Customer Service Accounting

L AURA BEEM

***** ******** ****** • lakeville, MN 55044

Cell: 952-***-**** • E-mail: ******@*****.***

Summary

A finance and accounting professional with strong leadership, project management and analytical skills.

Highlights of qualifications

Over 20 years audit & accounting experience with large organizations

Wide array of financial experience accounting, financial analysis, strategic planning, budgeting,

month & year end close, SEC reporting, chart of accounts management, SOX, audit, project management,

process improvement, executive overviews and acquisition due diligence & integration

Enthusiastic team leader with 10 years experience leading teams of employees and focusing on

employee development and recognition

Collaborative leader driving cross functional relationships with internal and external stakeholders

Consistent desire to improve skills – specialized training along with Six Sigma Green Belt, CPA and

CIA designations

5 years experience with compensation & benefits plans including plan design, compliance, vendor

selection & management, fiduciary oversight

Professional experience

Department of Veterans Affairs, Minneapolis, MN 1/2010 to present

Chief, Accounting • Minneapolis VA Health Care System

Responsibilities:

Overall responsibility for accounting operations including A/R, A/P, accruals, journal vouchers,

reconciliations and month end close

Work with hospital departments to ensure appropriate recording of accounting entries

Manage cashier operation ensuring appropriate amounts of cash on hand, timely processing, and

appropriate customer service levels

Supervised 11 employees

Key Achievements:

Implemented revised non procurement purchase process and provided training to medical center

departments

Acted as liaison between central office and external financial statement auditors for field examination

(selected as one of 10 field exam sites out of 200)

Improved employee performance standards for Accounting and Cashier positions

Marquette Financial Companies, Minneapolis, MN 9/2008 to 10/2009

Senior Executive Compensation Analyst

Responsibilities:

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Laura Beem

Overall responsibility for business unit long term incentive programs including plan design, analyzing

business & financial performance and plan administration

Assist management with the design & administration of the short term incentive plans

Conduct market reviews, surveys and job evaluations

Provide advice and analysis for special compensation projects

Key Achievements:

Transitioned responsibility for long term incentive plans from Finance

Worked with business unit leaders to design retention and bonus plans for employees

Led several projects with executive management to design long term incentive plans

3M Company, St. Paul, MN 1/1998 to 9/2008

Financial Manager • SOX Compliance • 8/2007 to 9/2008

Responsibilities:

Managed SOX compliance process for corporate, US businesses and Canada operations

Worked with business & functional management to ensure risk coverage and control testing over

numerous business processes

Maintained effective working relationships with external auditors

Key Achievements:

Significantly reduced the number of controls by implementing a risk based approach

Reduced audit cycle time by improving communication among stakeholders

Developed risk & control training modules for various business processes

Financial Manager • Compensation & Benefits • 8/2003 to 8/2007

Responsibilities:

Overall responsibility for the financial analysis & accounting operations for US compensation and

benefit plans

Led, managed and/or participated on cross functional teams for process improvement, plan design,

acquisitions, and vendor selection

Provided overviews and analysis to Finance and Human Resources executive level management

Provided company policy and accounting guidance to international subsidiaries to ensure global

compliance with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Prepared 10 K schedules and footnotes for pensions and other compensation & benefits items

Presented training to business financial analysts on compensation & benefit accounting

Prepared forecasts, strategic & operating plans and business unit allocations

Supervised US accounting team of 8 employees

Key Achievements:

Worked closely with HR to develop matrix of employee benefit options at various cost points for new

acquisitions

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Laura Beem

Led cross functional project teams for implementation of various new accounting requirements

including FAS 123R & FAS 132

Collaborated with 21 US & international subsidiaries to implement FAS 158 pension accounting

requirements

Globally standardized the chart of accounts for compensation & benefit items

Transformed work team from marginally performing to successfully meeting internal customers

requirements while offering development opportunities for individual team members

Senior Internal Auditor & Audit Supervisor • Corporate Audit • 1/1998 to 8/2003

Responsibilities:

Planned and supervised all audits for business focused audit team

Communicated audit plans and issues with business unit vice presidents and executive level

management

Supervised audit team of 8 employees

Key Achievements:

Responsible for orientation, training and employee development for new hires

Led design team for improved audit risk assessment process and implemented globally

Member of corporate team responsible for the initial implementation of SOX

Defense Contract Audit Agency, Minneapolis, MN 6/1989 to 1/1998

Senior Auditor

Responsibilities:

Performed detailed audits, including risk analysis, audit plans and written reports

Performed audits of incurred costs, proposals, contracts, and operational activities Participated in

contract negotiations with defense contractors

Acted as liaison between defense contractors and government agencies

Key Achievements:

Standardized process for contractor’s proposal audits

Taught 4 classes at employer’s national training center

Developed training on new audit standards

Certifications & Professional Memberships

Certified Public Accountant, August 1993, License #15688 (Inactive)

Certified Internal Auditor, May 1998, Certificate #25161

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Laura Beem

Education & Specialized Training

3M Accelerated Leadership Development Program 2005

An intense 6 day accelerated development experience for managers to develop leadership attributes early in their

careers. Managers are selected and sponsored by a senior executive.

3M Six Sigma Green Belt Training 2001

Training that focuses on the five phases of Six Sigma: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve & Control. A completed

green belt project was required to receive the training certificate.

University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 1985 1989

B.S., Business Administration, Major in Accounting, GPA: 3.2

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