In the year 2024, The Enterprise World is highlighting the most dynamic and forward-thinking business executives under the title, “The Most Dynamic Business Executives To Watch In 2024”. These individuals exemplify innovative strategies, visionary leadership, and notable achievements within their respective fields. From technology pioneers revolutionizing digital landscapes to enterprising entrepreneurs reshaping conventional industries, this select group represents the forefront of innovation and success.
Jim Davidson (President and Founder of Avant Advisory Group), an accomplished leader in financial advisory and management consulting, brings decades of experience in mergers and acquisitions, operational turnarounds, financial restructuring, fraud identification and mitigation. He is dedicated to delivering practical solutions that secure value for clients that primarily comprise middle-market companies, their private equity firms, family office owners, and law firms.
Commitment to Delivering Value
Throughout his career, Jim Davidson has successfully led multiple operational turnarounds and financial restructurings; mergers & acquisitions; CFO, CEO, CRO, and other C-Suite interim management; and strategic projects across several industries. As a Certified Merger & Acquisitions Advisor, a CPA with forensic specialization credentials, fraud, and corporate investigations expert, he has overseen numerous engagements involving forensic accounting, quality of earnings assessments, fraud examinations, and has been designated as an expert witness in U.S. federal and state courts.
Jim Davidson is recognized for his integrity, ethics, and commitment to delivering high-quality results. He has also instructed multiple graduate business courses and has presented on topics such as strategic case study failures at the University of California, Irvine. With extensive private industry experience in roles such as CEO, COO, CFO, and CRO, as well as member of multiple boards and committees, Jim and the Avant Advisory Group team have significantly enhanced value for public and entrepreneurial companies and some of the nation’s largest private equity firms.
Jim Davidson has always welcomed opportunities to help companies facing difficulties. At first, the aim was simply to aid distressed companies by helping to resolve their issues and transform them into profitable enterprises. He enabled them to regain their value through either operational improvements or by a successful sale or merger. One of the initial challenges Avant encountered was competing with the major, well-known firms renowned for their size and name. However, it wasn’t long before Avant became known for its deep expertise, speed, efficiency, and adaptability that matched and oftentimes exceeded that of the largest firms while being more cost-effective than those firms could offer.
Optimizing Value for Middle-Market Companies
Avant Advisory Group stands as a premier corporate advisory firm catering to middle-market companies and their private equity firm and family office sponsors nationwide. Having dual operational and financial strengths, Avant delivers comprehensive management consulting services. These encompass merger and acquisition (M&A) transaction advisory, operational turnaround and financial restructuring for distressed companies, and more. The primary objective is to assist companies in optimizing their profitability, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), free cash flows, and overall valuation.
The firm is comprised of seasoned financial and operational experts, including Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) with financial forensic credentialing specializations (CFF), Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE), Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisors (CM&AA), Certified Turnaround Professionals (CTP), and Certified Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors (CIRA) that focus on underperforming and distressed companies.
Guided by Faith, Driven by Results
At Avant Advisory Group, the shared leadership philosophy revolves around honoring God as the foremost priority, seeking His wisdom, and adhering to His guidance. This includes treating all individuals, including clients, with the same respect and consideration that they would want for themselves. The Avant Advisory Group team is dedicated to empathizing with its clients, striving to understand their perspectives by placing themselves in their shoes, and working tirelessly to fulfill their objectives while always driving to provide value. Avant’s approach is marked by diligence, integrity, and transparency, which clients attest to along with its unparalleled expertise.
| Products and Services Mergers & Acquisitions–Due Diligence/Quality of Earnings / Sell Side Preparation Avant-Edge™ Profitability / EBITDA Improvement / Value Enhancement Post-Acquisition Working Capital / Earnout Disputes Resolution Expert Witness – Consulting & Testifying Corporate Governance, Interim C-Suite, CRO & CFO Services Distressed–Operational Turnarounds & Financial Restructuring |
Innovation Meets Integrity
Avant Advisory Group’s array of operationally focused financial advisory and management consulting services is primarily directed to middle-market companies across the nation. Its team, comprised of seasoned financial and operational experts, specializes in areas such as mergers & acquisitions, financial forensics, fraud investigations, underperforming and distressed companies. Avant’s multidisciplinary approach allows for quick, flexible, and dynamic responses to client needs. Its ideal client companies have revenues ranging from $50 million to $500 million, with a majority falling between $25 million and $250 million.
