Controller, Accountant

Louanna L. Lawson

**** ******* ***, *********, ** 48813

517-***-**** *****************@*****.***

Professional Summary

Accountant with 10+ years of experience in nonprofit and government financial operations, specializing in grant management, audit coordination, and financial reporting. Proven track record of streamlining accounting processes, preparing audit-ready financials, and managing payroll and reconciliations. Passionate about helping mission-driven organizations improve transparency, compliance, and fiscal health. Experience

December 2023 - November 2024

O’Leary Paint, LLC. Lansing, MI - Controller

Managed journal entries, month-end and year-end closings for three entities, delivering GAAP- compliant financial statements and improving closing timelines

Executed monthly journal entries, monthly bank and general ledger reconciliations, maintaining audit-ready records for external review

Prepared monthly financial statements with variance analysis, identifying cost-saving opportunities and cash flow improvements

Coordinated with external auditors to streamline audit preparation, ensuring timely compliance with financial and regulatory standards

Maintained centralized accounting records across multiple entities, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and audit readiness including account analysis

January 2022 - September 2023

Eaton County Road Commission, Charlotte MI - Director of Finance

Streamlined finance operations by supervising a team of three and improving monthly A/P, A/R, and payroll workflows

Managed monthly payroll processing and reconciliation, ensuring accuracy and compliance with internal policies and funding regulations

Executed month-end closings and account reconciliations, delivering departmental reports to support grant tracking and fund monitoring

Developed annual financial reports and account analysis in collaboration with department heads for state and federal grant compliance

Coordinated with external auditors by preparing documentation, addressing audit inquiries, and ensuring compliance with funding guidelines

Tracked and reported on grant funding from federal and state sources, ensuring accuracy in drawdowns, allocations, and financial compliance

Lawson Resume 2

November 2016 - December 2021

State of Michigan, Lansing MI – Section Manager

Directed a team of five in preparing expenditure reports and developing compliance-focused budgets for state and federally funded programs

Supported financial team development by leading recruitment and training efforts to ensure high- quality accounting support for grant-funded initiatives

Partnered with project managers to align grant proposals with budgets and ensure compliance with federal and state funding regulations

Managed federal grant compliance by coordinating with stakeholders and tracking program expenditures, deliverables, and milestones

Provided financial guidance to leadership by analyzing budget constraints and reviewing legislative funding documents for policy compliance

Led full-cycle audit preparation and response for internal, external, and single audits, ensuring compliance with public sector and grant audit standards August 1985 - November 2016

State of Michigan, Lansing MI - Various positions (Accounting Technician to Fiscal Specialist)

Grant Lifecycle - Managed end-to-end grant administration, including solicitation research, proposal development, post-award monitoring, and financial reporting for state and federal programs

Audit Prep - Supported successful completion of Single and Program Audits by compiling data, preparing reports, and coordinating with auditors to ensure compliance with grant regulations

Financial Compliance - Developed and implemented audit programs for external agencies to ensure consistent adherence to public finance and regulatory standards

Policy & Regulation - Interpreted and applied financial legislation, funding regulations, and grant guidelines to support consistent and compliant financial operations

Reporting - Produced financial reports for program evaluation and compliance documentation, using state financial systems and databases

Education

Master of Business Administration - Strategic Management Bachelor of Applied Science – Accounting

Skills

Financial Reporting, Monthly Closings & Financial Analytics

Accounts Payable & Receivable

Payroll Processing & Reconciliation

Grant Monitoring & Funding Compliance

Audit Preparation (Internal & External)

Bank & Balance Sheet Reconciliation

QuickBooks Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Accounting Software

Communication (verbal and written Team Collaboration Process Optimization

Contact this candidate