Remote-Ready Division Controller (SOX & Analytics)
Resume:
Julie M. Brooks
Fulton, NY 13069
********@*****.***
I am an accounting and financial professional with over 20 years of experience in business management, financial statement and income tax preparation, budgeting, financial planning, analysis and application of accounting principles using GAAP. I possess a proven capacity to improve and maximize overall business and finance function integration through effective communication processes. I am also an experienced self-starter, team player, problem solver with keen attention to detail, innovator with creative skills and experience to improve overall business processes. Professional Experience:
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. Geneva, NY
Position: Division Controller December, 2024 to Present Division Controller for a Mid-Sized Company on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. As an integral part of the Finance Team, provides support in budget preparation and expense management activities, directs, oversees, and guides the daily accounting functions for Geneva, NY Division and Facility within the Organization.
● Assists in cash collection activities working with cash applications and collections personnel.
● Executes internal controls and audits of policies and procedures in order to preserve the facilitates assets and maintains SOX compliance at the operating level within the Recycling Region.
● Conducts ad hoc analyses of the plant's finances and prepares reports to facilitate decision making.
● Completes the preparation of financial statements and filings to ensure compliance with company, state, or official rules and regulations.
● Coordinates monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting close processes to maintain organization and efficiency within their assigned cost center.
● Plans, organizes, and guides projects to distribute work among employees.
● Assesses current accounting operations in order to determine recommendations or solutions for improvement and implementation of new processes.
● Coordinates with account executives to streamline budget processing.
● Managing the accumulation and consolidation of all financial data necessary for accurate accounting of consolidated business results.
● Manages and provides leadership to team members by effectively communicating, establishing clear goals and objectives, coaching team members on achieving goals, and ensuring access to training and development opportunities that assist employees in attaining the necessary skills to achieve team and corporate results.
● Participates in training and other learning opportunities to expand knowledge of the company, products, sales, and services and performs any other duties needed to help drive our vision, fulfill our mission, and/or abide by our core values.
● Ensures compliance with all company, state, and federal policies, regulations, and laws regarding employment and employee safety. Thomas Electronics, Inc. Clyde, NY
Position: Accounting Manager November, 2023 to December, 2024 Accounting Manager for a Multi-National Aerospace Manufacturing Company with high profile Clients such as Boeing, Northrup, Collins and Honeywell.
● Part of the Management Team in charge of all the Company’s Accounting Functions using Syteline Accounting Software.
● Daily Management of Cash Balances and Cash Flow.
● Work closely with the Owners to ensure timely payment of bills, accounts receivable collections, multi-state sales tax return preparation, annual income tax preparation, tax planning and budgeting.
● Supervision of a staff of financial professionals working in the Accounting Office.
● Preparation and presentation of monthly Financial Statements based upon GAAP as well as a variety of custom managerial financial analytical reports.
● Review of processes for improvement that include cross training, written Standard Operation Procedures and standardization of processes.
● In charge of transitioning to a more paperless environment and modernization of office/accounting practices for better effectiveness/efficiency.
● Key Player is conversion from Syteline Accounting Software to Odoo. Syracuse University Campus Store Syracuse, NY
Position: Senior Business Manager April, 2022 to November, 2023 Senior Business Manager for the Syracuse University Campus Store that included the operations located at the Shine Student Center, Slocum as well as the The JMA Wireless Dome.
● Under the leadership of the Campus Store Director with dotted line responsibility to the Auxiliary Services Executive Director of Budget and Operations, assumed responsibilities related to budgets and finance for the Campus Store, a department within Auxiliary Services.
● Development of estimated budget final projections, assists with long range planning and special projects and scenarios related to the Division's budget plan.
● The position was also responsible for monitoring daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual financial data for the Campus Store including sales, purchases, gross margin, and payroll expenses as well as sales tax for multiple states, business interruption worksheets and Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT).
● Met with Store Buyers to plan and develop budget expectations as well as monitoring improvements when necessary.
