Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Denise Watkins

Frederick,MD

Summary

Professional with strong leadership skills and proven track record in management. Expertise in strategic planning, financial analysis, and risk management. Effective team collaborator with focus on achieving results and adapting to changing needs. Known for reliability, integrity, and exceptional problem-solving abilities.

Overview

32
32
years of professional experience

Work History

Assistant Vice President of Finance

Randolph-Macon College
07.2022 - Current
  • Enhanced collaboration between team members by implementing innovative communication tools and fostering an open dialogue culture.
  • Serve as key point of contact for external auditors and lead the audit process.
  • Assist the Vice President for Administration and Finance in the annual budgeting and planning process. Monitor and manage budgets to ensure the College is tracking with budget goals.
  • Ensure proper internal controls are in place to achieve operational effectiveness and reliability, as well as compliance with applicable laws and regulations, debt covenants, grants, and donor requirements.
  • Federal and state grant budget management, financial filings and billing.
  • Directly supervise the Controller and Payroll Administrator. Oversight of all accounting functions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, cash management, and reporting.
  • Direct the month end accounting close process resulting in an accurate and timely close of the financial books each month. Ensure all entries are correctly recorded according to proper accounting standards.
  • Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for management.
  • Coordinate the preparation of the 990's and manage all business tax reporting.
  • Assist the Vice President for Administration and Finance in preparation of materials for the Board of Trustees.
  • Monitor endowment activity and proper posting.

Director of Accounting

HOOD COLLEGE
07.2019 - Current
  • Provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to the Accounting Department staff, including accountants, student billing manager/payroll administrator, and accounts payable administrator
  • Work collaboratively with the Director of Conference Services, Director of Human Resources, Director of Financial Aid, Registrar, Director of Residence Life, Dean of the Graduate School, Dean of Students and Admissions in the formation and execution of strategic processes, programs and activities for the overall benefit of our students and Hood College
  • Produce monthly financial statements, including budget vs actual
  • Responsible for the fiscal year end close and audit, including preparation of audit reports, footnotes and responding to inquiries from the audit team
  • Responsible for the development, updating and communication of accounting policies
  • Reconcile actual unrestricted change in net assets to budgeted financials
  • Run project schedule by category (monthly) and determine releases
  • IRS Federal Form 990 and Form 990T
  • Maryland Personal Property Tax Return
  • IPEDS finance survey
  • Maryland Higher Education Commission State Aid reports
  • Instrumental in conversion of Ceridian payroll system to Ultimate Software HRMS (review of data, setup of new system, conversions/testing, implementation)
  • Responsible for calculating the student receivables bad debt entry and validating the calculation to the audit team
  • Responsible for deferred income entries as necessary during the year and year end
  • Responsible for recording gifts, monthly reconciliation to the institutional advancement system (Millennium), and partnering with IA staff on proper recording of new restricted gifts
  • In conjunction with Institutional Advancement update the contributions receivable on a quarterly basis
  • Responsible for updating monthly endowment corpus schedule
  • Created a monthly reconciliation of the financial aid system (PowerFAIDS), student system (Ellucian's Power Campus), general ledger (Great Plains) and payroll (Ultimate Software)
  • Responsible for proper setup, creation and reporting of yearly 1098Ts; continuous review of new 1098T updates from the IRS
  • Managed the conversion of student billing statements to CashNET for online statements; leading to the improvement of customer service as well as efficiency of staff hours and savings on printing and postage
  • Brought pre-collection process in-house from collection agency to allow Hood College more opportunity to work directly with the student on collections of past due accounts
  • Perkins loan management; loans in repayment, returning loans to the Department of Education; review any special billing or deferment requests
  • Committee and Other Professional Accomplishments
  • Peer reviewer for Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Attendee of Board of Trustee Meetings for Audit and Risk Committee as well as Finance Committee
  • Served on the Self-Study committee for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation report for Hood College
  • Member of the Strategic Initiative Group
  • Member of the Title IX Committee
  • Member of the Risk Management Committee
  • Member of the Data Governance Council
  • Member of the Maryland/DC Bursar Group
  • NACUBO Emerging Leaders Program August 2020-May 2022

Controller

AB&C GROUP
08.1999 - 12.2005
  • Responsible for oversight of accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, cash disbursements and bank reconciliations as well as all client accounting activity
  • Manage staff of ten; ranging from accounting clerks, accountants and the payroll administrator
  • Produce monthly financial statements and budget versus actual reports by department for senior management
  • Extensive use of job costing
  • Responsible for producing monthly financial statements for distribution to senior management, lending institutions, auditors and potential investors
  • Management of cash flow and cash flow projections
  • Responsible for coordination of yearly audits and year end reviews, corporate tax return and personal property tax return
  • Responsible for monthly distribution of client financial reports from client accounting system, including understanding and use of the reports
  • Member of the Budget Committee, Staffing Committee and Compensation Committee
  • Acting member of the Executive Committee

Accountant

CENTRAL MARYLAND FARM CREDIT
01.1994 - 05.1997
  • Full responsibility and accountability for accounts payable processing, fixed assets, payroll processing and numerous general ledger reconciliations, including cash
  • Responsible for human resource management
  • Responsible for the preparation of quarterly financial reports for Farm Credit Administration
  • Conducted a monthly audit of new loans
  • Served as a member of the Marketing Council

Education

M.B.A -

Frostburg State University
Frostburg, MD

B.S - Accounting

Frostburg State University
Frostburg, MD

Skills

  • Operational Reporting
  • Prioritizing and Planning
  • Proactive and Focused
  • Problem Anticipation and Resolution
  • Adaptable to Changing Conditions
  • Goal Setting
  • Decision Making
  • HRIS and HRMS
  • Internal Controls and Reporting Systems
  • Decision making & judgment
  • Issue resolution skills
  • Effective relationship building
  • Project management
  • Financial analysis and planning

Timeline

Assistant Vice President of Finance

Randolph-Macon College
07.2022 - Current

Director of Accounting

HOOD COLLEGE
07.2019 - Current

Controller

AB&C GROUP
08.1999 - 12.2005

Accountant

CENTRAL MARYLAND FARM CREDIT
01.1994 - 05.1997

B.S - Accounting

Frostburg State University

M.B.A -

Frostburg State University

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