SUMMARY:

Accounting professional seeking a challenging Accounting position in preparing and reviewing monthly GAAP financial statements and implementing financial accounting software. Key member of cross - functional teams delivering continuing process improvements in accounting departments of leading national and regional companies. Experienced finance professional possessing proven expertise with forecasting, financial analysis, accounting operations, internal controls, SOX, raising capital, bridge financing, investor relations and contract negotiations. Pilot tester for Gleim Financial Accounting and Auditing & Systems CPE courses.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Proficiency in JD Edwards G/L, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Sales, Purchasing, FASTR Financial Report Writer, Financial Planning and Budgeting, and Inventory Modules, A/S 400, RUMBA, X/PTR, SAS, FOCUS, TSO, PeopleSoft G/L, Asset Management, and Payroll Modules, Great Plains G/L, Receivables Management, Payables Management, and Bank Reconciliation Modules, FRx Financial Reporter, Cognos, CODA, InfoLease, AFS2, SQL, Microsoft Office Pro, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio, QuickBooks, Lotus SmartSuite, and Harvard Graphics
• Excellent communication skills, strong human relations and organizational abilities
• Advanced creative problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Competency in working in both team and individual environments

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Confidential

Senior Accountant

Responsibilities:

• Performed balance sheet account reconciliations and month end closing activities, and recommended improvements in related accounting procedures
• Automated accounting processes using SQL, MS Access, and MS Visual Studio which reduced the accounting close process by 3 days
• Developed, initiated, and implemented new cash flow reporting tool for the Controller and COO using advanced database techniques to provide up-to-date information about critical customer payment trends
• Developed, initiated, and implemented new general ledger interface for invoicing major customers resulting with an increased payment turnaround, reduced bank borrowing, and 15% reduction in interest expense
• Great Plains ERP expertise managed a higher ROI with ERP system with a 50% reduction in Professional Fees-Computers
• Automated and improved Main and ZBA bank reconciliation processes using MS Access which reduced the reconciliation process by 7 days
• Compiled, analyzed and prepared financial and statistical information in support of accounting and financial analysis of transportation firm, including reporting in compliance with governmental rules and regulations
• Designed, managed and enhanced financial accounting reporting systems and assisted IT with ERP systems configuration and support
• Initiated Company's 404 compliance efforts through documentation of significant processes and identifying/correcting control weaknesses
• Coordinated financial due diligence and various collaborations with outside legal team and external auditors
• Worked with senior management on strategic plan, financial plan and business development efforts
• Implemented and incorporated Sarbanes Oxley legislation into every process as it relates to financial systems controls

Confidential

Great Plains Developer

Responsibilities:

• Analyzed and built custom financial and information reporting systems using SQL report writer, Great Plains and FRx
• Modified canned reports in Great Plains to better meet the needs of the Finance team
• Assisted in streamlining accounting processes through system enhancements or modifications
• Performed routine system administration duties, assisted technology users with daily Windows problems, monitored system and server performance
• Provided SOX and corporate guidance on accounting policies and procedures

Confidential

Great Plains Developer

Responsibilities:

• Setup the test system, established security protocols and security administration, extracted select data from Great Plains tables, and provided routine maintenance
• Performed technical accounting research to advise the business regarding the requirements of GAAP and ensured that the internal financial reporting requirements of the company are met
• Communicated to executives how technical guidance affects current products and practices
• Prepared reports to management of how new FASB, SEC, and EITF pronouncements affects new products and practices
• Provided SOX and corporate guidance on accounting policies and procedures
• Revised accounting policies as necessary to comply with current GAAP and documented recommended accounting positions
• Worked on assignments complex in nature where considerable judgment and initiative are required in recognizing and resolving problems and discrepancies

Confidential

Team Member

Responsibilities:

