Ashley Pena Email & Phone Number

New York, New York, US

• Recruited by former manager and Executive Director to rebuild finance and accounting functions. Designed and implemented the forecasting and cash flow financial models to facilitate a board-directed business.
• Supported Executive Director with analysis and recommendations to facilitate a multi-year strategic and financial turnaround plan.
• Developed adaptive forecasting and cash flow projection models which allows the company to quickly pivot according to the changing economic conditions.
• Developed a monthly review process with department heads to generate up-to-date variance analysis vs. budget and escalated key issues to senior leadership for action.
• Managed two successful multi-million-dollar PPP forgiveness applications and the application for, and management of, a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant.
• Act as liaison with third-party investment management advisors and Audit Committee to manage $250MM Endowment and $234MM Pension Plan.

Dallas, Texas, US

• Hired to rebuild finance & accounting function as part of a company-wide business turnaround. Promoted from Associate Director of Finance within two years based on expansion of responsibility. Oversaw all finance.
• Managed the redistribution of duties and process improvement to allow for a reduction in staff from 9 people to 5 and increased the accuracy, reliability and timeliness of financial data.
• Produced new multi-year strategic planning tools to monitor financial performance, liquidity and debt covenants.
• Implemented new accounting system (Sage Intacct) following RFP process to reduce annual cost by 32% and empower department heads with robust reporting and analysis capabilities.
• Reduced month-end close time from weeks to 5 days by implementing a standardized close and reconciliation process.
• Redesigned vital projection vs. actuals reports for better variance analysis and reforecasting.

Dallas, Texas, US

Dallas, TX, US

• Oversaw accounting team and processes, including the month-end close, payables, receivables and general ledger. Staff lead on the annual audit. Lead analyst for multi-year cash flow projections and monthly and annual.
• Implemented a month-end close process and balance sheet reconciliations as well as the regular reconciliations between donor database and general ledger.
• Created model to track and analyze endowment performance, allocation and calculate distributions in accordance with spending policy.
• Rebuilt cash flow model and decreased manual input and calculation to ensure data reliability and adaptation to new business practices.
• Enhanced internal controls across the company including those specific to cash and reconciliations.
• Implemented Concur expense reporting tool reducing finance team and department head processing time.

US

• Managed the budget process, reforecasting, monthly financial statements and variance analysis for the national headquarters and 34 nation-wide volunteer chapters as well as the annual audit and 990. Processed payroll.
• Reworked the chart of accounts to allow for easy individual or consolidated financial reporting with the creation of a related 501(c)6 with the existing 501(c)3.
• Implemented and streamlined accounting processes, forms, training manuals and presentations.
• Rebuilt damaged relationship between chapter affiliates and national office finance team with new policies, procedures training and better communication.
• Created streamlined payroll tracking and journal entry template which ensured more accurate and reconciled entries.