Accounting Manager

Suzanne Sawchin, MBA

**** ** ***** **. • Burien, Washington 98166 • **********@*****.*** • 253-***-****

Seasoned financial professional with a proven track record of achieving measurable business process improvements in support of corporate goals and initiatives. Extensive experience designing, documenting, and implementing major business process changes including technological solutions. Leverages background needed to effectively and practically bridge the frequent gap between business needs and IT solutions. Utilizes broad range of business, system, financial skills, and experiences to enhance operations while never losing site of the bottom-line.

Key Strengths:

Process Improvements

Internal Controls

Complex Analysis & Reconciliations

System Conversions & Enhancements

Budgeting & Forecasting

Variance Analysis

Metrics & Reporting

Financial and Management Accounting

Professional Experience

Independent consultant (Oct 2013 to Present)

Two Degrees, Seattle, Washington

Accounting Consultant (Mar 2016 to Aug 2016)

Selected Contributions:

Designed and implemented process to review and cleanup client's 340b contract pharmacy accounts receivable and accounts payable in preparation for annual audit.

Identified process gaps, which led to the reengineering of tracking process and replacement of excel spreadsheet used to facilitate the payment of covered entities and recognition of revenue.

Automated data flow between systems thereby eliminating need of offline tracking of key information.

Prepared and reviewed balance sheet schedules and financial statements for audit.

Provided oversight and training to accounting team over daily and ongoing activities.

Allen Partners, Seattle, Washington

Accounting Contractor (Dec 2015 to Jan 2016)

Assisted new Controller for a local organization specializing in the manufacture and wholesale of food products and owner of multiple restaurants.

Selected Contributions:

Performed complex reconciliations for key accounts.

Documented and identified improvements for poorly understood process related to inventory and cost of goods sold accounts.

Created sales tax matrix by entity detailing tax exemptions and common taxable items by taxing jurisdiction.

Reviewed and approved Accounts Payable for accuracy and compliance to organization policy.

Seattle Financial Staffing, llc, Seattle, Washington

Accounting Contractor (Jun 2015 to Sep 2015)

Served as Assistant Controller for a local Coffee Roaster with multiple retail locations and Restaurateur.

Selected Contributions:

Brought current the books of 14 businesses spanning a variety of industries including: retail, wholesale, manufacturing, and restaurants from 2014 year end through May 2015 within 6 weeks.

Provided oversight, guidance and training to accounting team on transactions and process related to payroll, sales receipts, taxes, accounts payable.

Saved one restaurant approximately $30k in assessed taxes from WA DOR Audit by disputing and providing support to substantiate the incorrect calculation of taxes owed.

Prepared balance sheet schedules across multiply entities ranging in complexity.

Put forth recommendations to strengthen internal controls, gain efficiencies through automation, and need for more simplified reporting.

Two Degrees, Seattle, Washington

Accounting Consultant (Jul 2014 to Jan 2015)

Served as interim controller for rehabilitation hospital and joint ventures during sale and closure of operations.

Selected Contributions:

Designed and developed a defensible approach for valuing software assets, which resulted in an increase of $800k to the overall sales price.

Translated conceptual ideas and data into meaningful analysis used to influence and support management decisions.

Worked with external auditors to resolve poorly documented, complex accounting transactions, which were previously unauditable.

Forensic Accountant/Process Consultant (Dec 2013 to Feb 2014)

Selected Contributions:

Collaborated with client to establish goals and objectives of assignment.

Defined scope, deliverables, and estimated timing to complete assignment with sign off from client.

Walked through and documented existing processes.

Created process and determined data needs required for deliverables with sign off from client.

Finalized and summarized deliverables for client in Power Point with reference to location of detail substantiating findings.

Summarized risks identified, missing controls, impacts of missing controls, and recommendations for ongoing processes.

Getty Images, inc, Seattle, Washington

Finance Process Manager, Sr. (Apr 2013 to Oct 2013)

Selected Contributions:

Established and managed vendor selection process through purchase for automated SAAS account reconciliation tool.

Developed and managed project plan for vendor managed software from kickoff through implementation.

Created COA Redesign timeline.

Engaged stakeholders across organization to participate in different phases of project.

Developed project plans for reporting, design, and build & test phases of COA redesign.

Generated biweekly Steering Committee updates on progress.

Resources Global Professionals (RGP), Seattle, Washington

Consultant (Nov 2011 to Apr 2013)

Selected Contributions:

Reviewed and summarized findings related to inventory processes and controls for client’s New Business Ventures (Venture).

