Manager Customer Service

Andrea G. Severson, M.B.A.

MINNEAPOLIS MN * **********@*****.*** * 651-***-****

Senior Financial and Operations Manager with multifaceted experience in auditing,

accounting, reporting, budgeting, business process and cost analysis, forecasting, project

and operational management. Successful experience in initiating and implementing

financial procedures and controls leading to system improvements; strategic planning,

and analysis of micro and macro impaction of process augmentation to the company;

management of team projects.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

MINNESOTA FAMILY INSTITUTE AND COUNCIL 2003 – present

Finance Director

• Responsible for all accounting functions including: accounts payable,

receivable, monthly reporting, banking, payroll and tax reporting

• Extensive intercompany cost allocating

• Analyze business and develop annual budgets

• System conversion project management

• Coordinate annual audit with external auditors, including review of 990

• Produce state compliance reporting

• Review and analyze corporate insurance policies and bids

• Supervise office staff and projects

SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN CHURCH 1999 - 2009

Finance Director

• Performed all accounting functions, monthly reporting, tax and payroll

functions using QuickBooks software.

• Developed annual budgets

• Responsible for all banking and cash management functions

MSI INSURANCE (currently Country Companies) 1988 - 2001

Audit and Accounting Assistance (1998 - 2001)

Internal Auditor (1997 - 1998)

Manager, Sales Administration (1994 - 1997)

Manager, Pension Accounting (1992-1994)

Senior Casualty Financial Analyst (1990-1992)

Senior Life Financial Analyst (1988-1990)

• Managed a team of temporary accounting clerks, to investigate problems and

to properly reconcile investment accounts to client records. Revised procedures to

ensure accuracy of future accounting entries.

• Managed a tax project to identity and resolve accounting record keeping

problems

• Provided internal audit support for the KPMG auditors’ year-end audit.

• Performed various regulatory compliance, financial, and operational audits,

including work for KPMG Peat Marwick, Pension Sales and MSI’s Reinsured Programs.

• Researched legal requirements for managing general agency audits, wrote

audit programs and management reports.

• Identified and recommended numerous improvements for efficiency,

effectiveness and adequacy of compliance and controls.

• Developed and managed annual division budgets of $6.6 million, including trainee

agent financing, exclusive agent staff financing, health & retirement benefits, terminated

account maintenance and termination benefits, cooperative advertising and

compensation.

• Analyzed results and forecasted current and future years’ impact.

• Analyzed, developed and implemented new agent programs, such as Customer

Service Center and new trainee agent programs, worked with user and programmer

groups to analyze needs, available technology and the related costs and benefits.

• Managed agency computer systems and projects. Directed the automation of the

sales management information and trainee agent performance data bases using Access

software.

• Managed trainee agent performance and agent advertising programs.

• Developed and maintained effective, efficient Agency Administration operations,

including staff management of seven, licensing/appointing agents and brokers for seven

companies and home office employees, agent hiring and terminating, agent contracts,

office leasing, equipment and furniture procurement.

• Managed and analyzed financial data, sales results and incentive compensation.

• Implemented financial controls for management and general ledger reporting for all

lines of business with operating company assets of $242 million and 900 clients.

• Led the development of the Pension Accounting System, resulting in a reduction of the

temporary staff from 13 to zero within two years and an accurate automated interface

between the pension accounting system and the corporate general ledger system.

• Oversaw permanent staff of two, various temporary employees and a budget of

$230,000.

• Prepared and automated internal and external statutory reporting for MSI’s

casualty insurance operations using the accounting system and Easytrieve software.

• Analyzed expenses and worked with budget managers to properly develop cost

allocations.

• Performed ad hoc reporting and analysis, including line of business profitability.

• Developed cost allocations for MSI’s life insurance operations and the related

reporting and analysis of expense information.

• Performed ad hoc reporting and analysis, including line of business profitability and

exit analysis.

KPMG 1986 – 1988

STAFF – SENIOR AUDITOR

Audited client financial statements, supervised staff accountants and planned audits for a variety of

businesses, including insurance, financial, manufacturing, agriculture, government agency and non-

profit.

EDUCATION AND DESIGNATIONS

• M.B.A. – Walden University, 2011 summa cum laude

• B.A. – Accounting – Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa

• B.A. – Management – Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa

• Fellow, Life Management Institute Designation

• Associate, Customer Service Designation

• Associate, Insurance Agency Administration Designation

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