Presided over and directed the operational activities of the Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Accounting functions. Lead the monthly close process and related actual-to-budget analysis. Managed the timely completion of the year-end audit. Supported and assisted in the construction of the annual budget. Recruited, hired, and mentored Accounting team.A few key accomplishments while in this role include: ⇨ Transformed the Accounts Payable function by launching a new invoice ticketing system, creating an automated reporting process to stakeholders, and formulating a weekly report with metrics-related analysis. Impact included reduced turnaround time of invoices, increased team accountability, enhanced visibility of the process, and more focused management. ⇨ Spearheaded the adoption and implementation of the new revenue recognition standard (ASC 606); performed related research, trained Accounting team and other departments, developed thenecessary accounting process, and modeled the forecasting and budgeting spreadsheets. ⇨ Steered the successful implementation of a new accounting system for the Accounts Payable andAccounts receivable functions.

As the Director of Finance Operations, I provided executive-level leadership to a team of 20 staff members. I oversaw all monetary responsibilities including financial and regulatory reporting, accounts payable, cash management, account reconciliations, quarterly forecasting, and annual budgeting. In my role, I effectively managed the annual audit processes, including direct reporting to the Audit Committee. I monitored regulatory capital adequacy requirements and forecast ratios through financial modelling techniques. Additionally, I constructed and presented financial analysis and reporting to the Board of Directors and Executive Management. A few key accomplishments while in this role include: ⇨ Applied key changes to improve the annual budget process, which involved adopting new methods to budget for revenues, claims, and salary expenses. Redesigned spreadsheets that incorporated better analytical processes and designed an executive-level summary package. ⇨ Conducted one-on-one interviews with each department member to understand the professional goals and desired career paths for each employee, resulting in increasing staff engagement and retention within the department. ⇨ Appointed as a voting member of the Steering Committee tasked with implementing a new core operating systems and overseeing all finance-related decisions. ⇨ Implemented new policies that required credit checks for customers to qualify for monthly payment plans on policies, reducing late payments and past due accounts.

In consecutive roles with the company, I managed all aspects of financial reporting and presented monthly results and analysis to executive leaders. My role included monitoring regulatory reporting and performing capital ratio analysis, as well as supervising all accounts payable, investment management, and account reconciliation functions. Additionally, I implemented new core banking software and spearheaded the conversion to International Accounting Standards. A few key accomplishments while in this role include: ⇨ Restructured the company reporting system by working closely with IT teams to implement an automatic download of the general ledger, resulting in a 2-week reduction to the monthly reporting cycle. ⇨ Redesigned the year-end audit system by streamlining and automating the process -- reducing audit fees, improving accuracy, and tightening reporting timelines to executive management and the Board of Directors. ⇨ Led the Finance group in the Bank’s system conversion to a new core banking software. Represented department in all meetings, organized testing, oversaw implementation, and trained staff members.⇨ Developed an automated system to download and sort investment data, record monthly entries, and reconcile between investment managers and custodians. ⇨ Championed the Bank’s transition to International Accounting Standards. Conducted the initial impact and gap analysis work and then designed a process to address these areas.

Managed diverse portfolio of 15 captive insurance companies with total assets of over $300 million; responsible for all accounting, finance, and cash flow management requirements. Reviewed GAAP financial statements and prepared budgets tailored to client needs.Coordinated and attended all meetings with executive management of parent companies and presented financial performance. Supervised a team of accountants, reviewed work and delivered performance appraisals. Created and implemented a control system for all client files, reducing risk and improving internal standards across the company.Selected to represent the finance department at client prospect meetings to secure new business.

Coordinated and completed special projects, such as cash flow analysis of prospective acquisitions. Performed ad hoc analysis of alternative accounting policies for complex financial issues; formally communicated results and recommendations to executive management. Implemented appropriate accounting policies to record the effect of the Company’s various employee stock plans and developed all related publicly-issued disclosures. Prepared and issued all earnings per share information for public disclosure by the Company. Managed the conversion of Company’s accounting method from Canadian to U.S. GAAP. Developed necessary public disclosures for acquisition of Illinois Central Railway in 1998.

Planned, budgeted, and executed financial audits of various-sized organizations, from large public companies to small entrepreneurial businesses; prepared tax returns. Supervised and trained junior staff in audit fieldwork; reviewed work and evaluated performance. Performed budget-to-actual analysis on work in progress for audit engagements and reported findings to audit partners.