Kristina Soto
The Woodlands ,TX
Summary
Analytical, organized, and detail-oriented accountant with GAAP expertise and experience in the full spectrum of corporate accounting.
Collaborative team player with an ownership mentality and a track record of delivering the highest-quality strategic solutions to resolve challenges, and propel business growth.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Manager at MCMHTF
Recovery Solutions
Conroe, TX
01.2022 - Current
- Optimized processes by recognizing inefficiencies and executing suitable improvements.
- Promoted a positive workplace culture to elevate team productivity.
- Communicated with customers and vendors positively with particular attention to problem resolution.
- Negotiated contracts with suppliers and vendors, securing favorable terms for the company while maintaining strong relationships.
- Oversaw financial operations, maintaining accurate records and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.
- Successfully managed organizational change initiatives, minimizing disruptions to daily operations while achieving desired outcomes.
- Assisted with hiring process and training of new employees.
- Created, managed, and executed business plan and communicated company vision and objectives to motivate teams.
- Streamlined business processes by implementing new project management tools and techniques.
- Coordinated team schedules to keep shifts properly staffed during busy periods.
- Managed cross-functional teams, ensuring timely completion of projects within budget constraints.
- Implemented cost-cutting measures, resulting in substantial savings for the organization without compromising on quality or performance.
- Mentored junior staff members, helping them grow professionally and contribute more effectively to the team''s goals.
- Anticipated financial impact from operational issues and worked with leadership to develop solutions.
- Fostered a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging employee input on process optimization efforts.
- Spearheaded recruitment and hiring process and compiled training materials for new and existing team members.
- Enhanced team capabilities, organizing professional development workshops and mentoring programs.
- Conducted detailed market analyses to inform strategic planning and decision-making processes.
- Negotiated favorable terms with suppliers, improving profit margins without sacrificing quality.
- Instituted data-driven approach to decision-making, leveraging analytics to guide business strategies.
- Cultivated culture of continuous improvement by encouraging innovation and critical thinking within team.
AP Accounting Manager
United PF Partners, LLC/dba Planet Fitness
10.2018 - 08.2019
- Created a centralized in-house Financial AP Accounting Department for a growing international multi-entity franchise that owned and operated 119 locations initially, growing exponentially through several acquisitions to a little over 260 locations within the year.
- Automated and Streamlined the AP invoice process and workflow by leveraging intelligent end-to-end and real-time AP automation technology across ERP systems, from purchasing to payment (P2P) of invoices through the integration of the Yooz platform. Effectively reducing invoice processing costs by 35%
- Saved the company over $500k in accounting fees, taxes, and other services that was previously outsourced to a third-party accounting firm through the creation and centralization of all AP functions for all 260+ locations
- Developed vendor relationships yielding annual contracts and discounted terms overall reducing operations expenses by 12% in the first year
Financial Sales Analyst II
James Avery Craftsman
02.2018 - 09.2018
- Provide analysis, reporting, and reconciliation of sales transactions that supports the Company’s direct channels, including direct to consumer and wholesale accounts.
- Direct and Wholesale Sales Revenue Analysis to verify accuracy of sales revenue for Direct and Wholesale channels
- Supports the monthly financial statement close through reconciliation of applicable general ledger accounts, submissions of recurring and non-recurring journal entries, and maintenance of supporting documentation to accurately substantiate account balances at month end.
- Work closely with cross-functional teams, such as Direct and Wholesale Channels and IT, to ensure key decision data is accurate, automated, and timely. Responsibilities require full understanding of the Accounts Receivable (AR) cycle, active participation in User Acceptance Testing for new initiatives, enhancements or other projects which would impact AR or other accounting scenarios.
- Facilitates new system implementations and upgrades which affect the direct sales channels.