● Supervision of a staff of financial professionals working in the Business Office and Accounts Payable. Syracuse University Campus Store Syracuse, NY
Position: Assistant Business Manager December, 2021-April, 2022 Assistant Business Manager for the Syracuse University Campus Store that included the operations located at the Shine Student Center as well as the “The Dome”. Responsible for assisting the Business Manager with coverage of the Business Office when Staff took sick/vacation days as well as filling in as Sr. Retail Assistant due to the vacant position since prior employee’s promotion to Customer Service Manager
● Assisted with monthly financial ad hoc reporting, review, reconcile and preparation of General Ledger Transactions for the Campus Store including sales, purchases, gross margin, payroll expenses and balance sheet accounts. Worked with Business Manager on projects assigned and resolution of daily NetSuite POS/Peoplesoft/Cuse Cash/Freedom Pay issues. Supervision of Student Staff in physical inventory counts.
● Performed duties of the Sr. Retail Assistant that included daily store opening and closing procedures, including deposit consolidation, safe counts, secure transport/storage of daily deposits, audits and reconciles sales records from the previous day. Reconciled cashier and register drawers. Unlocked and reset cashier passwords as needed. Worked night and weekend shifts to fulfill the needs of the Store as needed.
● Audited Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable; reconciled entries, performed account adjustments as per posting from Bursar’s Office. Responsible for Third Party Account billing payment receipt and reconciliations. Paid Non-Inventory Items purchased via requisitions to SU Disbursements Department. Audited deposit accounts daily and prepared monthly reconciliations to General Ledger.
● Collected transaction dates and necessary reports to calculate and submit monthly, quarterly, bi-annual and annual sales tax filings for multiple sales that included preparing sales tax remittances and preparing reconciliations to NetSuite, Avalara and Peoplesoft of all sales tax liability accounts for multiple states. Works with the Comptroller’s Office to ensure timely and accurate sales tax reporting. IBEW Local 241 Union Ithaca, NY
Position: Funds Manager February 2021-November 2021 Funds Manager for Ithaca’s Electrician’s Union. Due to the position being newly created, internal accounting functions were needed. Created Quickbooks from scratch for the Annuity, General, Pension and Welfare Funds totaling over $60 million dollars in assets.
● Accounting and Payroll Functions for the IBEW Local 241 Funds as well as the JATC Electrician Facility
● Implemented conversion of Retiree Pension Payments from an Outside Service to “In House” Distributions that totaled $60,000 per month.
● Processing of all Member Retirements, Death Benefit for Beneficiaries as well as Hardship Distribution Applications.
● Assist Funds Administrator as needed with projects and meeting with the Board of Trustees. EMF Inc. Ithaca, NY
Position: Accounting/Office/Human Resource Manager October 2019-February 2021 Key Member of a Four Member Executive Management Team consisting of the President, Operations Manager, Sales Manager as well as myself. Factories offered an innovative portfolio of commercial high-volume and large format optical coating solutions on glass, metals, ceramics, plastics, and IR substrates like germanium, zinc sulfide, zinc, selenide, and chalcogenides.
● Duties included Management of the Accounting, Office and Human Resource Departments for two Optics Manufacturing Facilities in Ithaca, NY and Rochester, NY.
● Prepared departmental and consolidated monthly financial statements as well as budget analysis with emphasis on key performance indicators using Quickbooks and Excel. Monthly inventory of materials and supplies were conducted in both facilities to obtain accurate direct and indirect expenses for financial statement purposes as well as accountability of high-ticket inventory items such as rhodium, silver and gold, etc.
● Supervised Annual Audit and provided Internal Auditor with year-end financial statements along with corresponding schedules and workpapers in preparation for the external CPA Firm Annual Audit.
● Performed Human Resource functions that included payroll preparation, maintaining employee leave balance and managing every changing NYS Covid directives for our business deemed as essential.
● Created protocols to ensure the safety of the Management and Staff that included distancing, cleaning schedules, hand washing and sanitizing as well as scattered lunch schedules for staff to lessen possibilities of Covid spread. The created protocol was successful and no lost production hours occurred through my Tenure. I personally sanitized our kitchen and employee lunchroom to initially establish protocols for the facilities until we secured an outside professional cleaning service.
● Analyzed Internal Procedures and implemented improvements to the file systems which included a more “paperless system” and use of email communications for organizational purposes and accountabilities. Albert Davidson Jr., CPA, P.C. Geneva, NY
Position: CPA Firm Manager January 2019-October 2019 Bookkeeping, business management, income tax preparation and planning for clients ranging from Sole Proprietors to Non-Profit Organizations using Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures (GAAP). Management of Practice and marketing for new Clientele.
