Barbara A. Brittain
Virginia Beach
Summary
Administrative Operations professional with extensive experience in tax compliance, office management, and accounting support. Recognized for improving workflow efficiency, meeting critical tax deadlines, and implementing technology solutions that streamline processes and enhance client service. Trusted partner to executive leadership with a proven success record of leading teams, supporting merger and acquisition transitions, and maintaining stability and professionalism during organizational change. Seeking an administrative role where I can apply my extensive experience with accounting support to ensure accuracy and efficiency with my strong work ethic and reliability.
Overview
42
42
years of professional experience
Work History
Office Administrator/Tax
BROWN EDWARDS (Acquired 11.1.25)
Virginia Beach, Virginia
11.2025 - Current
- Manage daily operations and serve as the primary liaison to the Partner in Charge.
- Played a key role in the successful integration of the office during Brown Edwards' acquisition of DesRoches & Company, CPA's joining with Human Resources and firm leadership to support a smooth, coordinated transition.
- Manage office budgets, reconcile monthly expense employee reimbursements reports, firm expense reporting, and bank deposits.
- Coordinate procurement and vendor management to ensure supplies and office furnishings are within budget.
- Oversee the IT programs and software-license management to support system continuity during the DesRoches & Company merger into Brown Edwards.
- In charge of office management and building maintenance to address issues in a prompt manner.
- Coordinate new-hire onboarding with HR and Recruiting, managing orientation ensuring a smooth first-day and first-week transition.
- Organize office events and fun activities to enhance firm culture and support a positive workplace environment.
- Tax - E-file coordinator, ensuring a high volume of tax returns were timely filed while supporting client service and tax compliance.
- Tax Processing with firm admin where I successfully adapted to new procedures and technology platforms introduced with the merger.
- Manage workflows and reports for the Virginia Beach office tracking client deliverables for all tax deadlines.
- Administrative support ensuring office coverage and assistance with backup.
- Prepare performance evaluations and goal setting with administrative team.
- Support the Partner in Charge monitoring A/R and collections while working alongside the billing team.
- Acquired 11/1/25
Office Administrator/Tax Compliance Administrator
DESROCHES & COMPANY, CPA’s
Virginia Beach, Virginia
01.2021 - 01.2025
- Office Operations Manager oversaw daily office operations, making informed decisions and serving as a liaison between partners and clients.
- Engaged in Partner, Manager, and Staff meetings, contributing to strategic visions and collaborating with the team.
- Project Lead Administrator successfully organized and facilitated implementation of GoFileRoom, best practices, and process development enhancing efficiency by 80% with client assignments, workflow management, tax reporting, while meeting all tax deadlines.
- Served as the Safesend program lead, successfully improved administrative proficiency, ensured high volume of electronic delivery of tax returns while supporting both internal and external clients.
- Managed tax deadlines through e-filing, extensions, and tax return delivery. Client service and technical support by proactively assisting clients with electronic forms to ensure timely filing.
- Significantly improved the firm's delivery of tax returns and time-sensitive documents by approximately 80%. This resulted in the strategic use of technology, leveraging platforms such as Safesend, TaxCaddy, and ShareFile.
- Developed best practice process manuals to enhance efficiency and ensure uniform administrative workflows across the firm.
- Effectively adapted to new technology programs, enhancing efficiency in managing daily duties and deadlines.
- Organized and managed status reports to track client workflow for tax deadlines, ensuring alignment for partners and management.
- Renewed all contracts regarding office equipment, Cybersecurity, IT contracts, Technology software and budget yearly licenses with Managing Partner.
- Interview and hire new administrative personnel and seasonal staff.
- Human Resources assistance with the leading HR Partner regarding firm policy updates, office protocol, meeting with staff regarding confidential sensitive issues.
- Onboarding - New Hire Onboarding and Orientation welcome on the first day to firm.
- Coordinated all office activities with Partners relating to firm culture for in office and outside vendors
- Prepared performance evaluations and goal setting for administrative team improving professional growth and skills.
