James Pedersen
Powder Springs,GA
Summary
Results-driven accounting leader with over 20 years of comprehensive experience in corporate accounting, technical policy research, financial reporting, financial management, compliance, and strategic planning. Proven expertise in senior leadership roles, showcasing strong analytical and communication skills that foster effective teamwork. Recognized for the ability to swiftly adapt to new environments and challenges, driving organizational success through innovative solutions and strategic insights.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Technical Accounting
J.M. HUBER CORPORATION
Atlanta, GA
08.2024 - 04.2026
- Assist in the preparation and review of quarterly and annual financial statements and reports.
- Provide review of technical accounting research and interpretive guidance on complex financial transactions and accounting matters.
- Review significant contract transactions to evaluate the contract terms to ensure the accounting impact aligns with the organization’s business strategy.
- Analyze financial data to identify trends and provide insight for decision-making.
- Review new FASB and SEC accounting pronouncements to assess the financial statement impact on the organization.
- Prepare and present training and other presentations on accounting topics for the organization.
- Develop and maintain accounting policies.
Senior Manager, Technical Accounting
CARRIER CORPORATION
Atlanta, GA
07.2023 - 08.2024
- Provided technical accounting research and interpretive guidance on complex accounting matters to Carrier’s controllership organization.
- Reviewed significant contract transactions to evaluate the contract terms to ensure the accounting impact aligns with the organization’s business strategy.
- Reviewed new FASB and SEC accounting pronouncements to assess the financial statement impact on the organization.
- Prepared and presented training and other presentations on a variety of accounting topics to the global controllership and finance organizations.
- Developed and maintained accounting policies.
Senior Manager, Accounting Policy & Controls
INVESCO, LTD.
Atlanta, GA
06.2021 - 06.2023
- Researched and advised on complex transactions (e.g., consolidations, leases, revenue recognition, share-based compensation, goodwill impairment, software capitalization, etc.).
- Partnered with corporate accounting, fund accounting, finance, and investment products leadership in addressing day-to-day business transactions and associated accounting implications.
Senior Manager, Accounting & Transaction Services
MORGAN FRANKLIN CONSULTING
Atlanta, GA
01.2019 - 06.2021
- Advised fast growing companies and well-known enterprises (both publicly traded and privately held) on a wide variety of projects including IPO preparation, transaction support, carve-outs and/or spin-offs, audit readiness, and new accounting pronouncements.
- Engaged with clients and colleagues on technical accounting and control-related issues to provide research guidance and give recommendations for potential solutions.
- Created and delivered presentations on technical concepts, project work plans, delivery approach, milestones, and results to client stakeholders.
- Reviewed team progress to ensure compliance with work program and professional standards.
- Educated internal and external audiences on Accounting & Transaction Services best practices.
- Identified, design and implement creative business solutions to continually improve the firm's methodology and approach.
- Established credibility as a trusted advisor.
- Managed client relationships with an eye toward identifying and closing on new business opportunities.
- Actively participated in career development activities and technical training of staff.
Interim CFO
ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE
Newark, NJ
10.2017 - 01.2019
- Provided oversight over the administrative management and operating efficiency of the College’s financial and business operations.
- Provided oversight with the issuance of financial information; reviewed and approved all filings with the Department of Education.
- Reported financial results to the executive team and board of trustees.
- Ensured the operating procedures and record-keeping systems were maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
- Created short-term and long-term operating budgets for all department units and programs and measured performance against objectives. Communicated with all levels of management regarding fiscal policies and provided direction in the consistent implementation of finance-related policies.
- Provided oversight and enforced guidelines for the successful and timely completion of annual and periodic financial audits and ensured compliance with prescribed guidelines.
- Developed and maintained internal accounting controls designed to detect and eliminate errors in accounting practices.
- Provided oversight and management in the areas of payroll accounting, expenditure accounting, revenue accounting and grant sponsored program accounting.
Manager – Technical Accounting/Financial Reporting
TOYS “R” US, INC.
