Accountant

Michele Elder

South Carolina

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

SUMMARY

Results-driven full-cycle Accountant with extensive experience in financial and cost accounting, month-end close, and multi-plant operations support. Skilled at streamlining processes, enhancing internal controls, and implementing ERP/financial systems to improve accuracy and efficiency. Recognized for delivering timely, reliable reporting and partnering across departments to strengthen compliance and performance. Background spans mortgage/banking, construction, and manufacturing industries, with a proven ability to adapt quickly to new systems, challenges, and environments. CORE SKILLS

Systems & Software: Oracle, Coupa, ERP platforms, Elemos, Citrix, QuickBooks Online, SAP BI, SAP Concur, SAP Ariba, Foundation, AFRM (Accelerated Financial Reporting Management Platform), EDI platforms, OneStream, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, LiveOffice, Power BI, AI tools

Accounting & Finance: Financial reporting, cost/project accounting, GAAP compliance, month-end close, account reconciliation, variance analysis, budgeting & forecasting, accrual accounting, internal controls, audit, A/R & A/P specialist, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)

Professional Strengths: Process improvement, software implementation, data analysis, cross-functional collaboration, personnel training & team lead, problem-solving, time management, remote work efficiency, adaptability & flexibility, dependability, excellent communication

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Accountant

Sonoco Products, Hartsville, SC June 2022 – Present

• Perform full monthly general ledger close for multiple facilities spanning different business units, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.

• Detect, investigate, and correct discrepancies during the closing process, improving statement accuracy and reducing errors.

• Review monthly operating statements, balance sheets, and P&L reports for reasonableness and completeness, identifying anomalies and recommending corrective actions.

• Support and maintain division- and business-unit-level financial processes, including accruals, cost tracking, and expense allocations; assist in completing property tax returns for multiple plants, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and deadlines.

• Prepare balance sheet reconciliations and maintain a variety of financial reports to aid management decision-making.

• Reconcile open items on the general ledger via Oracle, streamlining month-end close and improving reporting efficiency.

• Create custom reports using LiveOffice and OneStream, providing management with actionable insights for plant operations.

• Reconcile trucking and freight reports against system records, identifying variances and making revenue accruals to ensure accurate period-end reporting.

• Create and submit fixed journals for yearly budgets, supporting accurate forecasting and planning.

• Maintain effective communication with plant personnel, participate in internal peer audits, and ensure compliance with corporate policies and GAAP standards.

**Accomplishments:

• Lead cleanup project for reconciling and closing outdated Coupa Accrual purchase orders.

• Assist team with cleanup project for reconciling and cleaning up outdated Material Accruals in Elemos.

Project Cost/Staff Accountant

Universal Blastco, Sumter, SC December 2018 – June 2022

• Created profitability reports across 90+ projects, providing leadership with insights that improved forecasting accuracy

• Entered journal entries for adjustments, cost allocations, accruals, and led month-end close

• Analyzed and reconciled inventory transactions and project cost ledgers

• Prepared profitability reports and analyzed income statements for each cost center

• Reconciled banking and credit card accounts, employee expense reports, and inventory ledger

• Assigned and tracked company-provided assets, including journal entries for cell phone cost distribution

• Assisted auditors by preparing, analyzing, and distributing requested information for annual audits

• Led purchase order module implementation, improving cost allocation accuracy and streamlining vendor invoice processing.

• Reviewed, analyzed, and entered health insurance allocations into the general ledger

• Managed invoice processing, vendor correspondence, and batch payment uploads including wire transfers and ACH transactions

• Prepared and submitted month-end Corporate Accounting reports to Accounting Controller

• Created proposals for municipal jobs and processed payroll, taxes, W2s, and 1099s for vendors/employees

• Supported daily accounting operations, including Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, paycard entry, time entry, and job setup

• Maintained adherence to GAAP standards

**Accomplishment - Lead purchase order module implementation, improving cost allocation

accuracy and streamlining vendor invoice processing. Accounts Payable Specialist

Universal Blastco, Sumter, SC June 2017 – December 2018

• Processed vendor invoices with accurate coding via ERP software (Foundation)

• Corresponded with vendors regarding payment and invoice discrepancies

• Prepared and uploaded batch check runs, wire transfers, and ACH transactions

• Reviewed and approved employee expense reports via SAP Concur

• Reconciled cash accounts and vendor statements

• Assisted with payroll processing and supported other daily accounting tasks Office Manager/Accountant

Rowe Inc/Riverside Farms, Lynchburg, SC June 2014 – January 2017

• Created reports for accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, job cost, etc.

• Created invoices and apply payments for Accounts Receivable

• Received and reviewed supplier invoices, create entries for Accounts Payable, and process checks via QuickBooks for signature

• Reviewed customer accounts for Accounts Receivable due, and call for payment status

• Processed payroll, payroll taxes, company taxes, W2s, 1099s

• Researched current job bids and obtain pricing on materials needed

• Created and submitted proposals for jobs through DOT and other municipalities, as well as private companies

• Other facets of the position included procurement, estimating, creating AIA contracts and change orders

• Analyzed construction plans and bid tabulations

• Responsible for all IT related implementations and issues (printers/computers/network) Assumption Loan/Short Sale Specialist

JP Morgan Chase, Florence, SC September 2009 – June 2014

• Responsible for receiving, preparation and processing of applications for mortgage assumption loans for various types of mortgage lending

• Credit review for approval and recommendation for approval or denial

• Maintain all Regulation B requirements and deadlines on all applicants

• Monitor and maintain status database of 75+ applicants

• Review short sale application to determine eligibility based on investor guidelines

• Monitor DOJ and OCC reports and address any outstanding complaints or violations

• First-level signing authority up to $75,000 investor loss

• Title review for submission for HUD approval and closing details EDUCATION

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Limestone University – Florence, SC December 2021

• Associate in Business Management, Florence-Darlington Technical College – Florence, SC

December 2014

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