Janet Richardson Kniss, CPA

acrlh9@r.postjobfree.com Mobile: 209-***-**** 503 River Oaks Drive Richmond Hill, GA 31324

Financial Executive

Strategic and innovative Financial Executive possessing a strong mix of financial, accounting and tax management skills. Expertise with controls and operational improvements for agriculture, real estate development, construction and property management, and health care environments. Twenty+ years of experience building and maintaining top-performing finance and accounting processes which contributed to significant enterprise-wide enhancement. Recognized for superior problem solving skills, able to think critically and find creative solutions to solve complex issues. Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate and respond to rapidly evolving financial environments. Utilizes outstanding team leadership skills and superior business acumen to align all financial activities with long-term goals.

Areas of Expertise

Corporate GAAP & Tax Accounting Tax Planning Cost Accounting Financial Systems Implementations

Cash Management Financial Planning Forecasting & Analysis Business Analytics Strategy Planning & Execution

Operational Process Improvement Internal Controls

Professional Experience

Vino Farms, LLC – Lodi, California 2005 – June 2015

Multigenerational family business.

Controller

Hired to build financial structure of organization and deliver top-level oversight of all financial operations for family owned business. Manage $250M in revenue. Establish and manage processes encompassing budgeting, forecasting, accounting, reporting, tax functions, and banking relations. Partner with owner and support staff to create policies supporting P&L and marketed products. Design and maintain cost accounting reports for 150+ cost centers. Prepare all in house financial statements and tax working papers.

Modernized cost accounting system and orchestrated software conversion to Oracle based accounting software, resulting in faster close with less staff time. Decreased closing time from three days to one.

Created Prune/Tie report with up-to-the minute cost vs. budget information in dollars and per acre.

Developed procedures to streamline bill paying, importing costs from labor contractors and utilities into payable system.

Authored accounting procedures establishing expectations and guidelines for employees and standardized multiple procedures and documentation. .

Rapidly identified and resolved client payment discrepancies, by creating Accounts Receivable summary spreadsheets that tracked payments and charges.

The Pam Companies– Lodi, California – 2003 – 2005

Provider of real estate development and property management.

Controller

Rapidly advanced to controller position, charged with analyzing sales, developing exit strategies, and creating partnership summaries for the winding down of affordable housing complex partnerships. Oversaw financial control of $30 million in business and 19 personnel. Prepared all work papers for audit and tax return preparation. Supervised financial control teams and delivered guidance and mentorship.

Expertly managed and implemented computer migration of over 50 general ledgers.

Standardized procedures and best practices for booking major transactions.

Spearheaded all outside financial audits of Low-Income Housing HUD partnerships.

Janet Richardson Kniss, CPA Mobile: 209-***-**** Page 2

Panattoni Development Company, LLC– Sacramento, California – 2000 – 2003

Develops, leases, and owns industrial office and retail projects in more than 278 cities throughout the United States.

Director of Accounting & Tax

Assumed leadership role and directed all financial activities spanning accounting, controls, tax, risk management, internal audits, and regulatory compliance for $800M commercial and industrial real estate development company. Ensured accurate and consistent preparation of tax work papers for over 350 Joint Ventures and Tenancies in Common. Managed Tax Basis Audited Financial Statement creation. Created yearly budgets and conducted both monthly and year-to-date variance analysis. Continuously identified areas for financial improvement for company and venture capital investments alike to realize highest level of growth. Implemented employee reviews and defined job descriptions. Directed accounting staff of 40 and oversaw $175M budget.

Improved credibility with lenders by consolidating 350+ Joint Ventures into "rolled up" cash flow by collaborating with IT to transition from manual reporting to Excel, permitting banks to track actual to projected cash flow.

Converted general ledgers to one consistent accounting system, developed policies and best practices to ensure consistent accounting over 350 entities, resulting in increased productivity and accuracy.

Wrote internal controls to institute internet-based banking, generating $35K in monthly savings, which lowered banking costs and eliminated traditionally slow transactions.

Delta Health Systems– Stockton, California 1996 – 1999

Leading service provider for self-funded health management.

Controller

Directed accounting activities for 14M provider of benefits management services for group health plans. Directed GAAP financials for clients with self-funded health and welfare trusts including "incurred but not reported" calculations. Presented financial and operational data to Trustee Board members on quarterly basis. Managed staff of five and $1M budget.

Provided solution to profit crisis by analyzing clients’ contracts, saving $480K annually.

Realized $40K in monthly savings and improved profitability by advising management on non-profitable contracts.

Previous Experience

Controller – Crestwood Hospital, Inc., Stockton, California (skilled nursing and psych facilities/real estate partnerships)

Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer – Patmon Company, Inc., Stockton, California (real estate development and prop mgmt.)

Senior Public Accountant – Grant Thornton /Scott, Wardell and Sands, Stockton, California

Senior Accountant - The Grupe Company, Stockton, California (syndicated real estate partnerships)

Accounting Manager - Amfac Foods/Monterey Mushrooms – Bonne Terre, Missouri (Mushroom cannery)

Education & Licenses

Masters of Taxation (MS) – Golden Gate University – San Francisco

Bachelor in Business Administration (BS) – Olivet Nazarene University – Kankakee, IL

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – State of California

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