VICKI HURSTON

**** ***** ****** ***** • Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806 • 225-***-**** • sz6a6z@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

A dedicated and results-driven finance manager with extensive proficiencies in strategic and financial planning, forecasting, international accounting, risk management, credit operations, portfolio administration, mergers and acquisitions, financial analysis, accounting, and tax reporting. Possesses a proven track record guiding and mentoring staff toward the achievement of key business objectives. Proficient in aligning goals of multiple locations to support the overall growth efforts of an organization. A forward-thinking and analytical producer who pinpoints areas for improvements and implements methods to achieve positive change.

EXPERIENCE

ALBEMARLE CORPORATION, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Credit Manger 2006-2012

Provided guidance to credit counterparts in five countries in three sales regions, regarding credit and collection activities of approximately $500,000,000 of outstanding trade receivables. Prepared, requested, and reviewed company-issued letters of credit. Tracked globally Albemarle and subsidiary-issued letters of credit, bank guarantees, and other contingent liabilities for quarterly disclosure reporting.

• Managed and maintained daily production goals through effective training, effective operations flow, efficient maintenance process, and motivation of staff.

• Maintained optimal sales while controlling DSO, bad debt, and credit policy.

• Acted as Treasury transition leader for transfer of cash management and credit functions for process improvements to Albemarle Center of Excellence in Budapest, Hungary.

• Handled timely preparation and review of accounts receivable and working capital reports.

• Ensured positive interaction with sales and business management along with global business unit vice president.

Team Lead, Credit 2003-2006

Coordinated collection process globally, managing timeliness of credit investigations and risk assessments. Supervised credit and collections staff. Provided sales, business development, and senior management with risk assessments of companies involving potential new business opportunities. Assisted subsidiaries with credit assessment.

• Provided proactive updates of SAP system customer masters with credit limit information, along with troubleshooting system problems regarding credit and accounts receivable.

• Recommended and implemented process improvements in areas of credit assessment, accounts receivable collection, and accounts receivable reporting.

• Prepared and analyzed monthly accounts receivable DSO and past-due reports by business unit and global region.

• Managed post-acquisition process of inputting customer accounts receivable balances in SAP financial reporting system.

Senior Credit Representative 2000-2003

Executed credit risk assessment for new and existing customers through use of credit investigation tools and financial statement analysis. Communicated daily with customer service representatives, sales personnel, and business managers to discuss resolutions for problem accounts.

• Exhibited daily decision-making skills regarding blocked orders.

• Initiated collection proceedings to reduce month-end past-due percentage.

• Maintained accounts receivable customer records.

Senior Payroll Accountant 1998-2000

Configured, trained, monitored, and administered functioning of procedures for using time and attendance system. Controlled posting of payroll data to general ledger in SAP via interface from payroll system. Printed payroll checks and advices. Identified and reported on adequacy of procedures and controls of payroll process.

• Reconciled general ledger payroll accounts monthly.

• Prepared necessary adjustments to general ledger for payroll errors.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Staff Accountant, 1994-1998. Performed reconciliation of various general ledger accounts. Generated, collected, and reconciled miscellaneous accounts receivable accounts. Created rental expense quarterly footnote. Managed various special projects. Served as member of SAP implementation team for general ledger.

GEEST LIMITED, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands and Coral Gables, Florida, Accounting Manager, 1993-1994. Relocated accounting office responsible for all accounting functions of $200,000,000 subsidiary from Coral Gables, Florida to St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands. Managed and participated in month-end close, consolidation of divisional subsidiaries, leading and training of new personnel, and establishing accounting procedures and policies. Handled inter-company account reconciliations, account analysis, and coordination of month-end close. Handled inter-company financial reporting, staff management, and cost analysis and management.

CHIQUITA BRANDS, Cincinnati, Ohio, Senior Accountant of Chiquita Tropical Products, 1990-1993. Managed accounting activities during closure of $15,000,000 subsidiary in Irvine, California. Provided training and assistance for off-site $15,000,000 subsidiary in Mercedes, Texas and $50,000,000 subsidiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, establishing accounting and office controls and overseeing Mexican and Central American liquidations. Prepared profit contribution, working capital, capital expenditures, financial statements, and gross margin reports. Monitored and reconciled invoices and cash applications of $50,000,000 subsidiary. Verified and recorded inter-company transactions for worldwide operations. Prepared and analyzed actual expenditures to budget via plan performance reports.

Staff Accountant of Chiquita Tropical Products, 1989-1990. Prepared and reconciled monthly balance sheet and bank statements. Maintained and reconciled fixed-asset and depreciation records. Produced various reports for management, including cash forecast, profit report, and option report on oil futures. Handled preparation of monthly account reconciliations. Processed, prepared, and recorded Chiquita Tropical Products journal entries.

HIBERNIA NATIONAL BANK, Mandeville, Louisiana, Senior Staff Accountant, 1985-1989. Prepared quarterly call reports, monthly board reports, daily cash flow reports, and weekly asset/liability reports. Assisted in preparation of corporation SEC filing of 10-Q reports, annual reports, and proxy. Monitored fluctuations in accounts, yields, and interest sensitivity variances. Reviewed accounting systems and procedures of staff. Managed quality of general ledger activity through account and variance analysis as well as daily general ledger entries. Analyzed posting and reconciliations of subsidiary ledgers. Monitored bank financial records, general books, operating ledger, and expense and income accrual of subsidiaries. Reconciled fixed assets and depreciation records.

EDUCATION

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY, Hammond, Louisiana

B.S., Accounting

COMPUTER SKILLS

Lotus Notes, SAP Accounting Software, Business Intelligence and Business Objects, InfoView, Ceridian Time and Attendance Software, Microsoft Office Suite

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