- Successfully implemented accounts receivable process and effectively increased collections by 60 percent of bad debts and outstanding balances.
- Acquired by Brown Edwards
Office Administrator
BDO USA LLP
Norfolk, Virginia
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Managed daily operations of office, executing decisions as liaison with Partners, Managers and Business Line Leader.
- Microsoft Teams conducted remote teleconferences for virtual meetings and training.
- Assisted Partners and Managers with administrative processes, technology, resolve issues to enhance efficiency with workflow and deadlines.
- Effectively adapted to new technology programs and improved efficiency to manage daily tasks.
- Managed administrative team staff cross training tax processes with efficiencies and time management meeting all deadlines. Successfully enhanced paperless delivery of time sensitive documents utilizing DocuSign.
- Supported administrative team with deadlines for releasing tax returns, tax return processing and engagement letters.
- Provided weekly status reports for Tax Partners and Managers highlighting client workflow for all tax deadlines.
- Managed monthly firm meetings and events with Partners, Managers and Marketing teams.
- New Hire Onboarding and Orientation - Welcome New Employees First day / Week at BDO.
- Planning and coordinating office events with Business Line Leader and Office Managing Partner.
- Successfully implemented new venues for office events while saving costs below budgets.
- Effectively managed budgets for office, forecasting, overtime hours, and procurement.
- Submitted and approved expenses for office on a weekly basis.
- Interviewed and hired new administrative staff. Managed all administrative matters with Human Resources by hiring and terminating employees.
- Organized performance evaluations and goal setting for the administrative team to enhance professional growth.
Senior Tax Administrative- Regional E-Filing Division/Administrative Support
CHERRY BEAKERT LLP (CHERRY BEAKERT HOLLAND, LLP)
Virginia Beach, Virginia
01.1984 - 01.2003
- Successful integral member with Cherry Beakert, LLP Senior Firm Administrative Support Team. Directly supported Partners and Managers on local and regional levels.
- Firm Lead E-File Coordinator solely managed, mentored a team of ten local and regional E-File Coordinators in the East, Southeast and Southwest regions. Supervised the E-file team daily in a fast-paced environment ensuring high volume of tax returns and extensions were released timely and meeting all tax deadlines. Processed and electronically filed returns and extensions for the regions of approximately 3,500 during tax season.
- Acquired in 2018 to directly handle the firm’s new acquisition office in Austin, Texas region facilitating training with firm’s policies regarding E-Filing regulations. Responsible for releasing a high number of returns and extensions, meeting all tax requirements promptly and enhancing efficiency.
- Assessed and researched tax updates for deadlines, policies, partner requests, and all other factors impacting electronic filing and tax related issues.
- Provided summary status reports firmwide to Partners and managers detailing updates for all tax deadlines.
- Proven ability to efficiently assist Partners and Management involving confidential and sensitive client information.
- Performance success - Promoted to regional e-file centralization leadership implementing efficiencies, train staff, and maintain firmwide protocol compliance.
- Leadership skills mentored and trained administrative team in various tax processes and technology programs to meet deadlines in an efficient and timely manner.
Skills
- Office Administration
- Compliance Management
- Project Management
- Reporting & Tax Deadline Management
- Tax Compliance
- Expense Management & Budgeting
- Training & Process Improvement
- Time Management & Teamwork
- Team Leadership
- Effective Communication
- Detail Oriented
- Technical Support & Program Implementation
- Microsoft Office Suite
Timeline
Office Administrator/Tax
BROWN EDWARDS (Acquired 11.1.25)
11.2025 - Current
Office Administrator/Tax Compliance Administrator
DESROCHES & COMPANY, CPA’s
01.2021 - 01.2025
Office Administrator
BDO USA LLP
01.2019 - 01.2021
Senior Tax Administrative- Regional E-Filing Division/Administrative Support
CHERRY BEAKERT LLP (CHERRY BEAKERT HOLLAND, LLP)
01.1984 - 01.2003