Wayne, NJ
10.2015 - 10.2017
- Monitored the activities of accounting standard setting bodies i.e., SEC, FASB, IASB, AICPA, and EITF and prepared operational/financial impact assessments of proposed and adopted accounting/SEC standards;
- Reviewed the preparation and submission of SEC filings including 10-Q, 10-K, financial statement footnote disclosures, MD&A disclosures and earnings releases and assisted in review of XBRL tagging.
- Reviewed the preparation and submission of internal analytics packages provided to executive management including analysis of Sales Margin, product sales, Inventory, SGA, financial performance of market share and industry competitors;
- Interacted with external auditors on technical accounting issues and assisted other departments in the support of annual audits and quarterly reviews by legal entity, as deemed necessary.
- Supported Global Accounting Operations, Treasury, Tax and Financial Planning and Analysis functions by providing guidance on the accounting treatment for a wide range of transaction types.
- Collaborated with different business functions and teams to perform accounting due diligence on potential transactions.
- Ensured GAAP and SEC reporting requirements were met for significant and/or non-routine transactions and documented conclusions on executed transactions in well-documented position papers;
- Prepared and presented CPE training and other presentations on a variety of accounting/SEC topics to constituents across the organization;
- Mentored and coached staff.
Senior Auditor
ERNST & YOUNG
Atlanta, GA
12.2014 - 10.2015
- Developed and maintained productive working relationships with client management and assessed clients' satisfaction. Proactively maintain contact with the client throughout the year. Direct daily fieldwork performed by staff and consistently informed engagement management of the engagement status through frequent meetings and managing staff (4-5 team members) performance. Focus on building staff to foster a strong and efficient team. Adapt the audit approach to the changing client environment.
- Performed include audits of financial statements (10k and 10Q) and financial statement schedules included (incorporated by reference) in registration statements (Form S-1) filed with the SEC. In addition, performed circle up procedures for Pre-IPO comfort letter by providing comfort on numbers that could be traced to or derived from the audited financial statements and/or issuer’s internal accounting records.
- Demonstrated a thorough understanding of technical and complex accounting related to loan and loan reserve accounting, loan impairment, loan valuation, net capital calculation (FINRA), revenue recognition issues, derivatives transactions, Sarbanes Oxley 404 implementation, and SEC reporting matters.
Senior Auditor
DELOITTE & TOUCHE
Parsippany, NJ
11.2011 - 08.2014
- Managed various audit engagements with both SEC and private clients.
- Planned and coordinated audit engagements including developing audit strategy, preparing budgets, performing complex analyses, managing fieldwork, reviewing work papers, supervising staffs, and monitoring report production process based on entity and industry risks.
- Reviewed 10-K, 10-Q and proxy statements, tying-out figures with supporting documents to ensure the sufficiency of audit evidence.
- Performed walk through to understand and evaluate the design of controls, and test the operating effectiveness of identified controls in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
- Substantively audited significant balance sheet and income statement accounts. Performed fluctuation analyses on balance sheet and income statement accounts.
- Conducted one-on-one interaction with client personnel at all levels, including the Controller, CFO, and CEO.
- Communicated with audit team and client regarding potential issues identified during audit procedures, and proposed resolution of accounting issues on engagements in accordance with applicable accounting pronouncements including GAAP.
- Coordinated and managed team efforts in quarterly/interim reviews and annual audits. Manage 4-5 staff personnel while meeting client and internal deadlines. Delegated and reviewed the work of staff members while leading, motivating, and providing daily assistance for both peer and less experienced team members.
Senior Auditor (7/10 – 11/11)
QUEST DIAGNOSTICS
Madison, NJ
07.2010 - 11.2011
- Served as Senior In-Charge on audit engagements to plan, organize, and manage audit engagement from beginning to end, including initial contact, scheduling audit, to preparing the final audit report.
