Helana Robbins Huddleston
CPA, CIRA, Partner, Manufacturing and Distribution Industry - Co-Leader, Transaction Advisory Services
Chicago, IL
Helana Robbins Huddleston provides transaction and related advisory services to clients in a range of different industries. She has over 22 years of expertise in financial due diligence, restructuring, cash flow budgeting, financial auditing, internal control evaluation, and business process improvement. In addition to her role in transaction advisory, Helana is the co-leader of CohnReznick’s Manufacturing & Distribution practice and is a member of the Firm's Private Equity and Venture Capital Industry Practice.
Helana leads buy-side and sell-side financial due diligence engagements with strategic and financial buyers for private and public companies in the middle market. She manages the complexity of carve-out transactions including assisting on synergy cost analyses and transition service agreements. Her diverse industry experience includes manufacturing and distribution, food and beverage, retail, technology, government, construction, hospitality, and business services.
Helana has provided accounting and consulting services to financially troubled companies with sales ranging from $80 million to $350 million. In this role, she has advised clients in multiple areas including cash management, financial projections and modeling, operational cost improvement and cost reductions, and implementing internal control processes. She has also advised senior secured creditors in and out of bankruptcy proceedings.
Helana began her career with a Big 4 firm where, among other things, she led a buy-side transaction with an enterprise value of $10 billion.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Mergers & Acquisitions 2023 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A List
Crain’s Chicago Business, Notable Gen X Leaders in Accounting, Consulting and Law Award, 2021
M&A Advisor, Emerging Leaders Award, 2018
Young Broadcasting, LLC, Turnaround of the Year Award, 2011
Education
BS, Finance, DePaul University
BS, Accountancy, DePaul University
MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Professional Affiliations
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors
ACG Chicago, Inc., Executive Board, Co-Chair of Programming and Co-Chair of the Food Committee
Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network
DePaul University, Board of Finance
Naturally Chicago