● Preparation of a variety of business filings that include payroll preparation, quarterly and annual payroll tax returns, bank loan document preparation and compiled financial statements, IRS Form 1099 and W-2 preparation.
● Respond to Client IRS audit notices. Documentation, analysis and evaluation of facts and law in the process. Use problem solving, fact- finding and investigative techniques to formulate written responses to agencies for resolution of issues at hand.
● Working knowledge of QuickBooks, Microsoft Office Suite, Lacerte Tax Software for Tax Preparation. Train staff on proper operational use of accounting programs and administrative systems. Performs administrative and human resource duties for location that include receptionist duties, maintenance of office equipment, assessing office needs and ordering supplies, running advertisements to recruit staff and other duties as assigned. Whalen, Davey & Looney CPA’s LLP Watertown, NY
Position: Staff Accountant August, 2018-January, 2019 Bookkeeping, business management, income tax preparation and planning for clients ranging from Sole Proprietors to Non-Profit Organizations using Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures (GAAP).
● Preparation of a variety of business filings that include payroll preparation, quarterly and annual payroll tax returns, bank loan document preparation and compiled financial statements, IRS Form 1099 and W-2 preparation.
● Assisted CPA’s with external audit and review engagements. Responded to Client IRS audit notices. Documented, analyzed and evaluated facts and law in the process. Used problem solving, fact- finding and investigative techniques to formulate written responses to agencies for resolution of issues at hand. Documented, analyzed and evaluated the facts in the process.
● Working knowledge of QuickBooks, Peachtree, Microsoft Office Suite, Ultra Tax Software for Tax Preparation. Train staff on proper operational use of accounting programs and administrative systems. Performed administrative and human resource duties for location that include receptionist duties, maintenance of office equipment, assessing office needs and ordering supplies, running advertisements to recruit staff and other duties as assigned. McKinney, Inc. Evans Mills, NY
Position: Chief Financial Officer/Human Resource Manager February, 2012-August, 2018 Direct and oversee all aspects of the Finance, Accounting and Human Resource functions of the organization.
● In first year of employment, analyzed accounting, finance and human resource structures. Initiated changes to streamline functions for better accountability, internal control, financial analysis, tax planning and financial statement reporting.
● Company recognized a $60,000 a year savings through my efforts of obtaining better merchant fee rates on customer credit card purchases through analysis and negotiation with Credit Card Merchant Vendors.
● Lead Role in creation of Company’s Business Plan. Worked with the President of the Company in a team effort to create the Company’s first professional Business Plan. Prepared the format, demographic portion of plan along with ten year Financial Statement Projections and Current Year-To-Date Compiled Interim Financial Statements.
● Assisted President of Company in restructuring Company’s Debt and securing Expansion Financing. Efforts resulted in obtaining over $800,000 in low interest SBA and Traditional Bank Financing.
Amherst Brewing Company, Inc. Amherst, MA
Position: Corporate Accountant/Bookkeeper July, 2011-November, 2011 Bookkeeping, business management and accounting for Brewery, Bar & Restaurant in the process of an expansion project.
● Preparation of internal payroll and human resource management for 120 employees.
● Responsible for daily accountability of revolving cash funds, replenishment of change funds, deposits and transfers of funds.
● Review of daily sales activity from POS restaurant management system (CIAO) for input into Quickbooks Accounting Program.
● Bank Reconciliations for all Company accounts, journal entries and review of Balance Sheet and Statement of Profit and Loss.
● Worked directly with President regarding financial management of business that included cash availability, overtime, human resource issues, internal controls and analysis of financial statements using statistical analysis tools for use in managerial decision making and implementation of corresponding corrective actions.
● Supported President of Company in Expansion of Business from a 4000 to a new 20,000 square foot facility.
● Created a Seamless transition of the Accounting, Human Resource & Administration Functions throughout the new facility construction, transition from old to new facility, doubling of the Company’s Workforce and Grand Reopening Harabedian & Hall, Co. Los Angeles, CA
Position: CPA Firm Bookkeeper December, 2010-May, 2011 Bookkeeping for a variety of A-List Entertainers, Studios, Production Companies, Businesses, Individuals, Trusts and Foundations.
