Olivia Melancon Talbot, Cpa, Mba Email & Phone Number

Lafayette, La, Us

As the leader of a dynamic team of 4 staff/senior accountants at a publicly traded company with annual gross revenues totaling $2B, I successfully managed and coordinated month-end processes for various critical areas, including revenue, accounts receivable, bad debt, and related balance sheet accounts. My role involved performing detailed monthly variance analysis to pinpoint discrepancies between budgeted and actual costs. Additionally, I co-presented a monthly training class, "Analyzing Financials 101," contributing to the enhancement of management leaders' financial knowledge. My commitment to excellence extended to resolving customer inquiries and providing guidance on complex accounting matters, such as revenue recognition for new location acquisitions, joint venture accounting, and the straddle computation of episodic payers. I meticulously analyzed balance sheet accounts for accuracy and completeness, and my proactive approach led to the creation of internal control processes that significantly reduced errors in the team's monthly journal entry processes. To ensure the highest level of accuracy, I consistently reviewed journal entries prepared by staff before posting them to the general ledger. My multifaceted role showcased my leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills in driving financial success within a high-stakes corporate environment.

In my role, I was responsible for various financial activities, including performing the month-end close for revenue, accounts receivable, and bad debt. This involved executing journal entries, accruals, and reconciliations to ensure accuracy. Additionally, I prepared numerous balance sheet reconciliations and quarterly work papers for both internal reviews and external audits. Collaborating with team members, I assisted in various close processes, assigned reconciliations, and addressed work-related issues. During the transition to Oracle Cloud ERP AR Module, I played a key role by designing, testing, and implementing full processes and procedures. I also monitored and supported staff in maintaining the Oracle Accounts Receivable Module. As part of my responsibilities, I trained new employees and provided ongoing support with monthly assignments. Furthermore, I conducted ad hoc analyses as requested by the executive management team, showcasing my ability to respond to dynamic and diverse needs within the organization.

Lafayette, Louisiana Area

I supervise financial processes for 5 operating companies and 12 real estate companies including banking, cash management, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, asset & inventory management. In order to standardize the filing system, I restructured and implemented a new electronic folder structure between all companies. In order to have all of the companies on the same accounting system, I transitioned one of the operating companies from an old ERP system to Quickbooks. I worked with our external IT company to move our electronic filing system to Microsoft Teams & Window Virtual Desktop to help the company improve technology and enable employees to telework from home or from anywhere. I authored various accounting policies and procedures to improve efficiency and continuity between accounting staff.

My primary duties entailed cleaning up the books for clients, preparing adjusting journal entries, and preparing/reviewing tax returns. The majority of the tax returns I worked on involved various complexities such as transfers of ownership, 754 adjustments, cost segregation studies, change of accounting methods, multi-state and foreign tax return preparation. Through working at this company, I gained a large amount of experience in a variety of industries including restaurants, oil & gas, HVAC, architecture, construction, real estate, trucking/transportation, attorney offices, nonprofit organizations, & more. I was also able to advise clients on additional tax savings by identifying maximum write-offs. Many of the tax return I prepared in conjunction with the audit, involved me needing to develop various computational spreadsheets and improve existing spreadsheets. Some of the spreadsheets I produced are used for tax projections, reconciliations of tax & book basis, tax consequences of selling buildings, and other computations. I also assisted in training new employees and interns on company procedures and software utilization.

I worked at the University full time while attending my master's program courses in the evenings. When I first started, I worked for the accounting department. My primary duties involved proctoring exams for professors, grading & alphabetizing exams, and assisted the teachers with many miscellaneous projects. After one semester, I became the graduate assistant to the Dean of the Business College. Under this role, I assisted the Dean as well as the department heads of the various majors of business on various projects. I also worked closely with the Director of Marketing to plan and execute a large number of programs and events on campus. To promote these events, I designed handouts and posters that were displayed all over campus and online. I developed various spreadsheets that we used to track and analyze our success of the events. One of the larger projects I worked on was the development of a new filing system for the College of Business that was used to organize and maintain the scholarship program records.

While finishing the final semester of my undergraduate degree, I worked here approximately 20-30 hours a week. In this role, I assisted with the payroll process by ensuring that the office received all employee timecards every week and that they were properly recorded. On a daily basis, I recorded all accounts payable bills timely. I also handled the accounts receivable process by recording deposits and verifying customer payments received.

While working on getting my undergraduate degree, I worked here an average of 30-40 hours per week controlling the full cycle accounting processes for over 12 subsidiaries. These processes included cash management, making deposits, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and financial reporting, and financial statement review with management. Utilizing the Sage Timberline ERP system, I was tasked with creating new subsidiary companies as needed. For the main operating company, I also timely reconciled the monthly bank statements that were about 10-15 pages each month. One of the projects that I spearheaded for the operating company was organization and management of all legal situations.

Master Of Business Administration (Mba), 4.0/4.0 Gpa

Bachelor Of Business Administration (Bba), Accounting, 3.6/4.0 Gpa

Activities and Societies: MBA Association, Spring 2015 Beta Alpha Psi, Fall 2011-Fall 2013 Kappa Delta Sorority, Fall 2009-Spring 2013.