Regional Controller - Property Accounting
Suntex Marinas
04.2017 - 07.2017
- Served as a key financial business partner to assigned market’s operation & management teams to provide comprehensive month end close functions and financial reporting analytics to include identification of key performance indicators and drivers to facilitate executives in making well informed business decisions
- Evaluated Marina’s existing internal controls to ensure GAAP compliance and executed efficiently
- Temp contract position
Senior GL Accountant
iHeart Media
08.2015 - 02.2017
- Performed general accounting activities at the Shared Services Center (SSC) at Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO)
- Involved in expanding the general accounting function at the SSC and centralizing the general accounting activities from the various branch locations
- Developed policy and procedure over general accounting activities to assist in establishing best practices
- Month end close: Ownership over select general ledger accounts, which includes preparing and posting journal entries, reviewing account activity, preparing periodic (i.e monthly, quarterly or annually) account reconciliations, explaining account activity and preparing account analyses
- Develops and maintains thorough knowledge and understanding of CCO Accounting policies, financial systems, transaction processes, internal controls and chart of accounts
- Perform monthly analytical review of balance sheet and income statement for select branches to assist operation team and management identify KPI and drivers
- Establish procedures for the centralized month-end close process, working to streamline activities and accelerate the close timeline
- Exposure to lease accounting and contract review
- Essential Functions and Accountabilities:
Regional Accounting Manager
Club Corp – Corporate
12.2010 - 03.2015
- Responsible for ensuring accurate accounting records and financials for five properties within the South Texas region
- Served as the key financial business partner with the General Manager at each club to assist in business and financial management decisions that are in line with budgetary targets
- Evaluated Clubs internal controls to ensure they are being executed effectively and ensure clubs are SOX compliant
- Trained all new club Office Administrators on systems, daily responsibilities and provide ongoing training for system upgrades and process improvements
- Maintained an efficient and effective financial and administrative organization in charge of training, supervising, and mentoring accounting personnel in an effort to grow talent within the department
- Provided accurate financial information, analysis and trending to General Managers and Financial Team members along with insight and observations to facilitate informed decisions and appropriate actions
- Responsible for period end financial close for the assigned clubs and completion of all period end checklists/requirements in accordance with GAAP & SOX requirements
- Performed Statement of Operations and Balance Sheet variance analysis weekly, periodic & quarterly reviews
- Partnered with General Manager & Capital Team on two different club Reinvention Capital ROI projects with largest project funds totaling $3.5M. Tasks included assisting in the completion of cash flow projections, submission of Capital requests to obtain proper level of approvals from Executive Management Team, contractor and budget/cash flow meetings, and facilitate the processing of Capital Invoices
- Report/File/Pay monthly Sales & Use tax returns and other applicable tax returns as required
- Recorded weekly and periodic recurring and manual journal entries, e.g. payroll accruals and reversals, inventory adjustments, contingent rent, liquor pool activity, etc.
- Supported Sox compliance by performing key SOX controls and partnering with Club Operations to ensure a strong SOX and internal control environment
- Performed club SOX audits for the Internal Audit department
- Participated in rollout and installation of new finance related technology solutions and applications
- Annual planning, budgeting & forecasting responsibilities
- Supported Office Administrators to ensure that all daily financial related processes at the clubs are being completed on a timely and accurate basis
- Essential Functions and Accountabilities:
Director of Club Accounting
Plaza Club of San Antonio
12.2008 - 12.2010
- Serve as the Chief Financial Officer and financial advisor to the General Club Manager
- Performs as a member of the Senior Staff of the Club to execute the financial operations in all areas of general accounting, accounts payables, accounts receivables, and payroll, as well as all administrative and human resource functions. Ensure compliance with established policies, regulations, and procedures in order to protect the Club from misuse or loss of assets
- Maintained an efficient and effective financial and administrative organization in charge of training, supervising, and mentoring accounting personnel to grow talent within the department
- Maintained, reviewed and presented the accounts receivable and membership information exercising independent judgement and discretion in accordance with GAAP
- Ensured the timely payment of all periodic expenditures and monitor capital spending and the re-view of expenditures that might qualify for capitalization
- Ensured the proper processing of payments to include Member payments, processing of invoices, Sales and Use Tax, as well as the mixed beverage gross receipt taxes
- Reconciliation of general ledger accounts in accordance with GAAP
- Processing Member Initiation Deposits and Fees and Membership documents in accordance with GAAP
- Performed self-audits of accounting and Club operations as required by the Internal Audit Department & GAAP
- Prepared, maintained and presented the Club’s financial condition to the Club Manager and Department Heads through month end financial reports
- Collaborated with Senior Management to accurately forecast and report on the Club’s financial status and assist with annual budgeting
- Implemented and monitored internal controls to protect the Club from misuse or loss of assets
- Essential Functions and Accountabilities:
Personal Accountant to CEO/ Special Projects and Development / Account Executive
Lewis Petro Properties
04.2006 - 11.2008
- Provided executive leadership for Lewis Petro Properties serving south central Texas.
