SINGLE-FAMILY TRACK: CFO Perspectives

Tullus Earl Miller, CPA

Partner, Cathedral CPAs & Advisors, LLP

Tullus Miller has over 30 years of experience primarily serving lenders, including commercial loan and banking organizations, credit unions, mortgage banking companies, Fintech and other specialty lenders, and asset managers, including investment partnership and alternative investment companies. He provides insights into, and has experience with, an array of business issues including mergers and acquisitions, strategic and corporate governance matters, financial instruments, on- and off-balance sheet accounting, transfers and servicing of financial assets, HUD compliance, initial public offerings, internal controls over financial reporting, CECL assessments and evaluations, mortgage banking operations, Single Audits (for CDFI federal awards), regulatory compliance, internal audit, and others. He meets regularly with management, audit committees, supervisory committees, boards of directors, and regulators and discusses issues including accounting, auditing, risk management, regulatory best practices, and strategic corporate matters. Miller is a member of the Mortgage Banker Association's Technical Accounting and Finance Committee and has been an active speaker at various financial services conferences. He has an MBA from the University of San Francisco and a BA in business administration with an accounting concentration from California State University, San Bernardino. He also served in the US Army Reserve as a Major.

Efe Aghimien, CMB, AMP, CPA

CFO, SWBC Mortgage

Efe Aghimien has more than 20 years of experience in the accounting and mortgage field. As Chief Financial Officer of SWBC Mortgage Corporation, he oversees the day-to-day financial operations that drive the financial vision of the mortgage company. He utilizes his expertise in accounting, mergers and acquisitions and the mortgage industry to contribute to a successful mortgage operation. Before joining SWBC, Aghimien was Vice President of Accounting and Controller at Stonegate Mortgage Corporation. He also worked for more than 10 years at Deloitte in numerous roles. Aghimien received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He is a CPA and holds the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Certified Mortgage Bankers (CMB) and Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP) accreditations. He serves on the MBA Affordable Housing Committee and Finance and Accounting Steering Committee. Lastly, he is a board member at HomeFreeUSA, a not-for-profit organization committed to assisting underserved individuals attain homeownership and reducing the wealth gap among minority communities.

David Firestone

EVP, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer, Freedom Mortgage Corporation

David Firestone serves as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Freedom Mortgage, one of the largest and fastest-growing independent mortgage companies in the country. He oversees financial reporting, tax management, analysis, and financial administration—crucial responsibilities as the company has grown through acquisitions over the years. Firestone joined Freedom Mortgage in 2014 as an Executive Vice President of Financial Operations, overseeing and expanding the residential mortgage lending division. Prior to joining Freedom Mortgage, he was a partner with Friedman LLP. Since 2003, He was a consultant to Freedom Mortgage, with extensive experience handling the company’s internal accounting, taxes, and other special projects. Firestone is a CPA, licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, a Certified Fraud Examiner, and a Certified Forensic Accountant. He is also certified in Financial Forensics.

Amber Kramer, CPA, CMB

Chief Financial Officer, Guild Mortgage Company

Desiree ("Amber") Kramer is the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Guild Mortgage Company LLC. She has held this position since August 2020. As Chief Financial Officer, she is responsible for the accounting, finance, treasury, payroll and facilities functions. Prior to her role as CFO, Kramer served in various finance positions at Guild, including Senior Vice President, Finance from 2015 to 2020, Vice President, Finance from 2010 to 2015, Financial Analyst from 2005 to 2007, and Staff Accountant from 2004 to 2005. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance from Texas Christian University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Irvine. She is a certified public accountant and a certified mortgage banker.

Michelle Richardson, CMB, AMP

CFO, Plaza Home Mortgage, Inc.

Michelle Richardson is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Plaza Home Mortgage, Inc., a privately owned, full-service national correspondent and wholesale lender. An industry veteran with more than 20 years of financial and operational experience, Richardson joined Plaza in 2019. Prior to Plaza, she was Vice President of Treasury at loanDepot and earlier held finance positions with Icon Residential, T-Force, and IMPAC Mortgage. In her current role, she oversees Accounting, Financial Analysis, Treasury, Payroll, Facilities and Administration, and has extensive experience in strategic planning, revenue maximization, cost efficiency, timely and accurate financial reporting, and the development of effective systems and controls. Richardson has her master’s degree in accounting and is a Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) as well as a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP).