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James Akatey
Brentwood,NY
Summary
Senior Accountant and CPA Candidate with 8+ years of experience in financial reporting, audit, and tax compliance across public accounting and industry. Proven track record in GAAP reporting, month-end close, and variance analysis, with hands-on expertise in QuickBooks, NetSuite, and advanced Excel.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Seasonal Tax Specialist (TurboTax)
Intuit Inc., USA
USA
03.2026 - Current
- Prepare schedules and working papers for state and local income tax returns
- Search for tax law updates, tax instructions, and publications for tax customers (Assist Services)
- Assist in the production of state-specific reporting for Forms K-1 packages
- Review tax returns for customers prior to filing (Assist Services)
- Calculate required estimated state tax and extension payments
- Support clients to file their taxes accurately (Assist Services)
- Provided expert guidance on tax law changes and their implications for clients.
- Reviewed completed tax returns for accuracy, identifying errors and recommending corrections.
Experienced Audit Associate
PwC, NY
NY
01.2024 - 08.2025
- Examined, analyzed, and prepared audited accounting records and financial statements for clients
- Reviewed internal audit processes and recommended procedures that complied with GAAP
- Converted quarterly and annual financial statements from GAAP accounting to statutory accounting
- Analyzed variances of fixed asset, depreciation schedules, and capital expenditure with annual budget
- Participated in internal meetings, entry and exit meetings with clients (approximately 10% of time)
- Reviewed capital expenditure and budget in relation with corporate capital budget policies
- Researched and proposed resolutions for record discrepancies for clean financial statements
- Reviewed system-wide internal controls, accounting systems, and procedures for compliance
Staff Accountant
Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island, Westbury, NY
Westbury, NY
11.2019 - 12.2023
- Prepared financial reports, regulatory filings, schedules, and journal entries for audit
- Maintained monthly bank & corporate credit cards reconciliation and intercompany transfers
- Performed monthly closing of accounts receivable & payable ledgers and aging analysis
- Analyzed actual financial performance with budgets, prior periods, and market trends
- Assisted management to develop and implement accounting policies and internal controls to improve efficiency by 20%
- Applied generally accepted accounting principles to ensure conformity with regulations
- Analyzed financial data to provide strategic insights for decision-making by management.
Accountant - Accountant Senior
Metro Mass Transit Ltd, Ghana
Ghana
09.2010 - 08.2019
- Reviewed financial statements of 16 branches and prepared consolidated financial statements
- Prepared cash flow analysis & budgets for long term strategic capital expenditure projects
- Researched and analyzed variances in periodic comparative financial reports and budgets
- Assigned invoice coding, chart of accounts, and complex expense allocations
- Deputized Finance Manager at management and board meetings
- Worked with independent and internal auditors for compliance with financial reporting requirements
- Head of branch’s finance department, and prepared monthly financial reports (Sept 2010 – Jun 2016)
Education
MBA - Accounting: Concentration in Accounting
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY12-2022
MBA - Financial Management
The Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG)
Ghana11-2013
BBA - Accounting
University of Cape Coast
Ghana06-2010
Skills
- Tax Preparation
- Fixed Asset Schedules
- Tax advisory services
- Tax research
- Tax return preparation
- Tax law
- Tax due diligence
Accomplishments
- Instituted Advanced Excel templates for budget and financial reporting at Catholic Cemetery of L.I
- Best branch accountant in 2016 which led to my promotion as a supervisor of 16 branch accountants
Affiliations
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) – Student Membership
- Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG) – Full Membership
Certification
- Intuit Certified Bookkeeper (2026)
- Intuit Tax Preparation Training & Tax Exam Level 1 (2026)
- Intuit QuickBooks Desktop & Online Certified (2025)
- Intuit Online Certified Payroll (2025)
- Oracle NetSuite for Accountants (2025)
- Excel for Accountants (Wiley 2022)
- John Maxwell Leadership- Certificate in leadership (2014)
- The Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (a member since 2013)
Languages
English
Full Professional
Timeline
Seasonal Tax Specialist (TurboTax)
Intuit Inc., USA
03.2026 - Current
Experienced Audit Associate
PwC, NY
01.2024 - 08.2025
Staff Accountant
Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island, Westbury, NY
11.2019 - 12.2023
Accountant - Accountant Senior
Metro Mass Transit Ltd, Ghana
09.2010 - 08.2019
MBA - Accounting: Concentration in Accounting
Stony Brook University
MBA - Financial Management
The Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG)
BBA - Accounting
University of Cape Coast
Entrepreneurial Experience
- Founder, Heaven Dew & Legacy Accountancy
- Provide bookkeeping and tax services for small businesses for regulatory compliance
Leadership and Voluntary Activities
- The Church of Pentecost, USA, Inc
- District Secretary/ Central Assembly Financial Secretary
- Deputize district pastor to supervise three churches in the district
- Prepare semi-annual district reports and semi-annual financial statements
- Jan. 2020 - Present