- Worked directly for CEO and President of Lewis Petro Properties
- Responsibilities include managing and providing weekly executive reports, monitoring and reporting on various stock options and holdings, monitoring expenses and credit card usage of key employees and departments, financial reporting, personal and business related event planning, and special projects.
- Special projects provided me with extensive experience involving creative interaction with business partners, demonstrating the ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks working well under pressure to meet the deadlines of several projects
- Created comprehensive, organized reporting structure for the CEO resulting in greater efficiency and productivity
- Responsible for reconciling and auditing employee credit card usage and expense reports
- Developed new policies and procedures to increase corporate structure and internal controls
- Initiated the creation of an internal audit department to promote more safeguards and checks and balances within the organization as a whole
- Assisted in financial reporting of international sectors of our company to include South America and Mexico
- Key Achievements:
Audit and Enterprise Risk Services
Deloitte and Touché, LLP – PUBLIC
01.2005 - 04.2006
- Provided attestation and risk management services to clients within the San Antonio region and surrounding areas. Offered client services in many industries to include Health Care, Non-Profit, Governmental, Manufacturing, and Hedge Fund Investments
Education
Masters of Science - Accounting
Trinity University
San Antonio, TX05.2005
BS - Business Administration
Trinity University
San Antonio, TX05.2004
Skills
- Financial management
- Customer service
- Project management
- Employee management
- Analytical thinking
- Team building and leadership
- Business planning
- Operational leadership
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Strategic planning
- Process improvement
- Risk assessment and management
- Operations management
- Budget administration
- Financial oversight
- Policy implementation
- Coaching and mentoring
- Contract management
- Fiscal management
- Team leadership
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Business growth initiatives
- Cost analysis and savings
- Business forecasting
- Finance and accounting oversight
Qualifications
- Demonstrated capacity to provide comprehensive analytical accounting and financial support for executive-level staff for multiple national business units, accurate and timely financial reporting, perform financial closing duties in accordance with GAAP and other accounting guidelines, annual budgeting process and weekly/periodic forecasting, evaluate internal control effectiveness & SOX compliance, as well as support Internal & External Audits requests.
- Create Centralized Financial Accounting functions specifically in the Accounts Payable department for a multi-entity, multi-location growing franchise to streamline processes across all locations for greater efficiency, reduction of overhead and overall increased profitability margins
- Excellent interpersonal skills and accustomed to working in a team environment
- Detail oriented with the ability to grasp new concepts quickly
- Strong analytical accounting and financial skill set gained from combined employment experience and academic pursuits
- Strong communication, critical thinking and organizational skills
- Proactive, driven, and self-motivated individual accustomed to challenging work environments
- Highly focused and results-oriented in supporting complex, deadline-driven operations; able to identify goals and priorities and resolve issues independently
- 15 years of financial accounting experience
- Big 4 Public Accounting experience
Timeline
Business Manager at MCMHTF
Recovery Solutions
01.2022 - Current
AP Accounting Manager
United PF Partners, LLC/dba Planet Fitness
10.2018 - 08.2019
Financial Sales Analyst II
James Avery Craftsman
02.2018 - 09.2018
Regional Controller - Property Accounting
Suntex Marinas
04.2017 - 07.2017
Senior GL Accountant
iHeart Media
08.2015 - 02.2017
Regional Accounting Manager
Club Corp – Corporate
12.2010 - 03.2015
Director of Club Accounting
Plaza Club of San Antonio
12.2008 - 12.2010
Personal Accountant to CEO/ Special Projects and Development / Account Executive
Lewis Petro Properties
04.2006 - 11.2008
Audit and Enterprise Risk Services
Deloitte and Touché, LLP – PUBLIC
01.2005 - 04.2006
Masters of Science - Accounting
Trinity University
BS - Business Administration
Trinity University