Asha Stapleton
Hartford,CT
Summary
Seasoned accounting professional with a robust history at The City of Hartford, showcasing expertise in MUNIS and advanced Excel. Demonstrated leadership in guiding teams and enhancing financial processes, achieving significant efficiency improvements. Excel in data analysis and adept at communicating complex financial information, ensuring organizational compliance and fiscal integrity.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Accounting Supervisor
The City of Hartford
Hartford, CT
01.2022 - Current
- Guided accounting staff in municipal accounting principles and practices.
- Assisted various departments with accurate procedural adherence.
- Coordinate and oversee tasks assigned to staff.
- Establish procedures for City, federal, state, and quasi-governmental grants.
- Supervises and participates in the preparation of all grant reporting.
- Supported audit processes by coordinating with external auditors on City's financial data.
- Assume the division head responsibility in the absence of the controller.
Project Manager
The City of Hartford
Hartford, CT
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Promoted from Principal Accountant role within the organization
- Audit daily transactions posted to the general ledger and balance various recaps to ensure accuracy
- Performed accounting functions including complete month-end close and assist in year-end close procedures
- Process capital improvement projects transactions monthly: Monitor CIP, reconcile capital related G/L accounts in MUNIS; Produce monthly capital project analysis, monitor retainage, added new capital improvement projects and closing old projects
- Request reimbursement with Local Capital Improvement (LoCIP) projects and the Department of Energy and Environmental (DEEP) through the State of CT
- Worked closely with Management and Budget to ensure that all Capital Improvements Projects throughout the City are within the approved fiscal year’s budget plan
Principal Accountant
The City of Hartford
Hartford, CT
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Responsible for directing, organizing, monitoring, and controlling project activities for FEMA projects
- Ensure project activities comply with policies and regulations for reimbursement for public entities
- Communicates clearly and effectively with team members, and senior management, on project status and progress
- Worked with various departments to ensure timelines are achieved
Senior Accountant
The City of Hartford
Hartford, CT
01.2018 - 01.2020
- Promoted from the Accountant role within the organization
- Assume increasing responsibility for accounting duties; oversee the accounting and financial reporting for several operating and general funds for the City
- Liaise with the unit’s Controller and other stakeholders to present financial information and resolve inquiries; provide recommendations and solutions, as a lead within the team
Accountant
The City of Hartford
Hartford, CT
01.2015 - 01.2018
- Promoted from Accountant role within the organization
- Performed a full range of accounting duties, which included journal entry preparation, financial reporting and analysis during the month end close each period, annual audit support, and workpaper documentation
- Provided reports to senior management; reconciled the accounts receivable accounts and entered correcting entries; completed various general ledger and bank account reconciliations; responsible for cash receipts and setting up new projects in the MUNIS financial system, along with month and year end closing duties
- Assisted senior executives with budget preparations, determined budget availability and provided budget to actuals variance analysis
- Worked regularly on the MUNIS platform to analyze general ledger activity for the organization
- Perform pre-audit functions involving purchase orders, P-Cards, invoices, requisitions, reports of receipts and payroll
- Prepared Connecticut sales and use tax reports, along with other monthly reports that were filed with the State
- Supported the Payroll function by completing various calculations and entries, which included weekly payroll time entries, personnel action entries and retroactive pay calculations
- Assisted in the preparation of monthly City Council statements; translated data into graphs
- Trained and assisted interdepartmental staff on any Time Force software issues, field accounting questions
- Initially reconciled over 100 payroll liability accounts
- Identified process improvements within the reconciliation procedure, which led to a significant reduction in the number of accounts, down from 100 to just over 50 accounts
- Created and modeled spreadsheets to verify that all payroll warrants were captured on a weekly basis; researched variances and worked to resolve them in a timely manner
- Served as a senior accountant in the payroll department for several months, during the Payroll Manager’s absence
- Maintained fixed asset records in the ledger
- This included adding new assets, transferring CIP accounts, disposing, and retiring assets as needed; actively involved in preparing updates for new processes and procedures
- Prepared fixed asset journal entries and reports for upper management as needed; completed monthly general ledger reconciliations
- Ran monthly depreciation schedules each month and during the year end close
Junior Accountant
The City of Hartford
Hartford, CT
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Completed clerical and administrative work for the back office; assisted with fixed assets record maintenance, tracked expenses and monitored costs; recorded journal entries in accordance with the organization’s procedures
Staff Auditor III
Craig J. Lubitski Consulting LLC
East Hartford, CT
01.2006 - 01.2013
- Trained, mentored and supervised audit staff; maintained a courteous and professional demeanor with staff and clients
- Completed thorough audits and desk review procedures of State of Connecticut long term Medicaid facilities in accordance with applicable regulations and instructions from the Department of Social Services
- Reviewed annual cost reports, rate settlements and field audits of State aided nursing facilities
- This included test selections, expense account examinations, and trial balance reconciliations
- Reviewed fixed assets and depreciation
Accounting Assistant
Charter Oak Health Center
Hartford, CT
01.2003 - 01.2006
- Served as the lead point of contact for the full cycle accounts payable function, which included obtaining purchase approvals, invoice verifications, and journal entries; monitored accounts payable balances, following up on aged payables to ensure timely payment
- Assisted with the accounts receivable’s function, through bank reconciliations, cash receipts and daily deposits
- Completed various monthly financial reporting requirements, such as provider incentive and productivity reports from the PCN Practice Management System, financial statements and supporting documentation
Education
Master of Science - Accounting
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT12.2022
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT08.2006
Associate of Science - Accounting
Capital Community College
Hartford, CT08.2003
Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
- Advanced Excel Proficiency
- Publisher
- Peachtree Accounting Software
- QuickBooks Pro
- MUNIS
- Data Analysis with Pivot Tables
- V-Lookup Expertise
Timeline
Accounting Supervisor
The City of Hartford
01.2022 - Current
Project Manager
The City of Hartford
01.2021 - 01.2022
Principal Accountant
The City of Hartford
01.2020 - 01.2021
Senior Accountant
The City of Hartford
01.2018 - 01.2020
Accountant
The City of Hartford
01.2015 - 01.2018
Junior Accountant
The City of Hartford
01.2014 - 01.2015
Staff Auditor III
Craig J. Lubitski Consulting LLC
01.2006 - 01.2013
Accounting Assistant
Charter Oak Health Center
01.2003 - 01.2006
Master of Science - Accounting
Central Connecticut State University
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Central Connecticut State University
Associate of Science - Accounting
Capital Community College
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