgeting and reporting structure in an organization that had none prior to his tenure, streamlined accounting for a newly acquired division, and implemented a monthly sales incentive compensation plan.
  • 1996-1997: Assistant Controller at American Care Communities, Inc., an owner/manager of 15 assisted living facilities with $15 million in revenue.
    • Managed monthly accounting and reporting, supervised NC Medicaid billing, and prepared financial information for SEC reporting.
  • 1995-1996: Financial Planning and Reporting Accountant for the Mail Processing division of Bell+Howell, a publicly traded manufacturer/seller of mass-mailing equipment.
    • Compiled internal financial statements and variance analysis for the $300 million division.
  • 1991-1995: Began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers (then Coopers & Lybrand) in Raleigh, NC.
    • Performed and supervised audits of companies in various industries, including SEC-compliance audits.

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