CPA
Resume:
Carol Cannon, CPA, MBA
***********@*****.***
Currently working as a federal accounting contractor at Creative Solutions Consulting Inc. (HQ: Indianapolis, IN) with over 20 years of post-MBA experience in financial planning and analysis, expense management, finance operations, regulatory compliance, audit readiness and internal controls. Highlights of my post - MBA experience follow.
FEDERAL CONSULTING ENGAGEMENTS WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS CONSULTING, INC. NOVEMBER 2020 – PRESENT
U.S. Dept of Defense, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) February 2025 – Present CPA Lead, Alexandria, VA and Telework
Support federal staff in audit remediation activities, such as drafting corrective action plans, revising process control narratives, performing recurring internal control testing and correction action plan validation testing at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
Evaluate current General Property, Plant and Equipment (GPPE) and Operating Materials and Supplies (OM&S) accounting practices to address potential financial reporting risks and provide recommendations.
U.S. Dept of Defense, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) February 2024 – January 2025 Senior Manager CPA, Alexandria, VA and Telework
Supported Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to respond to first stand alone audit results in accordance with OMB Circular A-136-Financial Reporting Requirements.
Served as subject matter expert to implement Corrective Action Plans in response to audit Notification of Findings on GPPE, Internal Use Software (IUS) and Contract/Vendor Pay Receipt & Acceptance.
Managed team in performing internal control testing for assessable units - GPPE and Contract/Vendor Pay.
Assisted DTRA’s Heritage Assets inventory process for reporting in the Annual Financial Report (AFR) Section 2: Financial Section Footnotes.
U.S. Dept of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff (TJS) August 2023 – February 2024 Senior Manager CPA, Arlington, VA and Telework
Served as Team Lead and subject matter expert on GPPE and IUS to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (TJS) Business Controls Branch.
Performed Corrective Action Plan validations, prepared Notification of Findings and Recommendations and drafted Corrective Action Plans for GPPE and IUS.
Assisted TJS Logistics Branch in implementing Corrective Action Plan milestones to address internal control deficiencies in capital asset and internal use software reporting. U.S. Dept of Defense, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) August 2022 – August 2023 Senior Manager CPA, Alexandria, VA and Telework
Supported DTRA in preparation of first stand alone audit in accordance with OMB Circular A-136-Financial Reporting Requirements.
Performed internal control testing for GPPE, prepared Notification of Findings and Recommendations and drafted Corrective Action Plans.
Provided draft Annual Financial Report (AFR) Section 1: Management’s Discussion and Analysis and AFR Section 2: Financial Section Footnotes.
Leveraged DTRA’s Managers’ Internal Control Program to perform beginning balance testing to obtain reasonable assurance that material accounts are free from material misstatements. U.S. Dept of Defense, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense-Comptroller (OUSD-C) November 2020 – July 2022 Senior Manager CPA, Alexandria, VA and Telework
Supported federal staff in audit remediation activities, such as drafting corrective action plans, revising process control narratives, performing recurring internal control testing and correction action plan validation testing at Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
Provided targeted audit readiness support for Fund Balance with Treasury (FBWT), Journal Voucher variances, Contract Pay, Vendor Pay and Internal Use Software (IUS).
Analyzed detailed finance and accounting processes (including DAI reporting) to identify control gaps and improvement opportunities, in addition to planning and performing tests of controls and balances.
Served as Team Lead to manage WHS’ IUS Corrective Action Plan that developed an IUS baseline inventory and Go Forward Approach for IUS accountability and risk mitigation while adhering to the DoD Financial Management Regulation 7000.14R and DoD Instruction 5000.76.
FEDERAL CONSULTING ENGAGEMENTS WITH COTTON & COMPANY JANUARY 2016 – OCTOBER 2020
U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) June 2020 – October 2020 Supervisory Senior Accounting Consultant, Arlington, VA and Telework Provided financial reporting and audit support services to USMS’s Financial Services Division (FSD), in support of the annual Department of Justice (DOJ) consolidated audit and to strengthen USMS’s Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR).
Performed obligation analysis, undelivered order (UDO) analysis, quarterly certification of all USMS open obligations for the 94 USMS Districts and 17 USMS Divisions, and other data analysis applicable to USMS financial reporting.
Prepared monthly USMS journal entries for USMS financial statements.
Conducted monthly “Audit Café” presentations to all USMS Divisions on applicable financial reporting issues.
Provided individual training sessions to Districts and Division offices on obligation analysis, accrual reporting and quarterly certifications.
Documented standard operating procedures (SOPs) and A-123 narratives for applicable FSD analysis methods and recommended process improvements for timely and accurate financial reporting.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) July 2018 – June 2020 Supervisory Senior Accounting Consultant (Subject Matter Expert Level 2), Washington, DC & Telework Provided support and guidance to key VA client staff in developing fiscal and accounting policy related to the implementation of the new Integrated Financial Acquisition Management System (iFAMS). Served as subject matter expert on internal controls over operations, accounting classification structure, ERP and financial reporting to the Department of Treasury.
Served as senior supervisory member of Accounting Classification Structure (ACS) team responsible for development of fundamental system elements including appropriate guidance relative to financial policies and procedures.
Managed ACS activities with the VA Lead and reported activity progress in the Integrated Project Schedule for each wave of iFAMS implementation.
Composed guidance documentation and handbooks outlining the accounting classification structure and regulations and policies that affected the development of iFAMS such as OMB A-11.