- Documented, evaluated, and reviewed process controls with an emphasis on identifying key internal controls and associated risks. Reviewed internal processes and financials, identified control weaknesses, and proposed recommendations for improvements. Effectively communicated findings/recommendations with Divisional Controllers & Managing Directors
- Reviewed and evaluated compliance with Quest Diagnostics’ anti-corruption policy on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) to help ensure Quest Diagnostic colleagues worldwide are interacting in an appropriate manner with international professionals and non-U.S. government officials.
- Provided oral and written communication of audit plan and findings to management.
- Provided guidance to assist team members in completing work to ensure the audit team finished projects on time.
Senior Accountant (5/07 – 7/10)
QUEST DIAGNOSTICS
Madison, NJ
05.2007 - 07.2010
- Assisted the business units with the monthly and quarterly closing process including the posting of necessary closing and adjusting journal entries, updated accounting system with month-end foreign exchange rates.
- Monitored intercompany account activity to ensure proper accounting and elimination of intercompany transactions, performed various financial statement fluctuation analyses, and prepared notes of the financial statements.
- Maintained proper accounting of the change in investments in joint ventures by use of equity method analyses.
- Performed calculation and recording of non-controlling interest share in subsidiaries for consolidated financial statements.
- Performed financial analysis including actual versus budget, trends, and financial ratios for monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting.
Staff Accountant
AGC CHEMICALS AMERICA, INC.
Bayonne, NJ
01.2006 - 05.2007
- Assisted in the monthly and quarterly closing process including preparing reconciliations for company bank accounts, posting closing, and adjusting entries, and preparing financial statement ratio analyses.
- Performed cash flow forecasts to ensure subsidiary cash balances remained on target with the budgeted cash balance.
- Performed monthly, quarterly, and annual inventory analysis. Prepared variable cost analysis for 20 business segments. Performed monthly actual versus budget financial analysis for 20 business segments. Collaborated with business segment management to investigate, resolve, and document budget variances. Collaborated with product line managers to identify and document budget variances.
Accounting Coordinator
DEVRY UNIVERSITY
North Brunswick, NJ
11.2002 - 01.2006
- Assisted in the recording of the acquisition and/or disposal of fixed assets including calculating the appropriate depreciation for the asset class.
- Performed the journalizing of accrued expenses. Performed monthly accrual analysis of accounts payable purchases.
- Performed monthly and quarterly reconciliations for financial statement accounts.
- Prepared closing and adjusting journal entries at month and quarter end.
Education
MA - Accounting & Financial Management
Keller Graduate School of Management
06-2007
BA - Economics
Rutgers University
05-2001
Skills
- Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teammate, Hyperion Essbase, Lawson Accounting System, PeopleSoft, Oracle, OneStream
- Verbal and written communication
- Relationship building
- Operations management
- Financial reporting
- Financial management
- Financial analysis
Certification
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – State of New Jersey
Timeline
Director of Technical Accounting
J.M. HUBER CORPORATION
08.2024 - 04.2026
Senior Manager, Technical Accounting
CARRIER CORPORATION
07.2023 - 08.2024
Senior Manager, Accounting Policy & Controls
INVESCO, LTD.
06.2021 - 06.2023
Senior Manager, Accounting & Transaction Services
MORGAN FRANKLIN CONSULTING
01.2019 - 06.2021
Interim CFO
ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE
10.2017 - 01.2019
Manager – Technical Accounting/Financial Reporting
TOYS “R” US, INC.
10.2015 - 10.2017
Senior Auditor
ERNST & YOUNG
12.2014 - 10.2015
Senior Auditor
DELOITTE & TOUCHE
11.2011 - 08.2014
Senior Auditor (7/10 – 11/11)
QUEST DIAGNOSTICS
07.2010 - 11.2011
Senior Accountant (5/07 – 7/10)
QUEST DIAGNOSTICS
05.2007 - 07.2010
Staff Accountant
AGC CHEMICALS AMERICA, INC.
01.2006 - 05.2007
Accounting Coordinator
DEVRY UNIVERSITY
11.2002 - 01.2006
BA - Economics
Rutgers University
MA - Accounting & Financial Management
Keller Graduate School of Management