• Corporate Team Member responsible for accounting and financial operations, including administration and IT support for startup pre IPO biotech firm
• Compiled, analyzed and prepared financial and statistical information in support of accounting and financial analysis of startup pre IPO biotech firm, including reporting in compliance with SEC rules and regulations
• Provided interpretation and support to users of financial statements
• Research accounting issues and documented sound conclusions
• Designed, managed and enhanced financial accounting reporting systems and assisted IT with ERP systems configuration and support
• Coordinated financial due diligence and various collaborations with outside legal team and external auditors
• Extensive experience assisting executive management with startup operations, including business plan development, project feasibility, cash budgeting and capital structure analysis
• Updated chart of accounts and budgeting and cost control systems
• Analyzed and built custom financial and information reporting systems using SQL and FRx
• System and data migrations using SQL and Integration Management
• Leading role with Great Plains General Ledger and FRx Analytics Financial System implementation project team consisting of technical IT personnel, accounting management, and end users
• Implemented and incorporated Sarbanes Oxley legislation into every process as it relates to financial systems controls
• Responsibilities included interacting with business users, researching and documenting business requirements and technical specifications, as well as assisting with testing plans and leading end users through user acceptance testing
• Coordinated with programmers and accounting management for changes to internal control processes, configuration changes, security setup, report layouts and data archival

Confidential

Senior Accountant

Responsibilities:

• Leading role with Great Plains 8.0 General Ledger, Human Resources, Payroll, and FRx Analytics Financial System implementation project team consisting of technical IT personnel, accounting management, and end users
• Implemented and incorporated Sarbanes Oxley legislation into every process as it relates to financial systems controls
• Responsibilities included interacting with business users, researching and documenting business requirements and technical specifications, as well as assisting with testing plans and leading end users through user acceptance testing
• Coordinated with programmers and accounting management for changes to internal control processes, configuration changes, security setup, report layouts and data archival
• Monitored, documented, and tested effectiveness of Test and Live production accounting systems
• Performed dual testing in the old and new accounting systems and implemented processes for proper accounting treatment and financial reporting
• Converted previous FRx financial reports and tools to the new system using Great Plains and FRx report writing features
• Performed journal entry account conversions, run queries for correct data retrieval, and tested Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Quarterly journal entries for proper accounting treatment
• Created Quick Journals, which increase efficiency and accuracy for posting transactions that occurs on a regular basis but have varying amounts posted to each account
• Analyzed business operations and developed automated solutions for daily, weekly, and monthly assignments
• Created complex Excel macros for automated journal entries, and tested linking and mapping for automated journal entries, integrations, worksheets, and financial reports
• Assisting in providing functional Level 1 support in the Great Plains ERP and FRx applications
• Maintained training content and end user communications relevant to Great Plains and FRx system changes and enhancements

Confidential

Senior Accountant

Responsibilities:

• Implemented Great Plains Bank Reconciliation and Receivables Management modules, which included discussing ROI and internal control issues with the IT and Finance departments, documenting and flowcharting all processes and procedures, system and general ledger setup, setting up default general ledger entries and general ledger interfaces, setting up integration with other Great Plains modules, conversion of existing systems to new modules, monitoring entire transaction cycles for proper GAAP treatment, setting up monthly reconciliation process, creating and customizing reports for internal customers, creating advance templates to integrate the daily operating cash, daily cleared checks, and daily account receivable activities seamlessly into the Bank Reconciliation and Receivables Management Modules
• Developed, initiated, and implemented new reporting tool for the Payment Processing Center using advanced database techniques to provide up-to-date information about critical customer payment trends
• Recorded and tracked investments in subsidiaries, intra-company transfers, inter-company transfers, monthly consolidations and proper capitalization of legal entity structures
• Consolidated the monthly intercompany accounts receivable/payable within various departments and work with company personnel to resolve intercompany issues
• Assisted with quarter and year-end Ernst and Young and General Motors Acceptance Corporation audits, providing analytical working papers and flowcharts
• Assisted Corporate Treasury Department with detailed analyses regarding outstanding drafts, payroll transactions and credit card transactions
• Assisted upper management with implementing new accounting close schedule that was reduced from two weeks to 3 days, making accounting reports available sooner to upper management for strategic analysis and forecasting
• Assisted in data gathering and internal reports preparation, including reconciliation and review of clearing accounts, monitoring and updating intercompany statistics and providing a monthly summary of intercompany account status for upper management review
• Reviewed Monthly Income Statements for variance analysis against company-wide budget
• Assisted with the development of processes and procedures that lead to the appropriate reporting to meet GAAP and company accounting procedures
• Performed data consolidation, manipulation and reporting, balance sheet account reconciliations, month end closing activities and recommended improvements in related accounting procedures.

