Jim Austin

CEO; Austin Financial Consulting Services, Inc., 2010- Present

Deliver full service, small business-oriented consulting and investment advisor service. Provides assistance to clients related to mergers and acquisitions, stock valuations, strategic planning, director training, in-house seminars and retreats, charters, regulatory issues, holding company formations, and expert witness services.

Faculty Clinical Lecturer; The University of South Carolina; Darla Moore School of Business, Columbia, SC - 2010 to Present

Provides academic instruction to university business students in analyzing and understanding corporate financial statements as well as in in evaluating methods to determine the intrinsic value of different companies.

Executive Vice President and CFO for Southern First Bancshares, Inc.- 1999-2010

Formed and organized a $750 million publicly traded Bank. Also participated in both the IPO and the secondary stock offering. Managed the accounting, finance, operations, IT, compliance, tellers, human resources, office building construction, and investor relations areas. Possess extensive knowledge of SEC reporting and SOX compliance.

Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Finance for HomeGold 1997-1999

• Supervised a 64 member accounting staff.
• Participated in securitization and reporting of serviced loans.
• Company originated over $100 million in loans per month.
• Managed the accounting, financial reporting, and budgeting areas.

Senior Vice President and CFO for Regional Management Corporation 1995-1997

Expanded branch locations from 36 offices to 58 offices in one year. Managed the accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, operations, and human resources areas.

Senior Vice President and Controller for American Federal Bank. 1983-1995

• Grew the company from a $300 million savings bank to over $1.4 billion, resulting from five mergers. Also responsible for the
• accounting for the bank, real estate development company, leasing company and consumer finance company.
• Participated in both the IPO and a secondary capital offering.

Senior Accountant for KPMG Peat Marwick 1978-1983

Audit specialties in the financial service industry and in the manufacturing and retail sectors.

Education and Civic Affiliations

• University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. Bachelor of Science in both accounting and finance.
• University of Georgia, Executive Banking Management School
• Greenville’s Leadership Training program.
• Greenville Free Medical Clinic, former chairman of the board and audit committee chairman.
• Truth Ministries, former board member and audit committee chairman