PHYLLIS K. ARIOLA
404-***-**** Sugar Hill, GA **********@*****.***
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT & ANALYSIS /
STRATEGIC PLANNING / MANAGERIAL & COST ACCOUNTING
Accomplished, versatile, and dedicated accounting professional with experience in operations, financial management and analysis, and strategic planning known for taking initiative and skilled in meeting challenges and deadlines. Organized self-motivator with a record of increasing responsibility and the ability to negotiate and problem solve quickly, accurately, and efficiently. Ability to improve operations, impact business growth, and maximize profits through contributions in financial management, cost reductions, and productivity improvements with a talent for reorganizing companies, procedures, and staff to achieve a positive business turnaround. Outstanding hands-on leader who motivates, trains, and provides guidance to accounting team to ensure consistent results well beyond expectations. Strategic problem-solver and trusted financial advisor to executive decision makers with proven with ability to work across all levels of an organization and serve as primary liaison between Board of Directors and Senior Management. Committed to quality and excellence.
Financial Management
Internal Controls/GAAP Compliance
Cost Accounting
Accounts Payable/Payroll
Software Implementation
Strategic Planning & Initiatives
Banking & Reconciliation
Accounting Infrastructure
Leadership & Team Building
Budgeting & Forecasting
Cash Management & Forecasting
SOX Compliance
Accounts Receivable
Financial Analysis & Reporting
CVP/Differential Analysis
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ATRIUM HOSPITALITY, Alpharetta, GA April 2019 – July 2019
Corporate Accountant (Project-based assignment through 6 Degrees Group)
Developed uniform chart of accounts and reporting for hospitality company as part of the post-acquisition of 35 hotels to allow the Company to focus on critical core-business related aspects of the transition.
COVIUS LLC, Atlanta, GA 2014 to April 2019
Controller
Developed financial management strategy for revenue and profitability growth for a +$12 million professional services and technology company. Reporting to the CFO, performed financial analysis and reporting for multiple profit centers. Managed all aspects of day-to-day finance operations to include month-end close, AR, AP, fixed asset management, payroll, and cash management. Conducted client and project profitability analysis across multiple business units and provided metrics and reports to collaborate with business unit leaders. Enhanced efficiencies by managing operational and organizational infrastructure of the Managed and monitored performance of three-member finance team responsible for accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll. Manager of Office Facilities and office administrative assistant and served as a member of the senior management leadership team.
Developed the company financial infrastructure, chart of accounts, start-up budget and financial reporting packet
Analyzed accounting software solutions and implemented a web-based financial management system to include job and activity-based cost accounting and time and expense tracking
Established and maintained accounting policies, procedures and internal controls to ensure conformance with US GAAP, IFSR, and other laws/regulations
Impacted the bottom line by developing internal resource and process metrics and reports to assess and improve project profitability
Decreased costs by 21% by devising and implementing downsizing initiative as part of a program to improve production efficiencies and financial profitability
Mitigated risk by creating succession and financial department business continuity plan
Planned, implemented and presented company’s annual master budget process to assist divisional leaders in establishing goals, measuring operating results, and isolating areas that need attention
Led successful external financial audits with no material misstatements identified
RR DONNELLEY & SONS, INC., Atlanta, GA 2005 to 2014
Director, Finance
Responsible for the financial management of Global Real Estate Services (GRES), a +$25 million professional services division of a publicly-held Fortune 500 corporation, to include monthly responsibilities for P&L, forecasting, budgeting, revenue recognition and financial analysis. Continuously reviewed GRES organizational structure and recommended alternatives to improve profitability and production. Participated in the long-range and annual financial planning processes. Led successful financial audit.
Primary liaison between division Senior Management and RR Donnelley FSG Finance and served as key business resource for forecasting, budgeting, and reporting financial results
Successful conversion to SAP ERP, P-Card, Purchase Order system and implementation of public company policies and SEC requirements
Developed and implemented 3-year master plan working with Business Unit Leaders and Sales staff
Created internal bonus plan metrics and commission plan and managed results
Improved DSO by monitoring AR and providing consistent communication and support to Business Unit Leaders to resolve outstanding AR
Developed billing and revenue recognition process for large, complex long-term projects with FDIC and Fannie Mae in adherence with client contract and GAAP
Responsible for financial review of pricing decisions, project profitability, and client and vendor contracts
Communicated budgeted costs to GRES BULs on a monthly basis and monitored cost performance against the budget and Corporate cost control plan; ensured all GRES travel and discretionary spending was approved through the RBE & Discretionary Spend Request systems; managed approved changes in costs when they occurred and recorded variances of actual costs from budgeted costs, ascertained the cause of variance, and effectively realigned actual and budgeted costs.
MORTGAGERAMP / GMAC COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE CORP., Atlanta, GA 1998 to 2005
Director, Cost Accounting & PMO
Developed a standardized project management/cost accounting strategy across all company business units. Implemented and administered a Professional Services Automation (PSA) system and developed KPI’s to measure, analyze, and improve productivity.
Audited and integrated financials for multiple acquired companies creating operational efficiency by designing a combined finance function that eliminated duplicative effort and optimized the cost of running the Finance function
Configured and implemented PSA into the company to provide a single source of information related to projects, portfolios, resources to enable management to centrally track and monitor project progression of revenue, costs, risks, and scope changes
Trained employees and drove the change necessary to make automated project management and job costing successful throughout the company
Created standard project costing methodologies, templates and procedures across business units
Created reports to provide data for business units to evaluate the progress of their projects
Designed and developed company intranet on Sharepoint platform
Developed internal training program and new hire process and packets
INSIGNIA MORTGAGE & INVESTMENT COMPANY, Atlanta, GA 1993 to 1998
Staff Accountant
Performed accounts payable, accounts receivables, and general ledger entries. Responsible for annual budgeting and monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting for nine-office mortgage broker firm.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
WGU, BS, Accounting, Jan 2019, 3.85 GPA
Hawaii Pacific University, AS, Business Management
CPA Candidate
Project Management Professional Certification
U.S. Army, 7-years of service, Secret security clearance
COMPUTER SOFTWARE SKILLS
SAP ERP / Quickbooks / Sage Intacct / Sage 300 & Intelligence Reporting / ADP / Salesforce / Sharepoint / OneSource / PeopleSoft / CCH ProSystem fx /Changepoint PSA / Great Plains / Hyperion /
Intermediate to advanced level in Microsoft Office products including Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Visio