ISHEKA FRANCIS
Fort Lauderdale
Summary
Dynamic professional with extensive experience at Portside Towing Limited, specializing in financial analysis and team leadership. Achievements include significant improvements in operational efficiency and enhanced collaboration across departments. Strong communication skills and meticulous attention to detail contribute to driving organizational growth and ensuring compliance in high-pressure environments.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Bookstore Associate
Barnes & Noble
Liberty University
05.2025 - Current
- Led customer engagement by assisting patrons with book selections, providing tailored recommendations, and fostering repeat business through exceptional service.
- Strengthened operational efficiency by managing inventory processes, including receiving shipments, reconciling stock levels, and coordinating restocking to ensure product availability.
- Promoted organizational growth by actively marketing Barnes & Noble membership programs, contributing to increased customer loyalty and measurable sales growth.
- Applied financial awareness in processing transactions, returns, and memberships with accuracy and integrity, reinforcing trust and compliance.
- Enhanced team collaboration by supporting colleagues in merchandising, store presentation, and café operations, ensuring a cohesive customer experience.
- Demonstrated adaptability in balancing front-line customer service with back-office operational tasks in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Cultivated leadership skills by mentoring new associates on store procedures, customer service standards, and merchandising best practices.
Food Service Worker
Sodexo
Lynchburg
09.2023 - Current
- Responded quickly to customer inquiries, resolved issues related to food orders, catering to events, and ensured guests received timely service.
- Assisted in training and mentoring new servers, ensuring they understood restaurant procedures, customer service protocols, and efficient time management.
- Worked collaboratively with kitchen staff and fellow servers to ensure smooth operations, such as coordinating special requests, managing wait times, and sharing responsibilities during peak hours.
- Maintained a professional demeanor when interacting with customers, ensuring high customer satisfaction and repeat business.
- Effectively communicated with guests to take orders, explain menu items, and upsell specials, contributing to a 15% increase in sales.
- Served a diverse range of approximately 300 customers, adapting communication styles to ensure clear understanding and satisfaction, particularly in a multicultural environment.
- Ensured customers had an enjoyable dining experience by delivering food and drinks efficiently, preparing meals, baking pastries, managing customer complaints, and recommending menu items based on preferences.
Custodian
Liberty University
Lynchburg
05.2025 - 08.2025
- Maintained cleanliness and safety standards in residential dormitories, ensuring a comfortable and hygienic living environment for students.
- Performed routine and deep-cleaning tasks such as vacuuming, mopping, restroom sanitation, trash removal, and disinfecting high-touch areas.
- Supported athletics facilities by cleaning locker rooms, weight rooms, training areas, and spectator spaces to meet university and athletic department standards.
- Responded promptly to maintenance requests and safety concerns in both dorms and athletic buildings, helping prevent hazards and ensuring compliance.
- Assisted with room setups, event preparations, and post-event cleanups for athletic games, practices, and student activities.
- Demonstrated reliability and strong time management by completing tasks efficiently across multiple buildings with varying schedules.
- Collaborated with facilities staff, resident assistants, and athletics personnel to coordinate cleaning priorities and maintain smooth operations.
- Uphold confidentiality and professionalism while working in student living spaces and restricted athletic areas.
Accounting Supervisor
Portside Towing Limited
Kingston
10.2018 - 08.2023
- Supervised and mentored a team of accountants, ensuring accuracy in reconciliations, reporting, and compliance with company policies.
- Directed the analysis and resolution of account discrepancies by reviewing errors, cross-referencing financial records, and delivering detailed reports to senior management.
- Oversaw month-end and year-end closing processes across departments, improving efficiency by 10% through streamlined workflows and cross-functional collaboration.
- Maintained confidentiality of sensitive financial data while enforcing internal controls and regulatory compliance standards.
- Prepared and reviewed detailed financial reports, highlighting trends and variances to support executive decision-making.
- Leveraged accounting software (QuickBooks) and advanced Excel tools to manage daily transactions, automate reporting, and enhance data accuracy.
- Coordinated external audits by organizing documentation and guiding staff responses, resulting in clean audit outcomes.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure accurate cost allocation, budget adherence, and improved forecasting.
- Strengthened team performance through training, coaching, and clear communication of complex financial information.
Education
Master's Degree - Business Administration, Accounting, International Business, Healthcare Administration, Finance, Human Resources, Organization Structure
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA12.2025
Skills
- Leadership and management
- Customer service excellence
- Project management
- Team collaboration
- Effective communication
- Multicultural awareness
- Organizational growth
- Market research
- Attention to detail
- Microsoft applications proficiency
- Team supervision and mentoring
- Training and development
- Project coordination
- Ethical standards and confidentiality
- Financial analysis and reporting
- Problem-solving strategies
- QuickBooks proficiency
- Written and verbal communication
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Time management
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Teamwork strategies
- Loss prevention techniques
- Conflict resolution skills
- Flexible scheduling
- Returns and exchanges management
- Retail merchandising expertise
Community Service
- International Student Ambassador, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, 12/01/23, 02/01/24, Developed a deeper understanding of emotional intelligence by helping others work through personal and academic challenges., Developed leadership skills by helping international students feel more comfortable in a new environment. This also demonstrates my ability to be a mentor and a guide.
- Lead Coordinator, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, 09/01/24, 09/01/25, Volunteering at the Taste of Nation and Cultural Events to display cooking skills., Developed organizational and project management skills by coordinating, managing budgets, and working with peers.
- Catering Coordinator, Caribbean Student Association Club, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, 03/01/24, 12/01/25, Planned and coordinated club events, including budgeting, menu design, and logistics management., Prepared and cooked meals for cultural and community events, serving diverse groups of attendees., Managed event budgets, tracked expenses, and ensured cost-effective use of resources., Collaborated with peers and club leadership to organize successful programs that promoted cultural awareness and student engagement., Developed organizational, leadership, and project management skills through hands-on event execution.
Professional Skills
Team Supervision and Mentoring, Training and Development, Organizational and Project Coordination, Strong Ethical Standards and Confidentiality, Financial Analysis and Reporting, Attention to Detail in Reconciliations, Problem-Solving and Process Improvement, Proficiency in QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel, Customer Service Excellence, Clear Written and Verbal Communication, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Multitasking and Time Management
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Bookstore Associate
Barnes & Noble
05.2025 - Current
Custodian
Liberty University
05.2025 - 08.2025
Food Service Worker
Sodexo
09.2023 - Current
Accounting Supervisor
Portside Towing Limited
10.2018 - 08.2023
Master's Degree - Business Administration, Accounting, International Business, Healthcare Administration, Finance, Human Resources, Organization Structure
Liberty University