Caryn K Brandon
Los Angeles,USA
Summary
Strategic financial professional with 8+ years of experience managing $120+ million in assets across public and private sectors. Proven expertise in implementing ASC 606 revenue recognition standards, managing complex multi-entity accounting operations, and leading teams of up to 5 accounting professionals. Specialized in federal/state grant compliance (CFR Title 2, OMB Uniform Guidance), multi-jurisdiction tax compliance, and financial process automation that reduces reporting time by up to 35%.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Controller
Big Daddy's Vintage Furnishings
- Managed multi-entity operations across 5 states and resolved 65% of audit findings during sales tax audit
Contract Controller
Gloss Boss Financial Consulting Service
11.2022 - Current
- Company Overview: Self-Employed
- Managed complete general ledger operations with 450+ monthly transactions and 13-day month-end close process
- Coordinated annual CPA audit with BDO USA, maintaining clean audit opinion for 3 consecutive years
- Implemented A/R aging analysis system, reducing average collection period from 45 to 28 days
- Client: Maryland Classified Employees Association (501c3 with $1.8M annual budget)
Contract Interim Controller
Maryland Food Bank
06.2024 - 12.2024
- Reduced financial reporting errors by 25% and developed 8 SOPs covering journal entry procedures and month-end close activities
- Increased employee engagement scores while managing external audit with GrossMendelsohn
- Streamlined close process from 15 to 10 days and led team of 4
- Robert Half Management Resource Professional | $18M annual revenue nonprofit
UI Professional V
State of Maryland: Department of Labor
06.2023 - 04.2024
- Resolved 75% of historical reconciling items totaling $1.8M in outstanding discrepancies for Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund
- Created 11 standard operating procedures covering cash management, benefit payment processing, and tax collections
- Supervised 3 senior accountants, providing training on state-specific procedures
Contract Senior Accountant
Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc
01.2024 - 03.2024
- Managed 6 HUD grants with complex compliance requirements including Davis-Bacon wage compliance
- Improved grant compliance rating by 40% through implementation of real-time tracking spreadsheets
- Reduced monthly budget report preparation time by 12 hours through Excel automation
- HUD Grant Compliance & Financial Reporting | $4.2M annual grant portfolio
Contract Grants Accounting Manager
Sheppard Pratt Health System
01.2023 - 06.2023
- Managed complete general ledger operations with 450+ monthly transactions and 13-day month-end close process
- Served as primary liaison for external audits including Single Audit under 2 CFR 200, maintaining 100% compliance rate
- Implemented grant tracking system reducing reporting preparation time by 60%
- $22M Grant Portfolio Management | 15 Federal/State/County Grants
CEO/Executive Director
Touchup, Inc.
05.2017 - 01.2023
- Secured 26 strategic partnerships and MOUs with organizations including LAUSD, LA County, and USC
- Increased organizational reach by 40% serving 267 students annually through expanded programming
- Developed annual operating budgets ranging from $650K to $850K with 95% accuracy and achieved 100% of strategic targets
- Nonprofit Leadership
Lead Contract Accountant
State of Maryland: Department of Labor
01.2022 - 12.2022
- Managed bank reconciliations for 3 accounts: UI Trust Fund ($45M), Administrative Account ($12M), Reed Act Account ($3M)
- Resolved 60% of historical reconciling items dating back 18 months, totaling $2.3M in outstanding items
- Supervised 3 senior accountants and implemented 7 process improvements including automated bank feed integration
- Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Accounting | $60M Portfolio
Contract Grant Administrator
Howard County Economic Development Authority
02.2021 - 04.2021
- Administered $2.1M grant program, processing 2,500 applications over a 10-week period and distributing $210K in individual grants
- Assisted 260 applicants in resolving tax delinquencies averaging $3,200 per case with 100% accuracy rate
- COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant Program
Contract Accountant
Cycad Property Management
01.2015 - 01.2020
- Managed $60M real estate portfolio for General Consulate of St. Kitts.
- Additional Experience
Education
M.S. - Accounting
University of Maryland
Baltimore, MD06.2026
B.S. - Psychology, Business Minor
California State University
Northridge, CA12.2023
A.S. - Accountancy
College of the Canyons
Valencia, CA06.2012
Skills
- Financial Operations: ASC 606 Revenue Recognition
- GAAP & GAAS Compliance
- Multi-Entity Consolidations
- Grant Accounting (Federal/State/Local)
- Treasury Management
- Financial Statement Preparation
- Variance Analysis
- Audit & Compliance: External Audit Coordination
- Internal Controls Assessment
- Grant Compliance Monitoring
- Tax Audit Defense
- Risk Assessment & Mitigation
- Leadership & Process: Team Leadership (up to 5 staff)
- SOPs Development
- Process Automation
- Change Management
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Technical Systems: Microsoft Dynamics NAV
- NetSuite ERP
- Oracle Financials
- QuickBooks Enterprise
- Excel (Advanced: Pivot Tables, VBA, Financial Modeling)
Timeline
Contract Interim Controller
Maryland Food Bank
06.2024 - 12.2024
Contract Senior Accountant
Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc
01.2024 - 03.2024
UI Professional V
State of Maryland: Department of Labor
06.2023 - 04.2024
Contract Grants Accounting Manager
Sheppard Pratt Health System
01.2023 - 06.2023
Contract Controller
Gloss Boss Financial Consulting Service
11.2022 - Current
Lead Contract Accountant
State of Maryland: Department of Labor
01.2022 - 12.2022
Contract Grant Administrator
Howard County Economic Development Authority
02.2021 - 04.2021
CEO/Executive Director
Touchup, Inc.
05.2017 - 01.2023
Contract Accountant
Cycad Property Management
01.2015 - 01.2020
Controller
Big Daddy's Vintage Furnishings
B.S. - Psychology, Business Minor
California State University
A.S. - Accountancy
College of the Canyons
M.S. - Accounting
University of Maryland
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