Confidential

Senior Accountant

Responsibilities:

• Performed balance sheet account reconciliations and month end closing activities, and recommended improvements in related accounting procedures
• Assisted with the development of procedures that led to the appropriate reporting to meet GAAP and company accounting procedures
• Initiated implementation of new Invoicing/Accounts Receivables system, which included setting up monitoring and reconciliation process, preparing aging report for management, documenting and flowcharting all processes and procedures
• Implemented new ‘balanced scorecard’ reporting tools
• Evaluated escheat process and implemented automated processes to reduce manual work and record maintenance for both LIS and CIS
• Researched and prepared complex reports for the Sales Tax Audit performed by State of Texas Comptroller’s Office

Confidential

Senior Accountant

Responsibilities:

• Developed, reviewed, and oversaw financial activities related to asset remarketing and preparation of related financial statements and reports, and updated daily, monthly and YTD account reconciliations
• Researched and recommended system needs and improvements to accommodate end-of-lease reporting and accuracy
• Researched and prepared daily allocations journal entries for DFS business units
• Assisted with the development of procedures that led to the appropriate reporting to meet GAAP and company accounting procedures

Confidential

Accountant

Responsibilities:

• Performed balance sheet account reconciliations and month end closing activities, and recommended improvements in related accounting procedures for vehicles, leasehold improvements and other fixed assets
• Researched and prepared journal entries to write off leasehold improvements associated with expired facility leases and to correct reconcile fixed assets, payroll, and employee benefits general ledger accounts
• Researched and prepared depreciation amounts for Controller’s monthly guru estimate
• Developed, tested and presented new reporting tool using Access for analyzing Architect and Engineering fees reserve for CIP resulting in an 85% reduction in processing time
• Developed and recommended requirements for general ledger interfaces of PeopleSoft Asset Management and PeopleSoft Payroll
• Assisted in the development of policies for financial risk and policy compliance, and ensured internal controls were embedded in all financial processes and systems
• Implemented financial policy to review all purchase order modifications, thus reducing the number of incorrect purchase order general ledger transactions by 80%
• Assisted procurement in choosing a supplier of personal computers by providing a financial stability assessment of each candidate, thus enabling the executive selection committee to have a value added category in the overall selection matrix
• Tested and recommended the new ordering system for PC order requesting and approval processing, resulting in a 75% reduction in processing time
• Developed and presented training classes in financial policies and procedures for the marketing and environmental engineering departments, resulting in a 50% decrease in departmental contract rejections

Confidential

Accountant

Responsibilities:

• Responsibilities consisted of supervising all financial transactions during the Shoney's Inc. acquisition of Confidential, Inc. / TPI Transportation, Inc.
• Performed balance sheet account reconciliations and month end closing activities and recommended improvements in related accounting procedures
• Utilized JD Edwards Financial Management, FASTR Financial Report Writer, and Financial Planning and Budgeting to respond more quickly to my employer's changing environment, streamlined the financial operations, and improve the accuracy of the financial reporting
• Performed periodic audits to ensure operational efficiency and evaluated the accuracy of company financial reports
• Analyzed lease agreements and uncovered an error that resulted in the recovery of $18,000 from a tenant
• Audited weekly EDI transmissions to soft drink vendor and uncovered an additional $24,000 in rebate income
• Renegotiated the long-distance service contracts and saved the company over $2,000 a month in long distance fees
• Updated the procedure for inventory returns, thus reducing the length of the process from six months to fifteen days or less