Recommended controls and accounting process changes related to inventory and COGS. Designed product costing process for applicable Ventures.

Implemented accounting process changes for applicable Ventures.

Provided recommendations on how Ventures could benefit from incorporating additional SAP functionality into operations including: Purchasing, Materials Management, Inventory Management, and Warehouse Management. Created SAP Roadmap for Ventures.

Assisted in rolling out of SAP purchasing.

DaVita, Inc., Tacoma, Washington

Strategic Initiatives - Manager (Mar 2009 to Sep 2011)

Provided accounting and analysis oversight for strategic initiatives with combined revenues exceeding $100mm specializing in the development and sale of electronic health record systems, management of special needs health plans, provider of disease management services, home infusion services, and outpatient liaison services.

Selected Contributions:

Orchestrated the internal setup of EHR with multiple corporate departments. including: Legal, Tax, Treasury, and Financial Reporting.

Provided guidance and analytical support to EHR senior management on structure, systems, accounting, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, metrics, modeling, and contracts.

Developed tools used to establish and evaluate product pricing and mix while ensuring compliance with laws and regulations as well as meeting financial objectives,

Collaborated with team on design of internal processes from signed contract to delivery of system to customer.

Researched and provided accounting guidance on topics involving but not limited to: business line closures, intersegment transactions, eliminations, accounting implications of contractual arrangements, and capital spend.

Partnered with strategic initiatives finance team to revamp balance sheet supporting schedules and reconcile complex accounts.

Automated the creation of monthly financial reports, which reduced processing time each month by 20 hours.

Initiated and led internal control assessment across multiple sites and recapped findings for senior management.

Finance Manager – G&A (Sep 2007 to Mar 2009)

Managed annual process for G&A Corporate budgets $440mm including: distribution, accumulation, and loading of budget templates for over 100 departments. Generated reporting for senior management summarizing budgets and analysis of budgets. Reviewed budgets with department heads for accuracy and completeness while assessing budget requests for value add, necessity, and impacts to operations. Assisted departments in establishing metrics that measured performance of department objectives.

Selected Contributions:

Revamped and automated monthly review templates and process to facilitate the capture of relevant information in a timely manner necessary for actionable decisions and improved forecasting.

Redesigned hierarchies in Essbase to support reporting process, which minimized time spent generating ad hoc reporting allowing for more time focusing on analysis.

PABCO Roofing Products, Tacoma, Washington

Finance Manager (Jul 2005 to Sep 2007)

Provided plant financial oversight of production, purchasing, accounts payable, and payroll. Managed the month end close process, prepared journal entries, generated financial statements, conducted variance analysis against budgeted and actual prior periods, and summarized operating results and related metrics for senior management. Worked with sales and production to generate annual budget. Generated monthly, quarterly, and annual forecasts for corporate. Assessed plant internal controls and strengthened or established controls where necessary. Represented plant in all internal/external audits and special projects.

Selected Contributions:

Site lead for trouble shooting SAP system issues and implementing new SAP functionality including: BW reporting, budgeting, and automated time keeping.

Maintained master data in SAP for plant including: material masters, activities, routings, and cost estimates.

Provided financial support and analysis for potential acquisitions by developing financial models.

Weyerhaeuser co., Federal Way, Washington

Business Analyst/Senior Accountant (Apr 2001 to Jun 2005)

Assisted in centralizing accounting for Pulp, Paper, and Containerboard mills while implementing major ERP conversion (SAP). Established and documented new processes and procedures. Trained and provided oversight to new accountants. Performed month end/year end closing activities for Pulp and Paper mill: prepared journal entries, posted consumption, reviewed inventories, cost centers, and profit centers, reconciled total manufacturing costs and balance sheets, analyzed financial results and researched variances.

Selected Contributions:

Played key role in replacing SAP product costing with natural expense solution.

Designed, defined and standardized cost center/profit center structure and allocations for new solution.

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Additional experience as Staff Accountant

Click2learn.com, Inc., Bellevue, Washington (Jun 1999 to Apr 2001)

Polmar Fisheries, Inc., Seattle, Washington (Jan 1999 to Jun 1999)

Trident Seafood Corp., Seattle, Washington (Sep 1997 to Jan 1999)

Education and technical skills

Bachelors of Accounting Western Washington University – Bellingham, Washington

Masters of Business Administration University Of Phoenix – Tacoma, Washington

Technical Proficiencies: Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SAP, Oracle, Essbase, Quickbooks, Blackline

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