Donald L Farnum Jr.
Orchard Park,USA
Summary
Motivated Tax Accountant promoting more than 15 years of expertise in monitoring federal and state tax laws and changes for numerous entities. Action-oriented individual with experience assisting with audits, managing tax compliance, and owning tax research actives in a multi-state environment. Team-player and tax expert with dynamic analysis and process improvement talents.
Trustworthy Accountant with over 20 years in financial statement preparation and general ledger analysis. Proficiency in use of computers and accounting and tax software programs. Excellent analytical and time management skills, strong numeracy skills and keen attention to detail to drive results.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Tax Preparer
Sterling Tax & Accounting
01.2023 - 04.2025
- Prepare individual and small business tax returns in a drop off environment
- These returns are moderately difficult
- Preparing various state returns for our clients
- Reviewed clients tax filing papers thoroughly to determine eligibility for additional tax credits or deductions.
- Offered clients recommendations to reduce tax liabilities.
- Maintained complete records of client tax returns and supporting documentation in secured areas.
- Analyzed financial records to verify accuracy of tax returns.
Sales Tax Accountant
Benderson Development
09.2023 - 09.2024
- Filed sales and use tax returns for hotels in a multi-state setting
- Conducted tax reviews and compilations to identify potential exposure areas and provided suggestions.
- Assisted with implementation of timely, cost-effective state tax planning strategies designed to create value and enhance company's worldwide tax position.
Staff Accountant
Howden, a Chart Industries Company
11.2018 - 09.2023
- Executed financial reporting, managing prepaid accounts, schedules, reconciliations, event settlements, and month-end accruals
- Administrator for the Blackline database ensuring users were properly set up, all accounts were set up properly and populate the database with trial balances from 13 business units for reconciliations
- Executed monthly reconciliations for a balance sheet accounts
- Responsible for all sales tax activity for four business units covering North America and Canada
- Ensured all sales tax activity was accurate and coordinate with the sales tax vendor to ensure all returns were filed accurately and timely
- Administer the funding process between our accounts payable team and sales tax vendor to ensure timely tax payments
- Handle all state inquiries and audits
- Prepare sales tax account reconciliations
- File refund claims when required
- Conduct sales and use tax research and internal audits to ensure proper taxability and protection from external audit exposure
- Administrator for sales tax online programs to include Vertex O Series and Vertex Cloud to ensure Exemption Certificate database is up to date
- Monitor system taxability errors and achieve corrective Action
- Maintained fixed asset records and depreciation schedules to establish accurate calculations.
- Responsible for running monthly financial reports
- Handle all asset additions, disposals and transfer
- Coordinate all asset purchases by tracking the asset purchase and ensure all company procedures are followed
- Prepare year end workpapers for corporate tax dept
- Prepare year end workpapers for Canadian T2 and Withholding tax returns for external tax firm
Staff Accountant
David R Paulus CPA, PPLC
06.2018 - 10.2018
- Provided bookkeeping, yearend financial statement analysis, sales tax return, mileage tax return, and income tax return services for a variety of clients
- Prepared lead sheets by analyzing balance sheet and income statement accounts at year end for CPA review
- Prepared adjusting entries and validated the trail balance
- Prepared 40+ sales and use tax returns
- Prepared federal and state tax returns for Individuals, Partnerships, S Corps, and Corporate clients
Civilian Pay Technician
Department of Veterans Affairs
11.2015 - 06.2018
- Worked on special projects within Centralized Payroll for VISN 02 of the Veterans Health Administration
- Audited timesheets and payroll records for accuracy.
- Maintained confidentiality of employee records and payroll information.
Senior Accountant
Norstar Property Management USA
11.2013 - 08.2015
- Perform full accounting cycle, associate training, process improvement, and financial statement generation/analysis for 10 multi-unit housing properties
- Recorded journal entries, analyzed and reconciled balance sheet general ledger accounts
- Prepared adjusting entries and validated the trial balance
- Generated financial statements for ownership review and posted final closing entries
- Trained associates in all above stated job functions
- Worked closely with the company vice president on all accounting matters
- Performed cash management duties to include ensuring properties had sufficient
- Ensured all non-rental receipts were deposited and properly recorded
- Validated all rents were properly collected and deposited
- Prepared year end working papers for external auditors
Accounting Manager
Visions Hotels Inc.
07.2011 - 11.2013
- Performed full accounting cycle, associate training, process improvement, and financial statement generation/analysis for 23 hotel properties across New York State
- Conducted accounts payable process for assigned properties
- Oversaw accounts payable for activities performed by accounting specialists
- Reviewed all month end closing functions performed by accounting specialists
- Recorded journal entries, analyzed and reconciled balance sheet and income statement general ledger accounts
- Prepared adjusting entries and validated the trial balance
- Generated financial statements for ownership review and posted final closing entries
- Trained associates in all above stated job functions
- Worked closely with the company controller on all accounting matters
- Prepared NYS Sales, Use, and Occupancy tax returns and filed yearend tax reports
Staff Accountant II
Sodexo, Inc.
11.2000 - 07.2009
- Performed and documented multi-state offsite and onsite Sales/Use, Property, and Business License tax audits in a retail environment; coordinated with local tax jurisdictional personnel and provided advice to resolve tax issues
- Filed multi-state/Canadian sales and use tax returns, business personal property tax returns and conducted monthly account analysis and reconciliation tax accounts; reviewed returns, accounts payable, accounts receivable and fixed Asset documents to determine potential exposure items or refund claims in preparation of scheduled audits
- Evaluated audit documents and implemented corrective actions as needed; provided advice to clients on state and local tax issues
- Researched taxability of transactions, provided guidance on all tax questions, provided corrective action recommendations and guidance to clients and internal business units
- Answered customers’ questions on personal property and sales / use tax issues; drafted correspondence for customers and state tax managers addressing questions and inquiries
- Reviewed personal property tax assessments, prepared protests and tracked all reductions related to protests; input, reviewed, verified and corrected property tax data
Education
BBA - Accounting
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure, NY01.1996
Skills
- MS Office: Excel, PowerPoint, Word; Outlook
- Windows 10
- CCH
- Microsoft AX
- Microsoft 365
- Vertex O-Series
- Vertex Cloud
- Blackline
- SAGE
- SAP
- QuickBooks
- Quantum/PTS/Vertex
- Thompson Reuters/Tax & Accounting Software Suite
- Accounting CS
- File Cabinet CS
- Ultra Tax
- Corporate tax workpapers
- Sales and use tax multi-state compliance, audit, and research
- Advanced Excel
- Tax return analysis
- Financial statement analysis
Career Notes
- Army National Guard Non-Commissioned Officer
- United States Marine Non-Commissioned Officer
- Practitioner for Individuals and Corporate Tax Clients
- Retail Accountant
Timeline
Sales Tax Accountant
Benderson Development
09.2023 - 09.2024
Tax Preparer
Sterling Tax & Accounting
01.2023 - 04.2025
Staff Accountant
Howden, a Chart Industries Company
11.2018 - 09.2023
Staff Accountant
David R Paulus CPA, PPLC
06.2018 - 10.2018
Civilian Pay Technician
Department of Veterans Affairs
11.2015 - 06.2018
Senior Accountant
Norstar Property Management USA
11.2013 - 08.2015
Accounting Manager
Visions Hotels Inc.
07.2011 - 11.2013
Staff Accountant II
Sodexo, Inc.
11.2000 - 07.2009
BBA - Accounting
St. Bonaventure University
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