● Compiled financial statement preparation and submission to clients, outside agencies and tax department for processing of tax returns.
● Preparation of Multi-State Payroll Tax Returns, IRS Form 1099 preparation, W-2 and misc other business filings as assigned.
● Working knowledge of Datafaction Accounting Software, CFS Tax Tools & Payroll Software, Quickbooks & Quicken Accounting Software and Microsoft Office Suite that included Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook. Brewer & Tominaga CPA’s LLP Westlake Village, CA
Position: CPA Firm Accountant/Bookkeeper June, 2006-January 2009 Bookkeeping, business management, income tax preparation and planning for clients ranging from Sole Proprietorships to Non-Profit Organizations using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
● Preparation of a variety of business filings that included quarterly and annual payroll tax returns, annual business licenses, compiled financial statements, IRS Form 1099 and W-2 preparation. Field work with CPA in Review Engagement.
● Prepared Review program documents based on AICPA standards before field work. Field Work included Excel work papers for Balance Sheet accounts and selected Profit & Loss Accounts. Used analytical techniques to perform numerical analysis of findings.
● Working knowledge of Lacerte Tax Preparation Software, MAS 90 (2000) Accounting Software, QuickBooks & Quicken Accounting Software, Microsoft Office Suite that included Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook and Go To My PC Remote Access Software. Groves Accountancy Corporation Canoga Park, CA
Staff Accountant October, 1990-June, 2004
Bookkeeping, business management, computer software consultation, training and technical support, income tax preparation and planning for clients ranging from Sole Proprietors to Non-Profit Organizations using Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures (GAAP).
● Preparation of a variety of business filings that include income tax returns, quarterly and annual payroll tax returns, annual business licenses, business property statements, Form 5500 submissions, bank loan document preparation, compiled financial statements, IRS Form 1099 and W-2 preparation.
● Assisted CPA’s with external audit and review engagements. Responded to Client IRS audit notices. Documented, analyzed and evaluated facts and law in the process. Used problem solving, fact- finding and investigative techniques to formulate written responses to agencies for resolution of issues at hand. Documented, analyzed and evaluated the facts in the process.
● Working knowledge of Lacerte, MAS 90(2000), QuickBooks, Quicken, Lotus 123, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, CFS Tax Tools and CCH On-Line Tax Research software. Trained staff on proper operational use of accounting programs and administrative systems. 33rd Finance Support Unit/Finance & Accounting Division Central Accounting Office Fort Drum, NY Position: Accounting Technician May, 1989–October, 1990 Examined, verified and analyzed a variety of documents to determine their mathematical correctness, validity and clerical accuracy. The documents included purchase orders, vouchers, payroll submissions, property records, etc, that were complicated by discounts, partial payments and backorders. Reviewed source, substantiating and supporting pay authorization documents to ensure completeness, propriety, authentication, accuracy, and compliance with applicable regulations, policies and precedents. Established, maintained, reviewed, determined processes and closed payroll accounts for NAF Personnel. Determination of the validity of the documents usually required a number of steps such as comparing the original purchase orders against vendor invoices and resolution of any discrepancies with the vendors or servicing activities. Coded documents in accordance with established procedures and posted to appropriate journals or ledgers. Exercised precision in entering personnel actions, reviewing pay authorization documents and leave computations that affect the disbursement of pay. Conducted payroll audits requiring in-depth research of historical records. Reviewed completed or rejected pay transactions, taking corrective action when necessary and compiling information regarding the cause of the error. Reviewed vendor statements and reconciled problems on a monthly basis. Totaled and posted to all accounts to the general ledger. Prepared worksheets and statements reflecting discrepancies and adjustments required quarterly and annually reflecting the financial condition of the activities serviced by the accounting unit that included the military installations’ Bowling Center, Arts and Crafts Center, Gymnasium, Outdoor Recreation Rental, Automobile Repair Shop, and the Club Systems’ Food, Beverage and Entertainment activities.
Education:
Syracuse University Syracuse, NY
Currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Accounting with the future goal of CPA Licensure University of Phoenix Gardena, CA
B.S. Degree Accounting 2004
UCLA Westwood, CA
Principles of Auditing 1994
Jefferson Community College Watertown, NY
A.S. Degree in Business Administration 1985
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