Sara Rassmussen, Cpa Email & Phone Number

Saint Paul, MN, US

St. Paul, MN, US

Primarily responsible for leading the monthly forecasting and close processes, annual budget and costing processes, and developing robust driver-based reporting and analytics.

St. Paul, MN, US

• Managed the North America Ecolab monthly general ledger close process in SAP
• Reviewed monthly journal entries and account reconciliations for various accounting processes
• Reviewed and analyzed financial results for the Ecolab entities, including fluctuation analysis and investigation
• Partnered with the Shared Service team in Buenos Aires on various accounting procedures to ensure an accurate and timely close
• Supported the Corporate Accounting department’s budget and forecast reviews
• Provided guidance to divisions and functions across the company to ensure US GAAP, SOX, and corporate policies were followed

St. Paul, MN, US

• Supervised and performed various accounting, reporting and analytical duties related to the international close and consolidation processes for the monthly, quarterly and annual close cycles.
• Served as the primary contact for entities within the Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions on submission, accounting and reporting questions.
• Monitored, validated, and reviewed monthly financial statement submissions of international subsidiaries within my respective regions.
• Executed and continuously improved monthly close processes, recorded journal entries, prepared account reconciliations and reviewed reporting to ensure accuracy.
• Performed accounting activities and related analysis for inter-company activity, foreign exchange contracts, equity accounts and ensure proper elimination of intercompany activity.
• Calculated and monitored the company’s Non-Controlling Interest and report results within the Consolidated Financial Statements.

St. Paul, MN, US

• Led operational audits of international entities and corporate divisions, which included coordinating pre-audit planning, performing risk assessment, conducting interviews, evaluating processes, and identifying.
• Supervised staff auditors on audit engagements and reviewed workpaper documentation to ensure accuracy and timely completion of all audits.
• Prepared Audit Reports and communicated results to management.
• Coordinated work performed by the Audit Services team related to the Direct Assist testing with our External Audit team.
• Led and supported department special projects including the Audit Program update and implementation, as well as automating the quarterly Disclosure Committee Review process.
• Conducted meetings with management from other internal departments such as Treasury, Corporate Accounting and Public Financial Reporting to more effectively develop process improvement recommendations.

• Perform and supervise audit procedures for audits, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) test work, and quarterly certification testing with minimal supervision from Audit Management within budgeted time-frames.
• Assist in Internal Audit’s quarterly Management Letter of Representation and Schedule of Unadjusted Differences (SUD) review.
• Lead the quarterly Manual Journal Entry Certification test work, which includes preparing the Certification Memo and presenting results to the Steering Committee.
• Participate in high-exposure special projects including assisting the E&Y Transaction Service Consultants on the Balance Sheet Carve-Out procedures related to the recent divestiture of part of the business and.
• Participate in risk analyses at the enterprise, process, and control levels and plan assignments based on the results of these analyses.
• Draft formal audit reports and present results to management both throughout, and at the conclusion of assignments, by discussing process/control deficiencies, recommendations to mitigate risk, methods to improve.

• Prepared journal entries related to Inventory, Cost of Goods Sold, Sales and other major Financial Statement accounts.
• Performed weekly and period-end account reconciliations related to Inventory and Cost of Goods Sold accounts.
• Reviewed the weekly close packets assembled by Staff Accountants and provided moderate supervision when directed.
• Supported the Senior Accountant by performing account analysis and resolving accounting discrepancies.
• Led special projects surrounding SOX compliance, automation of the weekly department close and physical inventory processes and assisted in the development of department efficiencies.
• Provided customer service to multiple Store Directors with regard to retail inventory and related transactions.

St. Paul, MN, US

• Prepared manual journal entries as requested by management.
• Performed Accounts Payable data entry into various accounting applications.
• Researched vendor account history for unpaid invoices.
• Examined purchase orders and reconciled to the applicable accounting statements.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, US

• Performed period-end journal entries and account reconciliations for various Financial Statement accounts.
• Assisted with the preparation of period-end Financial Reporting.
• Assisted with SOX testing and documentation.
• Participated in miscellaneous tasks and projects within the Corporate Finance and Accounting departments.