Andrea Garrard
Colorado Springs,CO
Summary
Goal-focused Accountant with record of accurate reporting and budget management. Offering 13 years of experience handling finances for multiple locations. Processed payroll, budgets, reports, audits, journals, month end close, expenditures and payments.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Staff Accountant
Family Talk
04.2019 - Current
- Enhanced financial reporting accuracy by streamlining the month-end closing process and implementing improved accounting procedures.
- Reduced discrepancies in account balances by thoroughly reviewing and reconciling general ledger accounts on a monthly basis.
- Improved efficiency in the accounts payable process by implementing an automated invoice approval system, reducing manual input errors.
- Assisted with annual budget preparation, ensuring accurate projections for revenue and expenses based on historical data analysis.
- Facilitated accurate financial forecasting by analyzing current trends and providing insightful recommendations to executive management.
- Conducted thorough variance analyses to identify discrepancies between budgeted and actual expenses, providing actionable insights for cost-saving initiatives.
- Prepared monthly journal entries and reconciliations.
- Completed year-end closing processes with senior leadership and external auditors.
- Reconciled accounts and created documents for monthly closure procedures.
Accounting Manager
Credit Service Company
10.2018 - 03.2019
- Managed banking reconciliations and monthly balance sheet statements.
- Collaborated with other departments to achieve accurate and prompt financial reporting.
- Managed all areas of accounting, including accounts payable and receivable, general ledger management, banking reconciliations and monthly balance sheet statements.
- Reconciled accounts and resolved both internal variances and discrepancies in external documentation.
- Developed spreadsheet models for diverse projects and analysis.
- Managed the accounting department operations and a team of up to 10 employees.
Accounting Supervisor
MediaNews Group
03.2017 - 10.2018
- Supervised up to seven professional accountants including objective setting, performance management, coaching/development and training
- Set up and improved accounting systems and processes to meet business needs and maximize operational success.
- Responsible for developing several financial spreadsheets that were used extensively by management and accounting personnel.
- Reviewed and Approved monthly Balance Sheet Reconciliation and General Ledger Entries.
- Improved reconciliation and journal entry processes
- Resolved complex accounting discrepancies through thorough investigation, analysis, and collaboration with relevant parties.
Senior Accountant
MediaNews Group
02.2015 - 02.2017
- Prepared monthly journal entries and reconciliations.
- Reconciled accounts and created documents for monthly closure procedures.
- Prepared journal entries in the following areas: circulation and advertising bad debt, newsprint expenses, amortization, accruals and allocations.
- Compiled financial information, processed journal entries and reconciled balance sheet accounts
- Created automated spreadsheets for inventory, journal entries and various account reconciliations.
Staff Accountant
Waste Connections Inc.
01.2012 - 01.2015
- Provided financial support and analysis to Operations for strategic business decisions and cost savings initiatives
- Participate in financial strategic planning, prepare budget and forecasts, review of budgets vs. actual to ensure accuracy.
- Worked closely with departmental managers to supply budgetary numbers and ongoing financial reports.
- Developed detailed spreadsheets to identify trends and develop forecasts.
- Prepared Monthly balance sheets, income statements, and variance reports .
- Maintained general ledger and prepared bank statement and unearned revenue reconciliations monthly
Investigate and resolve billing and account discrepancies - Process time sheets new hire documents PTO and terminations.
- Collected employee information and maintained confidentiality of all files.
- Prepared payroll analysis reports for management to be used for forecasting and budgeting purposes.
Accounting Clerk
Waste Connections
03.2010 - 12.2011
- Managed accounts receivables, billing and payroll.
- Prepared, printed and mailed statements
- Performed daily reconciliations
- Assisted with month-end closing
- Prepare accurate monthly billing adjustments
Education
MBA - Accounting And Finance
Regis University
Denver, COBachelor of Science - Accounting
Regis University
Denver, COSkills
- Database Management
- Budget Administration
- General Ledger Accounting
- Payroll Process
- Financial Statement Preparation, Review and Variance Analysis
- Month-End Reporting
- Journal Entries
- Financial Forecasting
- Advanced Excel
- Nonprofit Accounting
- ERP Software
- Quickbooks
Timeline
Sr. Staff Accountant
Family Talk
04.2019 - Current
Accounting Manager
Credit Service Company
10.2018 - 03.2019
Accounting Supervisor
MediaNews Group
03.2017 - 10.2018
Senior Accountant
MediaNews Group
02.2015 - 02.2017
Staff Accountant
Waste Connections Inc.
01.2012 - 01.2015
Accounting Clerk
Waste Connections
03.2010 - 12.2011
MBA - Accounting And Finance
Regis University
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Regis University