Ashley Pena Email & Phone Number

Dallas, Tx, Us

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 turnaround. Lead the Finance team through the transition to a fully remote work environment and reconfigured roles and procedures to accommodate a reduced staff.• 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. • Work with insurance brokers to manage the liability insurance program and ongoing risk analysis as well as employee benefit programs.• Implemented stronger internal controls in partnership with new auditors and reduced monthly close from months to 7 days.• Created a departmental culture of collaborative information sharing to help break down intercompany communication silos. • Oversaw operating banking relationship transition as part of a multimillion dollar construction loan and line of credit arrangement and manage the associated compliance reporting.

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, accounting, and payroll functions, reporting and reconciliations as well as annual financial statement audits for two related entities. Partnered with department heads for financial performance review and updates into a multi-year forecast. • 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. • Produced financial reporting package for finance, audit and executive committees of the board.

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 financial statements. • 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 and assisted with human resource functions on an interim basis. • 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.