Charlene Thomas
Accountant
Columbus,OH
Summary
Accomplished Accountant with a proven track record at DFAS Columbus, proficient in bank reconciliation and leading team initiatives. Expertise in data analysis and GAAP compliance, demonstrated by reducing workload by 10% and cutting operational costs. Skilled in ERP systems and fostering team cohesion, showcasing exceptional time management and analytical research capabilities.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Accountant– GS 09-01
DFAS Columbus
Columbus, OH
12.2023 - Current
- Exporting variances from IQuery and Qlik databases located in ADVANA into Excel spreadsheets
- Verifies differences between source systems and provides guidance to accounting areas to assist in reconciling GL
- Pulls necessary documentation to assist in reconciliation
- Tickmark and provides guidance on resolving variances for audit purposes
- Trained with team lead to perform pivot table analysis for current workload
- Training fellow new hires on current SOP
- Reduced current workload by 10% as of 2/12/24
- Led a class of New Hires on a tour of our facility and reviewed general onboarding requirements on 2/1/2025.
Accounting Technician – GS 06-03
DFAS Columbus
Columbus, OH
02.2020 - 12.2023
- Heavy research in Standard Operations Maintenance Research and Development System (SOMARDS)
- SOMARDS is used to extract voucher status for CECOM Command Center
- Disburse vouchers to match obligation and expense lines of accounting
- Assisted Army accountants in making financial decisions by providing balances for obligation or de-obligation
- Export and analyze lines of accounting data into an Excel spreadsheet and provide the spreadsheet to customers via Outlook
- Inaccurate disbursements were reversed and corrected upon discovery by customers
- Assisted in transitioning to new ODS Analytics system from SOMARDS legacy system
- Assisted in creating an SOP training manual for navigation in ODS Analytics
- Recently chosen by the Division Chief to complete the project of closing out remaining SOMARDS transactions, so the legacy system can be sunsetted.
- Volunteered and led three team building activities
- Summer 2021 – via Skype, led Mari Dailey’s team in a word search and picture games to build camaraderie
- December 2022 – organized physical location, headcount, decorations, awards, and stationery needed for the games
- Worked with a co-worker Amber Croom to create a holiday that Mari Dailey’s team would enjoy
- February 2023 – via TEAMS, organized awards and bingo game along with Annette Evans and Michelle Higgins
- This aided in bonding the 2023 Black Belt candidates together for the last team meeting
Sr. Cash Application Specialist
Power Distributors
Columbus, OH
07.2016 - 02.2020
- Accessed PNC Bank online and retrieving batched checks from a secure lockbox
- Adobe Acrobat version was downloaded and information from each payment was posted to the customer’s account in the CODIS financial legacy system
- Large wire payments from Amazon, Home Depot, and Menards were mass applied
- Each batch with the total amount was placed on an Excel spreadsheet and given to management nightly to reconcile what was entered into the financial system
- Pulled back up and coded invoices from FedEx for the Accounts Payable department when the area was short-staffed
- Reduced the number of Accounts Receivable lockboxes by 34% by eliminating excess cash accounts and consolidating them into other existing receivable bank accounts
- Negotiated terms with PNC Bank and cut down our operating cost of keeping extra lockboxes open
- Cut the usage of paper down by 80%
- Implemented the process of printing on both sides as well as submitting electronic copies (via PDF) to our account managers instead of physical copies
Education
M.S. - Accounting
Franklin University
Columbus, OH08.2024
B.S. - Financial Management
Franklin University
Columbus, OH05.2022
Skills
- Bank reconciliation
- Time management
- Data inputting
- Data analysis
- Finance
- Tax preparation
- GAAP compliance
- A/P and A/R
- Financial reporting
- Analytical research
- GAAP
- MS office suite
- ERP systems proficiency
Accomplishments
- Volunteered with the United Way through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA).
- Completed FM Certification Level 1, 02/01/22
- Received Black Belt Training Certificate, 10/01/22
Certification
- Black Belt Certification - 8/1/2024
Affiliations
- Led a New Hire class on tour and navigation though learning opportunities - 2/1/2025
References
- Kevin Flowers, DFAS Division Chief of AP Acquisitions Army Division, Kevin.S.Flowers3.Civ@Mail.mil, 614-701-2868
- Diane Selby, Board Member, Scholarship Opportunities for Success, dianeselby@gmail.com, 614-451-2313
- Annette Hoelzer, Volunteer Coordinator & Franklin Univ Faculty, annette.hoelzer@franklin.edu, 614-296-2399
Timeline
Accountant– GS 09-01
DFAS Columbus
12.2023 - Current
Accounting Technician – GS 06-03
DFAS Columbus
02.2020 - 12.2023
Sr. Cash Application Specialist
Power Distributors
07.2016 - 02.2020
M.S. - Accounting
Franklin University
B.S. - Financial Management
Franklin University
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