Laura Cortes

Finance Manager

Environmental Development Partners, LLC

Houston

01.2013 - Current

Provide key strategic financial planning, analysis, and accounting leadership and direction with accountability for developing and implementing operational best practices, standards, and procedures to achieve cost-cutting and process improvement results
Manage accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, maintain account charts and accounting filing system, and calculate/issue financial and operating metrics
Coordinate with external auditors for annual audits
Manage funds and forecast cash flow positions and assist management in formulation of overall strategic direction
Provide timely, accurate, and complete reports on the operating condition of the company
Accountable for reconciling balance sheet and general ledger accounts in accordance with GAAP and researching / resolving out of balance general ledger accounts
Prepare month-end and year-end closing entries
In addition, oversee administration and coordination of Client Billing per District meeting dates
Delivered $1M in savings within 1.5 years by improving financial oversight and establishing/implementing rules and regulations
Achieved faster billing and improved cash flow and global communication by leading project to develop mobile workforce management software that is used throughout company
Increased operational efficiency by solving problem of tracking time paid to employee vs
Time billed to customers, as a result of developing an Excel dashboard to show the percentage billed by person and by manager
Streamlined employee credit card usage process, eliminating impulse buys and establishing improved billing practices
Successfully implemented a PO process for better financial accruals
Prepare monthly financial statements and accruals
Ensure accurate and timely preparation of financial statements, including balance sheets, income sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements
Perform monthly accruals to reflect expenses and revenues in the correct accounting periods, and analyze financial data to identify trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement
Prepare monthly financial reports for Clients and timely preparation in accordance with District meeting schedule