Customer Service City
Resume:
Larry A. Kosofsky
Sterling Heights, MI 48313-3906
**********@***.***
Career Summary
An accomplished finance manager with broad-based experience in large to mid-
sized municipal accounting departments, having worked in the Michigan
cities of Dearborn (2 years), Pontiac (7 years), Rochester Hills (12 years)
and Detroit (13 years). Expertise in the public works / public service and
municipal income tax areas, including managing construction project budgets
over $100 million. Municipal experience augmented by 2 years in the Finance
Department at the Detroit Medical Center and achievement of a Bachelor of
Business Administration in Accounting degree.
Major Accomplishments
. Reconciled $340 million in construction and engineering expenditures
for the City of Dearborn Combined Sewer Overflow project (2008-10)
- Requested funding reimbursement through the State of Michigan
Revolving Fund (SRF) Program
- Transferred funding to satisfy debt service obligations
- Analyzed SRF program documents upon assignment to this project and
uncovered $50,000+ in qualified expenses that were never billed to the
state; sought reimbursement for these expenses
. Developed the inaugural multi-year budget for the City of Dearborn
Department of Public Works; DPW budget was $30-35 million annually
. Managed $12-$14.5 million in income tax revenue for the City of
Pontiac, MI, for 7 years; income tax was one-third of city's revenue
- Supervised a team of 11 in the Income Tax Department
- Instituted several lock box programs which reduced processing
activities by 1 full-time equivalent, improved cash flow and tracking,
as well as reduced customer service issues
- Saved over $100,000 annually from 2002 through 2008 by instituting a
program which improved the accuracy of tax return processing
. Pioneered the implementation of full costing in the City of Rochester
Hills; concept led to the highest recognition for budget documentation by
the Government Finance Officers Association in 1997 and 1998
Professional Experience
City of Dearborn, Dearborn, MI, 2008 - 9/2010
Dearborn is the 10th largest city in Michigan, with 35,000+ households and
a population of 99,089+. The city covers 24 square miles.
Accountant III - Finance Department, 2008 - 9/2010
. Managed a $35 million annual budget and all accounting activities
for the Department of Public Works (DPW)
- Collaborated on a regular basis with management personnel in 8
areas (Parks, Highways, Sanitation, Central Garage, Building
Services and Maintenance, Water, Sewer, and Combined Sewer
Overflow)
- Drafted financial work papers and ensured statistical section
compliance with GASB 34 requirements, as part of the city's
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) activities
- Approved requests for budgeted purchases and personnel requisitions
- Investigated and resolved budget variances (e.g., investigated a major
discrepancy in budget vs. actual fuel costs and determined that the IT
system did not automatically adjust for rapidly changing fuel costs)
. Developed annual, and multi-year budgets, in collaboration with
management personnel in the 8 functional areas within the Department
of Public Works; all budgets were approved as submitted
- Attended budget development work sessions with the City Council
- Developed reporting formats to accommodate multi-year budget cycle
- Researched and provided advice to DPW management on cost reduction
strategies and budget implications of major policy changes
City of Pontiac, Pontiac, MI, 2001 - 2008
Income Tax Administrator - Finance Department, 2001 - 2008
. Administered the City Income Tax Ordinance, collecting current and
delinquent income taxes from taxpayers and employers, including the
city's largest employer at the time, General Motors
. Managed a staff of 11, including income tax auditors, compliance
officers, data entry and other clerical employees; responsible for
hiring, training, scheduling, supervision and performance evaluations
. Instituted a program to improve the accuracy of income tax refund
check processing, eliminating the chance of duplicate checks being
issued
. Developed and presented a program for local income tax preparers
focused on improving the quality of income tax returns submitted to
the City
Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, 1999 - 5/01
(Worked for Entech, Troy, MI, 1999 - 5/00; hired by DMC in 5/00)
Senior Reimbursement Analyst - Finance Dept., 1999 - 5/01
. Prepared monthly cash and payments logs for third party insurance
companies for eight major southeastern Michigan hospitals
. Analyzed Blue Cross catastrophic claims payments to recover
outstanding third-party monies due to DMC hospitals
City of Rochester Hills, Rochester Hills, MI, 1986 - 1998
Senior Financial Analyst - Office of the Mayor, 1996 - 1998
. Developed and monitored a $25+ million budget for the Department of
Public Services and the Department of Parks, Forestry and Facilities
Senior Budget Analyst - Dept. of Public Services, 1986 - 1996
City of Detroit, Detroit, MI, 1973 - 1986
Principal Government Analyst / Senior Analyst / Intermediate Analyst, 1976
- 1986
Water and Sewerage Dept. - Rates and Revenue Section
Semi-Senior Accountant / Junior Accountant, 1973 - 1976
Water and Sewerage Dept. - Accounting Division
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, August 1973
Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
Board / City Appointments
. City of Dearborn, Dearborn, MI
- Selection Team for Water and Sewer Rate Consultant, 2009
- Selection Team for Forensic Auditor for Contract Compliance, 2009
- Selection Team for Engineering Advisor for Combined Sewer Overflow
Project, 2009
. President, Michigan City Income Tax Association, 2008
. City of Rochester Hills, Rochester Hills, MI
- City Council Cemetery Committee, 1994 - 1998
- Safety and Risk Management Committee, 1986 - 1996
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