Vanessa Boykin, Cpa, Mba Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Chicago, Il

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), a quasi-government entity, finances the creation and preservation of affordable housing throughout the State of Illinois to increase the supply of decent and safe places for people of low or moderate means to live.In this role, I am responsible for the accounting operations of the Authority which includes the production of periodic financial reports, maintenance of an adequate system of accounting records, and a comprehensive set of controls and budgets designed to mitigate risk, enhance the accuracy of the Authority’s reported financial results, and ensure that reported results comply with generally accepted accounting principles. Also responsible for providing sound guidance as necessary to the CFO and other Executive staff members. Other areas of responsibility include assisting the CFO and providing support to Finance in relation to financial disclosure as per the continuing disclosure compliance obligations of the Authority and all interactions with the Credit Rating Agencies as they relate to the interpretation of the Authority’s Financial Statements; managing the annual external audit process and maintaining ongoing communications with the external auditors throughout the year; assisting the CFO and providing support to Finance in its preparation of the Authority’s annual Administrative Fund budget; preparing and presenting monthly reviews of budget status to the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors. This role manages the Authority’s financial statements, accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll functions as well as account reconciliations and account analysis for all financial accounts.

Various

• Created an Excel based budgeting application summarizing expenses and revenues for 17 departments and distributed and updated through SharePoint while searching for a new budgeting program.• Identified and managed implementation of enhancements and efficiencies in the accounting department.• Created new web-based Centralized Accounts Receivable Reporting and Reconciliation application for over 900 Follett retail stores.• Developed upgrades and application enhancements for new centralized A/R application.• Recognized need for A/R categorization project to categorize accounts to provide company with percentage of A/R by category (financial aid, government aid, third-party accounts). Created process to update accounts by making changes to account setup and updating all existing accounts.• Reduced bad debt expense by partnering with training department to create A/R Training tool with areas focused on reducing bad debt expense as well as by moving bad debt items to collection agency.• Ensured all tasks had trained primary and backup person.• Analyzed issue in field, communicated with store personnel and provided organization president with answer for one issue, developed solution for another issue, and worked closely with IT department and store management to implement solution, saving $1,000,000 in sales per day.• Collaborated with IT department to implement new A/R processes in Lafayette, Indiana, store, enabling store to update customer information.• Empowered employees with ability to make decisions within level of authority.• Wrote business requirements documents, training materials for store management, GAAP and Statutory accounting policies and procedures, as well as help documents for process improvement projects.

Greater Chicago Area And Gary, In

Provided interim Finance and Accounting Controller/Director, audit and compliance support to corporate companies and government agencies including budgeting, financial analysis, financial reporting, risk management, accounting processes, procurement, general accounting, account analysis, internal control review, fund accounting and project management and implementation. Lead an Internal Control Task Force responsible for reviewing and updating all City of Gary, IN policies and procedures, identifying strengths, weaknesses, compensating controls, identifying and implementing manual and automated efficiencies, creating internal controls training, certification and monitoring programs. Successfully implemented a new web-based purchasing system and trained the City Council, other governing bodies and city leadership on internal controls.

Oak Brook, Il

Managed projects for a $2.3 billion division targeted at retail stores and operations to support company initiatives, including metrics reporting for A/R, A/P, cash and loss prevention, and A/R application enhancements. Directed 12-member team responsible for retail and wholesale accounts receivables for 900 bookstores, including two direct reports. Oversaw and served in various division projects, including sales initiatives. Held responsibility for $1,000,000 in annual operating expenses for all retail stores and five legal entities as well as $250,000,000 retail and $70,000,000 wholesale seasonal accounts receivable balances. Managed accounts receivable portfolio for two legal entities, all retail stores, and wholesale of 1,300 A/R customer accounts. Led department responsible for reconciliation, follow-up, issue resolution, store training, efficiencies, and process improvement.Worked closely with IT groups to design, develop, and implement new, decentralized accounts receivable reconciliation and reporting process, automated payment remittance, and payment application process. Collaborated with company operations teams on various field issues concerning receivables and served as subject matter expert (SME) for training, operations, marketing, and IT. Worked closely with store development and operations team to start design for Oracle POS system. Collaborated with internal/external auditors on interim and year-end audits for two entities, providing spreadsheets and supporting documentation and explanations for areas under audit.

