Accounting Staff

CHRISTOPHER COOLEY, CPA

**** ******* ***** *** #****, Grapevine, TX 76501 C 214-***-****

***************@*****.***

EDUCATION, TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONS

University of North Texas, Denton, Texas

Bachelor of Science, Accounting – May 1993

Certified Public Accountant – Texas

SKILLS

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Outlook, Reynolds & Reynolds, ADP, QuickBooks, Peachtree Accounting, AS400, Lacerte Tax, Ultra Tax, Thomas Reuters

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Cooley Agricultural Properties, LP (15 employees/6 partners) April 2012 to present

Partner/Controller

• Prepared monthly profit and loss statements via QuickBooks.

• Prepared weekly payroll for ranch staff via QuickBooks.

• Prepared payroll 943/W-2s and submitted payroll tax deposits.

• Prepared annual federal tax returns including K-1’s to all partners.

• Prepared annual 1099’s.

• Prepared and filed miscellaneous Texas/US Department of Agricultural ranching subsidy grants.

Forrester, Hetherington & Associates PLLC (Certified Public Accountants) (5 employees/2 partners) January 2012 to April 2012

Senior Accountant

• Prepared tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, fiduciaries and non-profit institutions.

• Prepared clients’ profit and loss statements and monthly reports to prepare tax returns.

• Prepared adjusting journal entries for clients already on Quick Books in order for tax return and general ledger to match.

• Reviewed tax forms for accuracy. Analyzed tax liability for clients at quarter or year-end.

• Helped clients resolve accounting issues with QuickBooks software applications and assisted them in streamlining their accounting duties.

John Eagle Honda, Dallas, Texas (150 employees) July 2011 to November 2011

Assistant Controller

• Assisted controller in month-end close which included reconciling bank statements, vehicle inventory, work-in-process, parts inventory, etc

• Assisted and trained office staff and helped them resolve issues.

• Assisted controller who was behind several months on all reconciliations (bank, inventory, parts, work-in-process) and other accounting matters. Got these items current and addressed within 2 weeks.

• Prepared entire payroll function for dealership which included preparing payroll tax returns, 401k plan match, etc.

• Corrected massive error from 2008/2009 where double salaries were reported to SSA and IRS. Prepared W2c’s for all employees.

• Handled all correspondence and meetings with IRS and SSA regarding major prior payroll errors which resulted in waiving all tax penalties and interest.

• Collected over $40,000 of overpayments/refund credits in finance products (warranty, credit life, gap, etc refunds).

Salinas, Allen & Schmitt LLP (Certified Public Accountants) (50 employees/6 partners) January 2011 to May 2011

Tax Preparer

• Prepared various engagements for various clients such as: tax reports, complied financial statements, bank reconciliations, etc.

• Prepared tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, fiduciaries, trusts and non-profit institutions.

• Assisted with four audits which included a single audit engagement.

Prado Auto Group Inc., Plano Texas (75 employees) July 2009 to December 2009

Controller

• Oversaw the accounting function for 3 dealerships – Canton, Commerce and Plano.

• Managed and trained office managers and traveled to Canton and Commerce monthly to help close the month and submit financial statements to General Motors within 5 days.

• Prepared applications to Texas DMV – Motor Vehicle Dealer License and other applicable licenses for start-up companies.

• Prepared extensive and complicated new dealer application for General Motors which included business plans, owner’s personal financial statements, forecasted financial statements and other applicable reports.

• Due to cash flow problems, took aggressive approach to turn receivables into cash quickly.

• Prepared payroll in-house for all dealership staff including officers/owners.

Bud Clary Chevrolet Cadillac Subaru Jeep (120 employees) (July 2007 – September 2008)

Controller

• Oversaw the financial and accounting system and personnel.

• Prepared monthly budgets and financial statements for General Motors, Chrysler & Subaru within 4 days after month-end.

• Prepared all tax returns/reports including sales tax, payroll and other miscellaneous governmental reports.

• Met with the department managers, general manager and dealer weekly to go over business matters and develop plans to increase profitability.

• Managed staff of 9 bookkeepers and clerks.

• Eliminated all manual record keeping systems. Trained staff to use spreadsheet and other computer software in conjunction with the Reynolds systems to automate their job functions. As a result, their job efficiency increased 30%.

• Downsized accounting staff by 20% due to implementation of new accounting processes and procedures.

• Prepared financial statements via QuickBooks and Peachtree Accounting for owners’ leasing company, jet airplane business and reinsurance companies. Expert user of these software programs. Used all modules of the software including payroll, payables, inventory and ACH transactions.

