Modernizing Multi-Entity Finance with a Unified Control Framework

Ruthvik Uppaluri is a financial systems architect who has consistently delivered scalable, high-impact solutions that transform the way enterprises manage their financial data and reporting infrastructure. At Designer Brands Inc. (DBI), Ruthvik led the architecture and execution of a unified Chart of Accounts (COA) that bridged three separate general ledgers — across DBI US, DBI Canada, and Camuto Group — into one integrated, enterprise-wide foundation.
Background
Between 2019 and 2022, DBI was navigating one of the most complex business evolutions in its history. The company had transitioned from a retail-focused business into a vertically integrated enterprise, acquiring Camuto Group (a sourcing and brand operation), integrating Canadian entities, partnering with Authentic Brands Group (ABG), and scaling private label development to drive margin and strategic control.
As these business models merged, Finance faced a growing challenge: there was no single financial language across the enterprise. Each entity had different general ledger structures, account definitions, and reporting logic — making Inc-level forecasting, consolidation, and variance analysis fragmented and error-prone.
Ruthvik proposed a foundational initiative: to design and implement a Unified COA that would allow all DBI entities — from ecommerce to sourcing to retail — to operate from a shared, scalable structure. He led the initiative from scoping to delivery, transforming how DBI plans, reports, and explains its performance.