Avant Advisory Group was recognized as one of the Top 10 Corporate Advisory Services Providers in 2023 by Financial Services Review. The firm prioritizes integrity, honesty, and transparency, seeking to deliver the best solutions aligned with its Biblical values. Driven to maximizing value for clients, Avant utilizes proprietary software and other proven strategies that enhance profitability, cash flows, and even employee benefits while reducing costs. The firm’s commitment to providing high-quality services and solutions remains unwavering as it continues to expand its capabilities in areas such as mergers & acquisitions and distressed companies in the middle market.
The Trusted Advisors with Proven Expertise
Avant Advisory Group’s team is comprised of expertly credentialed and certified professionals with years of senior management, Big 4, and large consulting firm experience. These individuals share a collective dedication to excellence and the maximization of value for each client, conducting business with the highest integrity in alignment with Avant’s core values. Given the extensive expertise, coupled with the team’s shared values, there is minimal need for mentoring as would be required for junior staff in the larger firms. Avant has only highly experienced and credentialed professional staff.
When Avant Advisory Group began over 25 years ago, the firm found itself in immediate competition with some of the largest consulting firms renowned for their strong credentials and name recognition. Despite its impressive competition, Avant quickly established itself as a formidable contender, delivering work of exceptional quality surpassing even the best in the industry.
Private equity investors, banks, alternative lenders, and law firms increasingly sought out Avant for complex engagements, and the firm consistently exceeded expectations. Its reputation for excellence, especially in navigating intricate situations, continued to flourish, often leading to invitations to represent clients on the other side of much larger firms. Through this consistent demonstration of reliability and proficiency, Avant has earned a reputation as a highly trusted and respected partner in serving its clients.
Growth through Collaboration
Avant Advisory Group announced a recent merger of Centurion 7 Business Advisors and Avant. For close to two decades, Centurion 7, established in Northern California, has been dedicated to representing lower-middle market companies and offering expert counsel to business owners in areas such as exit planning, business valuation, and transaction advisory. This joining of forces strengthened their combined abilities to serve clients in M&A, particularly in certain industries and in the lower-middle market.
Avant Advisory Group has brought a new product, Avant-Edge™ Advantage to the market that provides nearly 100 wellness benefits to employees at no incremental cost while providing both payroll tax and workers’ compensation savings to companies. Through its strategic alliance firm, Avant is pleased to provide such value to both companies and their employees – truly a win-win!
| Features of Avant-Edge™ Advantage It provides almost 100 pre-tax health and wellness benefits for employees, including Universal Life Insurance, at no extra cost, approved by the IRS, DOL, and DHS. The wellness program reduces workers’ compensation costs by 25% to 50% through a top-rated insurer and eliminates broker fees with its captive managing underwriter. The implementation of pre-tax benefits under the tax code decreases both company and employee FICA/FUTA payroll taxes. |
Avant’s Clients’ Own Words
“Avant helped Reborn become a high value $100+ million company” – Vince Nardo, President, Reborn Home Solutions
“Avant was our perfect match with amazing professional guidance.” – Gary Mazonne, President, Elite Global Solutions
“We are now doing twice the real estate deals since Jim Davidson joined our Board of Directors and Avant’s wealth of M&A experience helped me to get a greater vision. Avant made the complex seem simple and understandable.” – Dan Rudat, Founder &CEO, at Christ Real Estate Investments
“Avant noted lots of complications & saved me from making a big mistake. Avant assessed the risks and opportunities and negotiated the deal.”– Marta Rudat, DDS, OC Dental Specialists
“Avant made the difference that increased the value we thought was impossible!” – Anthony Nardo, CFO, Reborn Cabinets