• System Administrator for the dealership. Trained employees extensively on Reynolds system to understand and perform all functions in the dealership. Managed & safeguarded all computer data including daily, monthly & yearly backups. Added/Deleted new/old users on system and handled all problems including computer failures/new updates/new system implementations/etc.

• Used excel extensively in this position including downloading data from Reynolds into Excel and manipulating the data further. Used over 60 spreadsheets on a daily basis to help close books in 4 days. Used macros, pivot tables, v lookups, etc. on a daily basis and helped train and educate upper management and other employees how to use Excel.

Knapp Chevrolet (100 employees May 1997 – July 2007)

Controller

• Oversaw the financial and accounting system and personnel.

• Prepared monthly budgets and financial statements for General Motors within 4 days after month-end.

• Forecasting financial goals for each quarter to maintain the dealership’s profitability.

• Processed all insurance claims and liability insurance.

• Reviewed all financial statements and ledgers, and worked with the accounting staff to clear up any discrepancies.

• Prepared all taxes and filing forms with the government including sales tax, payroll reports and other miscellaneous governmental returns or reports.

• Met with the department managers regularly to go over business matters and develop plans to increase profitability.

• Managed staff of 9 bookkeepers and clerks.

• Eliminated all manual record keeping systems. Trained staff to use spreadsheet and other computer software in conjunction with the Reynolds systems to automate their job functions.

• Prepared financial statements via QuickBooks and Peachtree Accounting for owner’s ranching business, real estate company, reinsurance companies and private foundations. Used all facets and modules of this software including payroll. Expert user of these software programs. Helped train other employees who were networked to the system.

• Helped prepare all necessary financial information, forecasts, projections, etc. during 3 year project of the new dealership facility. I was a major contributor into the design and development of the new building. Helped the dealer principal obtain approvals from General Motors, Chevrolet, Texas Department of Transportation and other local dealers for this new location.

• System Administrator for the dealership. Trained extensively on Reynolds system to understand and perform all functions in the dealership Managed & safeguarded all computer data including daily, monthly & yearly backups. Added/Deleted new/old users on system and handled all problems including computer failures/new updates/new system implementations/etc. Considered expert user of the software.

• Used excel extensively in this position including downloading data from Reynolds into Excel and manipulating the data further. Used over 60 spreadsheets on a daily basis to help close books in 4 days. Used macros, pivot tables, v lookups, etc. on a daily basis and helped train and educate upper management and other employees how to use Excel.

Bryant & Stingley, Inc. Court Reporters (20 employees) (January 1996 – May 1997)

Controller

• Managed staff of 3.

• Prepared monthly financial statements including cash flow statements and presented them to the owners of the company.

• Prepared and managed weekly billing and all aspects of the accounting process.

• Implemented new accounting procedure manuals and streamlined all accounting processes.

• Collected many past due or close to be written-off accounts. Increased cash flow dramatically due to aggressive collection efforts.

• Managed and supervised major remodeling project of facility.

• Helped write and implement new employee handbook.

• Implement new pension plan and group health insurance.

• Converted manual set of books (cash basis) to computerized program (accrual basis). Converted company from partnership to S-Corporation.

• Used Peachtree Accounting software extensively for the company.

Chidester, Marlow & White CPAs (15 employees/4 partners) (January 1995 – January 1996)

Senior Accountant

• Prepared accounting books for various clients: tax reports, financial statements, bank reconciliations, etc. Prepared Tax Returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, fiduciaries, trusts and non-profit institutions

• Worked extensively with AS400 system with clients of the firm. Trained on this system when the firm was hired to give an opinion on agreed upon procedures of the accounts payable, purchasing and receiving departments of a major manufacturing company. Worked extensively with the controller and the assistant controller and other accounting personnel for more than 6 months on a daily basis. Documented the understanding of the internal control procedures of these departments and the AS400 system. Helped prepare journal entries and gave recommendations for improvements including internal control procedures.

• Incorporated Excel extensively in all areas of work with the firm. Perfected my areas of understanding of spreadsheets which included macros, pivot tables, etc. Learned all shortcuts and taught myself to not use the mouse at all when creating spreadsheets.

Don Drefke, CPA (8 employees/2 partners) (January 1994 – January 1995)

Senior Accountant

• Prepared Tax Returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, fiduciaries, trusts and non-profit institutions.

• Prepared monthly compiled financial statements for clients.

• Lead Auditor for cities, Municipalities and non-profit institutions.

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