LAURA NEEDHAMMER
Totowa, NJ *****
973-***-**** (Mobile)
**************@*****.***
SUMMARY
Proven expertise in customer service, accounting, accounting systems implementation, ecommerce management, project management, team leadership, as well as success in improving efficiency and productivity, partnering with technical staff and achieving project objectives.
EXPERIENCE
Totowa, NJ
Personal Chef and Nanny 2018 - Present
Provided care for 2 school aged children on a daily basis
Menu planned, shopped and cooked for a family of 6
Mayer Berkshire Corporation Wayne, NJ
Internet Accounting & Import Specialist/Manager Customer Service 2010 - 2017
Imported internet sales into ordering system from company website and Amazon
Managed social media for the Amazon storefront and the company’s website
Balanced and processed refunds on Amazon orders, managed the Seller Central account
Managed a team of 7 Customer Service agents, coordinated handling of all internet orders with warehouse and shipping departments, worked with IT to ensure a smooth transition to new email and ordering systems, reorganized department to accommodate decreased staff due to retirements and cut backs.
Calandra Enterprises/Calandra’s Italian Village West Caldwell/Fairfield, NJ
Project Manager 2000 – 2010
Coordinated & oversaw construction of a $20,000,000.00 retail complex.
Managed contracts, processed payments, scheduled contractors, ordered materials, purchased interior and exterior finishes and purchased advertising in all media.
Worked with owners to revise plans on site and coordinate changes with all engineers, contractors and inspectors.
Purchased and managed the installation of telephone, security, WIFI, music and computer systems throughout the property.
Hired management and chefs for all entities, helped train staff on computer systems and daily operations and procedures as well managed the purchasing for and opening of the restaurant, lounge, wine & cheese shop, bakery, market/deli and gelateria/espresso bar.
Upon opening became Property Manager and oversaw daily operations of all entities. Arranged and oversaw all special events. Managed receivables for all entities.
Full-charge Bookkeeper/Assistant Manager
Provided food & liquor inventory, food and beverage cost analyses and payroll analysis to ownership and outside CPA firm on a monthly and quarterly basis. Processed payroll, accounts payable and daily receipts.
Managed daily operation of restaurant. Trained several general managers to oversee daily restaurant operation.
International Paper/Union Camp Corporation Memphis, N/Norcross, GA/ Wayne, NJ 1990 – 2000
Accounting Shared Services Provider
Pro Processed corporate and plant payrolls. Performed monthly bank reconciliations and conducted analyses of the savings/investment plan, savings bonds and group life insurance. Provided general Ledger support for payroll, tax and treasury departments and senior management. Worked with freight carriers to reconcile aging reports.
Due to the acquisition of Union Camp by International Paper and the relocation of the Financial Shared Service Center to Memphis, TN, was contracted by International Paper to manage the final phase of the transition from Union Camp’s Lawson System to International Paper’s SAP system.
Corporate General Ledger Project Leader
Led the Corporate Team’s parallel testing efforts in the implementation of the Lawson General Ledger System and coordinated testing with eight operating divisions. Worked with divisions’ plant controllers and accounting team leaders to coordinate intercompany transactions and consolidated reporting. Provided on-going support and maintenance to Corporate and all divisions as each went into production.
Provided General Ledger training in journal entry processing, account analysis and report writing to employees in Corporate Tax, Payroll and Information Systems (IS) Departments. This training shifted workload out of Accounting, improving productivity and saving $50,000 per year.
Worked with IS to automate releasing and posting of journal entries, resulting in more timely and accurate posting.
Received President’s Award for successfully completing the project on time and within the budget.
Corporate Accounting Team Leader
Led a team of 5 accounting team members in the accounting of the daily operations of the corporation. Completed monthly, quarterly and year end closes and filed all necessary internal and external reports. Made the following improvements which resulted in streamlining the department and a considerable payroll savings.
Developed a travel and expense reporting program for company employees which saved processing time and $15,000 for the cost of purchasing a program.
Automated the bank reconciliation process.
EDUCATION: BS Mathematics The Pennsylvania State University
Accounting I, Accounting II William Paterson University
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Completed various corporate courses and seminars including: Supervisory Skills Program, Team Management, Time Management, Stress Management and Creative Thinking
COMPUTER SKILLS: Microsoft Office, Lawson General Ledger, Lawson Payroll, Lawson Accounts Payable, Reportsmith, Report Writer, MOM, KWI, Seller Central, System One airline booking system, POS restaurant/retail point of sale system
PERSONAL NOTES: Foodie, traveler, golfer, sports fan/Former restaurant owner/Former member of the Penn State Women’s Bowling Team – ranked 3rd in the nation/Winner of the Kim Barrett Memorial Award for general excellence in Leadership, Scholarship and Athletics