Heather Baugh Email & Phone Number

California, United States

California, United States

Irvine, California, Us

Planning, budgeting, financial reporting.

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

HMC Architects is a California-based firm specializing in education and healthcare projects, with nine offices and more than 300 employees (500 employees in 2007). I was recruited back to the company to improve cash management practices, create organization and structure in the accounting department, and restructure debt. In addition to managing all financial aspects of the company including AP, payroll, consultant contract payments and project analysis, fixed asset management, account reconciliations, general ledger review, and financial audits, I also oversee the preparation of budgets, forecasts, and financial statements. Analyzing variances, trends, and transactions are additional aspects of my work. The cost-saving initiatives I have implemented include reversing the firm’s cash flow deficit to realize significant cash balances, paying off a CapEx loan to save several thousand dollars in interest fees, and establishing a new banking relationship that generated savings in monthly fees, line of credit, and interest rates. Other cost-saving initiatives have included eliminating line of credit usage and recurring interest charges by closing an investment account, discontinuing off-site storage facilities, negotiating cost rates with a new payroll vendor, and changing vendor service plans. By working with a consultant to restructure a significant note, we rolled out a 15-year amortized payout that reduced our interest rate by 2% equating to a future interest savings of over $4.0M.

Vincent Enterprises is a family owned business established and operated by a successful entrepreneur who engaged in masonry and plastering construction, real estate holdings, equipment leasing, captive insurance, and short and long term investments. As Controller, I managed all financial aspects of the owner's personal banking and investments, along with all other business requirements including general ledger, AP/AR, payroll, fixed assets, leasing, financial reporting, budgeting, cash management, audits and reviews, billing, workers’ compensation policy renewals and employee claims, insurance and banking relations and negotiations, legal claims, investment funding, real estate transactions, and benefit programs. Additional hats included Human Resources Director, IT Manager, Building & Tenant Operations and managing all administrative functions. Some of the challenges in this role were bringing the company into Federal & State tax compliance, reconciling and repairing past improper transaction recording, preparing bona fide legal documentation for loans and Promissory Notes, establishing standards for employee time-off accruals in addition to company paid medical benefits, reconciling and properly recording transactions for partnership investments in Mexico, and finalizing a clean set of financial statements for CPA Review that required no further adjustments.The overhaul of HR I spearheaded included correcting payroll tax calculations and filings, converting a problematic payroll system to an external payroll vendor, achieving compliance with new hire and termination packages, and significantly reducing medical insurance costs without reducing benefits. After assessing business and operational needs, I was able to provide structure and cost-saving initiatives such as terminating contracts, transitioning to new vendors, and reducing FTEs by restructuring job responsibilities.

During my tenure as Controller, the firm established a $2M scholarship foundation through careful tax planning and utilizing cash reserves. The process of establishment included all legal, accounting, and filing aspects. I was instrumental in hiring a local Orange County investment firm that specializes in nonprofits to manage the foundation’s portfolio. Oversaw all administrative, scholarship, and financial responsibilities. Designing Futures Foundation (DFF) gives back to the communities in which HMC serves by granting scholarships, sponsored research, funded design competitions, and participation in philanthropic initiatives.

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

As Controller, I spearheaded all financial aspects of the company’s 14 offices including AP, payroll, consultant contract payments and project analysis, fixed-asset management, account reconciliations, general ledger review, and financial audits. In addition to negotiating and securing financing for buildings and equipment, I worked with shareholders concerning ownership, buy-sell agreements, promissory notes, stock, annual K-1s, and tax issues. The cost-saving initiatives I led included partnering with a premier provider of specialty tax services to taking advantage of R&D tax credits and integrating technology systems, which reduced labor costs 25%. The reverse build-to-suit 1031 Exchange I executed provided the company with a substantial deferred gain and tax savings, and I was able to reduce the external auditor’s financial review time in-house by one-third. By implementing Deltek's Vision ERP and CRM systems, we replaced three disjointed applications and provided technical staff with ready access to critical information.When the company decided to consolidate two offices with 250 employees into one central office, I played a significant role in the operational and logistical aspects of the effort—achieving success with no loss of productivity or revenue.

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

After one year as Senior Accountant with HMC Architects, I was being promoted to Accounting Manager. In the latter role, I managed accounts payable, payroll, general ledger, account reconciliations, annual budgets, financial audits, cash flow, and vendor/consultant cost containment. In addition to preparing forecasts, monthly financial statement reports, variance analysis and ad hoc reports, I also created and maintained internal control procedures. By clearing a significant amount in liability balances from the AP ledgers, company profits increased. I also standardized all accounting documentation, procedures, and monthly processes, providing employees with guidelines for performing their job duties with across-the-board consistency. In collaboration with Human Resources, we established standards and policies related to the company’s employee-benefit programs.

Mba, August 2002

1993, Accounting