MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
A Mission-Driven Approach to Operational Savings
The journey to workplace wellness isn’ t always straightforward, but it can deliver lasting results. For over thirty years, ERA Group has empowered organizations to strengthen their bottom line by identifying significant savings within their supplier networks. These savings can be strategically reinvested to advance an organization’ s mission, enhance employee well-being, or fund new initiatives. ERA Group’ s approach can also help streamline processes and improve operational efficiency, enabling teams to achieve a healthier work-life balance and focus on the work that matters most.
Inspired by ERA Group’ s ability to drive meaningful impact, Levi Friedbauer launched his own ERA Group practice earlier this year. His decision to join ERA was also shaped by deeply rooted values passed down from his father, Robert“ Bob” Friedbauer, who founded an accounting practice in the early 1980s. Known not just for his meticulous work but for the trust and longterm relationships he built with clients, Bob treated every client like family – a philosophy that left a lasting impression on Levi.
While Levi forged his own career path in CFO and Controllership services – guiding organizations through complex financial challenges, including mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, and leveraged buyouts – he now brings together his strategic expertise, personal values, and passion for impact through his ERA Consulting practice. Drawing on decades of financial insight and a legacy of client-first service, Levi partners with organizations to uncover meaningful savings, strengthen operations, and reinvest in what matters most.
A pivotal moment came when budget cuts threatened the jobs of two of his team members just before the holidays. Determined to protect his team, Levi dug deep into operational expenses and uncovered savings that not only preserved the jobs – but saved the company $ 2 million. That experience inspired him to launch a consultancy dedicated to identifying hidden cost savings while preserving a company’ s most valuable asset: its people.
“ Through my journey, I noted that many organizations overspend on indirect costs, such as office consumables, insurance premiums, payroll, small package delivery, software subscriptions, merchant card processing fees, telecom, utilities, and more,” says Levi.“ These non-core purchases are typically high-volume( i. e., many invoices) but individually small in value. Sometimes, the cost of processing invoices might even exceed the value of these goods and / or services.”
In business settings, this concept is referred to as“ tail spend,” the amount an organization incurs on purchases that make up roughly 80 % of transactions but might account for only 20 % of total spend.
“ Due to lack of time and perceived importance, these transactions can be harder to manage and focus on, but they are an area that can often yield significant savings,” says Levi.“ At ERA Group, we often liken the unlocking of savings within an organization to solving a puzzle bank. Unlike a traditional piggy bank that
ERA Group optimizes your business costs and finds innovative solutions to best meet your company’ s needs.
Photo: Stephen Noble
ERA
Group harnesses the expertise of over 1,000 consultants to empower organizations, foster a competitive edge and increase cash flow. Levi Friedbauer holds an MBA in Professional Accounting from Northeastern University and a BS in Engineering Science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He has been a Certified Public Accountant since 2004. You can reach him at 201-478-1271 or lfriedbauer @ eragroup. com.
simply holds coins, a puzzle bank requires careful alignment of its pieces to reveal the hidden treasure. In our work, we examine every element of an organization’ s spend and align the financial pieces until the concealed savings emerge.”
Serving clients across industries – including healthcare, education, nonprofits, retail, manufacturing, and technology – ERA Group is passionate about helping organizations maximize their resources so they can reinvest in their missions, services, and teams.
“ Every cost-saving success isn’ t just a financial win; it’ s a continuation of the legacy my father instilled in me to truly understand a client’ s needs and work tirelessly to help them succeed,” says Levi.
Every engagement with ERA Group is offered on a“ No Savings, No Fee” basis, ensuring clients see real results.“ There’ s nothing more fulfilling than knowing that the savings we unlock help protect a workforce and secure a company’ s future,” says Levi.
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