Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager

Jennie Lederer

*** ****** ******, **** * ~ Stamford, CT 06905

203-***-****

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

Accounting Professional with cross-functional and project management skills. Experience with accounts payable, accounts receivable, internal controls, billing, intra-company billing, training, payroll, cash management, system integrations, collections, month-end closings, analyzing accounts, internal auditing, and general ledger.

Demonstrated ability to manage, train, and mentor staff. Highly focused on customer retention and quality. Process improvement success within system implementation and internal controls, excellent problem solver, strong analysis skills. Managed financial applications and improvements within multiple accounting software applications.

Microsoft Office, Internet, JD Edwards, SAP, Lawson, Great Plains, Spectrum, Meditech,MAS500. Completed courses in leadership training, presentation skills, and management development.

SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

· Identified and corrected $2.8 million in duplicate/erroneous charges through account reconciliation process and reopened intra-company books over a three-year period. Full credit to the company’s P & L.

· Initiated and managed projects for business unit management on the identification, documentation and testing of key controls intra-company, accounts receivable, and account payable manual check process.

· Liaised with Internal Audit to advise on Sox compliance issues within the internal billing process.

· Initiated the creation of a report with programmers that saved over $2 million in tax compliance for billing that provided visibility to see over 800 customer’s invoices monthly.

· Initiated change to the overnight distribution of all Airborne packages that cut costs over 27%.

· Resolved over $2.5M in delinquent receivables by meeting with several delinquent accounts while on field office training missions, which helped to improve and solidify customer relationships.

· Worked with acquisition due diligence teams to advise of the SOX compliances thru contracts/billing/cash.

· Initiated projects to create standard policy and procedures for account payables and receivables, collections, credit card processing, and intra-company billing. Streamlined and improved processes.

· Bridged communication gap between field and corporate establishing team cooperation and rapport.

· Received “First Choice Award” for excellence in outstanding customer service and developing a process for increasing company cash flow with main focus on lowering the DSO.

EXPERIENCE:

Consultant

Consulting for multiple companies on long and short-term assignments. 2007-Present

Stamford Hospital

Webloyalty, Norwalk, CT

Diageo, Norwalk, CT

PT Management Company, Stamford, CT

· Prepare fixed assets for year end closing for numerous special projects

· Year end accruals for all vendors

· Examine ways to improve process for bank imports and managed to cut time by 50%

· Reconcile export from bank to MAS500 general ledger

· Document and create procedures for billing, receivable, and payables

· Prepare 3rd party reconciliation for reporting

· Reconcile and posting of general ledger cash

· Analysis and reconciliation of balance sheet and general ledger accounts

· Responsible for corporate supply department for the testing and analysis of Purchase Orders

JCC, Stamford, CT 2006 - 2007

A $16mm non-profit organization that provides memberships for fitness, programs, and activities for all ages.

Accounting Manager

Responsible for process improvements in management of billing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, registration, bank and customer account reconciliation, monthly close process and collections. Improve member and directors relationships within department. Ensure timeliness of processing accounts payable invoices and payroll.

· Implement internal controls and analysis of customer accounts for billing and misapplied payments

· Instituted and documented appropriate policies and operational procedures that are now in place

· Supervise, hire and mentor new employees, managed staff of three account representatives

· Open lines of communication with managing directors for all programs re: accounts payable, receivable, billing and registration while improving retention with members

· Project leader for new membership software implementation, completed on budget and ahead of schedule

WILLIAMS LEA, Wilton, CT 2005 – 2005

Leading provider of Business Process Outsourcing and Corporate Information Solutions, with sales of $850mm.

Manager, Accounts Receivable/Collections/Bank Reconciliation

Responsible for the management of billings, account receivables, collections, bank reconciliation, and general ledger account analysis. Work with internal auditors to identify policy and procedure changes that were necessary for proper internal controls.

· Instituted changes to improve the process of cash application, credits, re-bill, billing, and collections by cutting process time in showing a better application through Lawson and reviewing the aging weekly.

· Opened the communication levels to encourage team building and positive changes to improve cash flow.

· Monthly closings, account analysis, while locating major flaws in the manual process of cash/credit card payments. Introduced a more efficient and less manual process for all corporate transactions.

· Managed and trained staff, as well as introduced more efficient ways for the field to improve collections.

· Reconciled all bank accounts, customer accounts, and general ledger accounts.

PITNEY BOWES MANAGEMENT SERVCES, Stamford, CT 1990 – 2004

Leading provider of integrated mail and document management solutions and services with sales of $4.6 billion.

Manager, Accounts Receivable/Payable/Credit Collections/Account Analysis

Functional responsibility for over $1 billion in billings using JDE customized billing for our customers, which also comprised of intra-company, national accounts, receivables, collections, reconciliation, and general ledger analysis in JDE software. Tracked quality and monitored strict adherence to policies and procedures while focusing on positive cash flow. Maintained strategic client and vendor relationships while minimizing risk and facilitating collection activities utilizing JDE reporting. Known and recognized for high level of energy, dedication, value added, and resourcefulness. Strong advocate of teamwork, positive change, performance excellence. Performed monthly closings, journal entries, assisted with Hyperion reporting when needed while finding better ways to streamline the preparation time by utilizing and creating reports in JDE’s accounting system, accruals, bank reconciliations and account analyses. Negotiated contracts with vendors when needed, collection agencies and customers. Ensured compliance with both internal and external auditors.

· Collaborated with internal auditors to improve intra-company process up to an acceptable level in preparation for compliance with Sarbanes Oxley. Ability to influence corporate general ledger and other divisions for acceptance of change.

· Responsible for the selection, evaluation, and negotiation for all contracts with collection agencies, as well as settlements on customer accounts when necessary.

· Sole leadership responsibility for transitioning all acquisitions to JD Edwards meeting targets and maintaining data accuracy while assuring the integrity of accounts receivable, billing, and contracts.

· Created and/or improved policies and procedures guide for accounts payable, manual check processes, accounts receivable, collections, and intra-company billing process.

· Implemented all system changes, testing and trained all new users on JD Edwards accounting software, local and field staff. Maintained all set-ups for vendors and customers, and reports for general accounting functions.

· Ensured accuracy of coding, entry, processing, batching, and filing of all accounts payable invoices.

· Oversee the day-to-day operations and controls of accounts receivable, payables, balance sheet general ledger accounts, and collections, by the attributes within our accounting software.

· Managed, trained, mentored, and developed professional staff encompassing several local and over 23 field offices in accounts payable, billing, collections, and receivable.

· Significantly improved process for intra-company billings and reduced processing time 45% by utilizing electronic communication tools such as email, attachments on excel showing analysis.

· Built excellent relationships with all field personnel, vendors and internal contacts, improving communication and cooperation.

· Excellent capability to reconcile customer’s account history, general ledger, billing issues, and bank accounts.

· Introduced electronic and credit card payment processing, which improved cash flow by 20%.

Previous experience included positions at Patient Care Homecare Agency, State National Bank and New York Telephone Company performing a variety of duties in the finance and operations arena.

EDUCATION/ACTIVITIES:

Bachelors of Business Administration with minor in Management, Suffield University

President and Treasurer of River Terrace condo association.

Fundraising and volunteering for NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, local Mayoral Candidate, St. Leo’s Fair, Tully Center Breast Cancer Walk and Red Cross.

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