Carolyn Simmons 214-***-****

LinkedIn Profile ad3rfk@r.postjobfree.com

Financial Advisor / Investment Consultant

A detailed-focused financial investment professional who excels in analyzing all aspects of large investment funds, high volume of trades, and multimillion-dollar real estate portfolios to identify and correct variances while ensuring accuracy and completeness. Demonstrates a keen ability to evaluate processes and identify areas for improvement, providing action plans, tools, and technology to enhance results. Experience includes leading and managing team members, driving adherence to government regulations and industry best practices while ensuring understanding of new policies and SOPS.

Areas of Expertise

Team Leadership – Risk Management – Process Development – Process Improvement – Conflict Resolution

Research – Data Analysis – Training & Development – AP/AR – Account Management – Reporting – Compliance

Highlights of Qualifications

• Regulatory Compliance: Worked on the monthly accounting close procedures, including journal entries, share reconciliations, and reporting, for 25 large asset funds; ensured adherence to SOX and GAAP standards.

• Workflow Enhancement: Developed a 25-page workbook to provide detailed instruction on processes used in fund accounting; decreased reconciliation time 50%, from 3 weeks to 10 days.

• Process Improvement: Designed and implemented a database to access and review account information and variance reports to enhance and expedited the reconciliation process.

• Business Growth: Expanded team capabilities at Fidelity from processing 2,500 to 25,000 accruals per month, including partnering with IT to develop a database to upload, track, and identify potential issues for investigation.

• Employee Development: Created and delivered training on accounting policy, workflow, and system changes; evaluated staff performance and providing coaching and recommendations for improvement.

• Process Documentation: Ensured written policies and procedures were available, regularly updated, and adhered to for all critical and non-standard functions; coordinated with all business partners on new fund launches.

Professional Overview

Senior Trust Accountant – Beneficient Company Group 2019 – Present

Prepare or review periodic statements of trust activity.

Maintain books and records for trusts owning private assets (primarily private equity funds) in accordance with established procedures and controls

Record and reconcile investment details to books and records.

Prepare or review cash transactions to move funds through a series of trusts, as prescribed by agreements, including repayment of loans and interest.

Complete bank and all cash activity reconciliations.

Prepare materials as requested for auditors and respond to their inquiries. Assist in design and implementation of internal audit practices and procedures. Prepare reports that calculate and analyze performance returns

Senior Investment Fund Accountant – HighGround Advisors 2016-2019

• Reviewed NAVs for reasonableness and tolerance thresholds and analyzes daily transactions posted to custody system for reasonableness and accuracy (primarily private investment transactions).

• Calculated monthly Income distribution and instructed operations with amounts/factors to post by 9am on FBD.

Analyzed and submitted invoices for payment and compared actual expenses to accruals to ensure accuracy. Reviewed custodian stale price reports, documented stale priced security positions, and presented findings monthly.

• Created and posted trades in system on FBD and reviewed exception reports prepared by account administrators, adjusting trades as needed; placed trades in pending status and sent trade summary to the trade committee.

• Exported trades from system, summarized trades in pivot table, and conveyed trades to custodian on settlement day.

• Analyzed activity and market value updates posted by custodian to private investments and commingled funds; entered capital calls, followed manager statements, audited financial statements, and tracked receipt of K-1s.

• Generated actions and issues report and developed agenda for monthly conference calls and quarterly meetings with custodian to review key performance indicators and scorecards.

Fund Accounting Unit Manager – Fidelity 2011-2015

• Directed a team of Accounting Managers and up to 15 analysts, providing guidance on technical and managerial issues, including audits, day-to-day activities, and accurate and timely month-end closings.

• Led team in expanding work capabilities, growing from a 2,500 to 25,000 monthly accrual workload.

• Managed expenses being processed for all institutional funds and coordinated with business partners on request.

• Identified areas of operational risk and prescribed actions to mitigate risk and escalate accordingly.

• Drove adherence to established deadlines for the group's reporting responsibilities, including fund audit packages; ensured data accuracy provided to users.

• Identified and allocated available resources at the divisional department level to achieve operational and project requirements; determined staffing needs and oversaw recruiting and hiring aspects.

• Created contingency procedures for critical functions, trained staff, and oversaw regular testing of procedures.

• Developed plans and change initiatives to address new industry regulations and best practices.

Fund Accounting Manager – Fidelity 2008-2011

• Managed department workflow oversaw pricing and bookkeeping activities and developed team members while providing formal and information training on day-to-day operations and process improvement initiatives.

• Performed high-level review of expenses and accrual prices, mils, and yields; troubleshot and/or assisted in resolution of complex expense and accrual processing.

• Analyzed exception processing by using established measures to ensure accurate and standardized results and control and mitigate associated risks.

Account Manager – Behringer Harvard Real Estate Investment 2005-2008

Accounting Supervisor – JPMorgan Chase 2000-2005

Staff Accountant – Ernst & Young, LLP 1999-2000

Account Manager – Bank of America – 1999 - 1986

Education

BS, Business & Commerce (Major in Finance) – Alabama A&M University

Life Insurance License – State of Texas

Technical Skills: MS Office (Word, Excel, Access), PeopleSoft, FRx, Platinum, Global Plus, Invest One, Innovest, Epicor and Concur, Intacct, LENS

Reference upon Request

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