Westchester, Il

Led 30-member team responsible for retail and wholesale accounts receivable, cash, credit cards, lease accounting/commission payments, and sales audit (POS) accounting functions, including analysis and payments, for 800 bookstores, including four direct reports. Held responsibility for daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual processes and reconciliations, including creating efficiencies as well as supporting operations and other departments and projects. Worked closely with internal and external auditors during interim and year-end audits. Promoted from Senior Manager to Assistant Controller in 2006.• Served as project sponsor for new income-producing initiatives by working closely with operations and IT to develop and implement process to account for business to consumer sales and distance education with DeVry University.• Reconfigured accounts receivable and rent commission departments, completing analyses and creating summary management reports, resulting in 100% account analysis completion.• Partnered with training department to create accounts receivable training tool and policies and procedures for field, resulting in reduced annual write-offs.• Directed automation of credit card analysis and reconciliation function, which created accuracy and efficiencies.• Successfully developed and motivated ten staff members. • Acted as project sponsor and SME for strategic management improvement to automate lease accrual, payment, and reconciliation process to reduce manual efforts.• Developed team of cross-functional professionals to institute efficiencies in cash deposits, reconciliation, and reporting, reducing cash losses and creating additional interest revenue exceeding $500,000 in 2006.

Chicago, Il

Oversaw cash and credit card departments, location management (central database) department, as well as fixed assets and corporate accounting departments responsible for various general accounting daily, month-end, quarterly, and annual accounting functions, including balance sheet and income statement preparation/analysis, sub-system maintenance, location (garage) system security, internal/external management reporting, and interim and year-end audit and SEC (10-Q and 10-K) reporting. Directed cross-functional team to review changes to systems to avoid errors and increase efficiency.• Directed 12-member team in corporate general accounting/financial reporting daily, month-end, and annual functions, including analysis, subsystem maintenance, security, management, and SEC reporting. Developed, mentored, motivated, and trained staff to meet time-sensitive deadlines, achieving increased efficiencies and improved technical abilities.• Directed automation of two major credit card projects, which created efficiencies and improved recording and reconciliation. • Completed footnotes for company 10-Qs and 10-Ks as required.• Created company scorecard, which changed behavior in organization.• Created cross-functional team to discuss and review all major changes to determine impact on all areas of business before implementation.• Decreased close period by automating processes.

Chicago, Il

Manager, Corporate Accounting, 1995-1998. Supervisor, Corporate Accounting, 1990-1995. Directed team of ten employees and consultants in general accounting, reporting, and analysis functions for Beatrice Company, purchased by ConAgra in 1989. Held responsibility for staff development, automated system conversion, and management of transition of corporate financial functions to outsource facilities. Managed, motivated, and trained employees and consultants with wide professional and clerical backgrounds to meet time-sensitive accounting deadlines, resulting in increased accuracy and efficiency as well as technical skills growth. Oversaw month-end and year-end reporting, reconciliations, 10-K and 10-Q footnotes, and government reporting.

Chicago, Il

Supervisor, Corporate Accounting (1985-1990)Directed corporate office accounting staff, maintained capital and operating leases, as well as prepared corporate office tax provision/government reports. Managed daily corporate office functions and developed, motivated, and trained staff to meet time-sensitive deadlines, achieving increased efficiencies and improved technical abilities.Supervisor, Financial Reporting (1984-1985)Managed and trained staff of four in compilation and preparation of corporate consolidated financial statements, various SEC report schedules for 10-Ks, 10-Qs, annual reports, other acquisition and debt filings, and intercompany reconciliations.

Chicago, Il

Senior Financial Analyst (1982-1984)Prepared monthly financial reports for management, selected government reports and pro-forma statements, and restated financials. Compiled footnotes and statements for 10-K, annual reports, and other SEC filings.Senior Supervising Auditor (1978-1982)Led team of six auditors in preparation of internal financial/operational audits and external audits. Gained buy-in from internal audit clients and external auditors. Collaborated with internal client to resolve issue to avoid future audit comments.

Mba, Executive Program Xp-67

Studied Business Management in the Executive Progam, XP-67

Bachelor'S Of Science, Accounting

Studied Accounting.