Identified and recommended process improvements and opportunities for the VA to leverage system functionality to meet current laws and regulations or proposed new ones.
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) May 2017 – June 2018 Senior Auditor, Washington, DC
Provided the PBGC Contracts and Controls Review Department with internal controls assessment services under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-123, Management’s Responsibility for Internal Control, and its Appendix A, Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Evaluated control of design and effectiveness at the entity-wide and business levels.
Developed recommendations to remediate identified IG audit findings and compliance exceptions to existing policies and procedures.
Conducted walkthrough meetings with various process owners and document business processes, according to OMB Circular A-123 requirements.
U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) January 2016 – April 2017 Senior Auditor, Arlington, VA
Provided the DEA’s Program Review team with a variety of financial management and accounting support services including assurance that key programs are operating effectively and efficiently, and assessment of compliance with established internal controls, laws, regulations, and financial management policies and procedures including A-123.
Conducted interviews and walkthroughs with program managers to provide analysis of financial policies and procedures.
Documented standardized business processes and assessed internal control design to be consistent with Office of Management and Budget, General Accounting Office and DEA guidance and policies.
Tested obligation and payment transactions to ensure accurate recording and reporting.
Prepared workpapers to document test results and reviewed staff workpapers.
Assisted in writing internal audit reports to communicate any issues identified and recommendations for corrective actions.
Performed daily reviews of financial transactions as part of a continuous monitoring program to prevent and detect prohibited purchases.
PREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
SBM Site Services March 2014 – February 2015
Finance Manager, Sacramento, CA (Remote Employee)
Oversaw forecasting and budget performance for a building maintenance firm and participated in financial due diligence for new business opportunities.
Maintained a variety of resources to accurately support cost accounting, forecasting, and financial due diligence for building maintenance contracts on U.S. East Coast and Canada.
Essex County Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs September 2012 – February 2014 Consultant/Special Assistant to Recreation & Cultural Affairs Director, Newark, NJ Provided managerial consulting services to Director to enable problem solving within the park system and the county’s for-profit facilities. Coordinated and supervised large scale volunteer landscaping projects and weekly maintenance volunteer groups. Advised non-profits associated with county parks on meeting financial reporting guidelines set by GAAP and OMB Circular A-133 when applying for grants. Interacted with public on behalf of department.
Re-wrote landscaping RFPs for all county parks and monitored contractor compliance to contracts.
Citibank North America February 2006 – April 2011
Vice President, Marketing Controller/Accountant, New York, NY Oversaw and managed more than $275 million in marketing and controllable expenses for the retail branch network, including online consumer and small business banking products and services. Provided financial and strategic support for retail and online banking including loyalty/rewards programs.
Reduced the monthly budgeted-to-actual variance by standardizing marketing finance reports and procedures.
Developed and conducted bi-annual fiscal training for more than 80 marketing staff members on financial accountability and budget management.
Developed standardized processes and training on budget and forecast management for more than 30 marketing program managers.
Citigroup, Inc. October 2002 – February 2006
Assistant Vice President, Control Officer, Global Consumer Group, New York, NY Oversaw internal and external audits, reported results, and managed follow-ups for the Consumer Treasury and Diners Club International units. Provided compliance and audit support to newly acquired business units and served as a key member representing all North America consumer units on a corporate-wide committee focusing on business unit balance sheets and intercompany controls.
Developed a system for working across departments to continuously monitor compliance with the Sarbanes- Oxley Act, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (FDICIA), COSO, and other banking and credit card regulations.
Reported audit results and resolution reporting to management.
Provided management with information on the effect and implications of newly enacted laws and directives published by regulatory government agencies.
Implemented intercompany monitoring procedures for both balance sheet and income statement accounts.
Citigroup, Inc. November 2001 – October 2002
Financial Management Associate III, Economic Capital & Treasury, New York, NY Performed analyses to develop economic capital and operational risk models during the final rotation of the corporate CFO-sponsored Financial Management Associate program. Assisted in testing the initial economic capital methodology in trial countries.
Analyzed corporate-wide issuance of guarantees, resulting in a centralized product group.
Implemented standard procedures to comply with requirements for the corporation’s debt issuance under Statements of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.
Developed accounting procedures to maintain Treasury FAS 133 regulated documentation from the first rotation.
Citigroup, Inc. April 2001 – October 2001
Financial Management Associate II, Country Treasury, Hong Kong, China Updated and reviewed product programs, FX rate models, and transfer pricing documentation during the international rotation of the corporate CFO-sponsored Financial Management Associate Program.
Constructed four debt repricing models for back-office treasury use and cross-trained on the Asia/Pacific warrants desk as a backup trader.
Participated in the creation of roll-up and analysis of Asia/Pacific consolidated financial plans and reporting to US Headquarters.
Citigroup, Inc. July 2000 – April 2001
Financial Management Associate I, Treasury & Financial Control, New York, NY Served as the FAS 133 project accounting manager for Corporate Treasury program hedge documentation. Prepared preliminary balance sheet and capital charge analyses for Citigroup Board of Directors.
Conducted post-settlement discovery on FAS 133-related assets acquired through purchase of Associates & Co.
(Dallas, TX).
EDUCATION
MBA, Finance, Cornell University
BBA, Finance, Howard University
CERTIFICATIONS
Maryland CPA License #43760
Virginia CPA License #48745
Affiliations
Association of Government Accountants (AGA) Issue Date Maryland Association of CPAs
Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA)
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