Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Lena Nichols

Novi,MI

Summary

Experienced accounting leader with over 10 years of progressive responsibility in financial operations, system administration, and team development within both corporate and higher education environments. Proven ability to manage complex budgeting, forecasting, and fund accounting activities across multiple departments and campuses. Skilled in optimizing financial systems, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and presenting strategic insights to stakeholders. Eager to leverage expertise in process improvement, technical system oversight, and policy compliance to support and enhance organizational financial planning, reporting, and system development.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Supervisor of Accounting & Records

University of Michigan
04.2023 - Current
  • Lead and oversee a team of four, managing all accounting operations related to Student Loan funds and accounts receivable across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses.
  • Spearhead budgeting, forecasting, planning, and reporting for multiple fund types, at varying phases of their life cycle, ensuring compliance with university and federal regulations.
  • Serve as presenter at quarterly and year-end budget meetings, distilling complex financial data for financial stakeholders.
  • Maintain oversight of ECSI loan servicing software; proactively address technical issues, coordinate with vendor IT staff, and ensure efficient workflow and effective data integration.
  • Collaborate with cross-campus stakeholders - Finance, ITS, Legal, and others - to assess business needs, enhance processes, and ensure accurate, efficient reporting.
  • Administer and maintain financial data in PeopleSoft and use Business Objects for financial analysis and reporting.
  • Develop, document, and deliver process guides and training materials to support staff and end-users.
  • Ensure ongoing compliance with U of M policies, rules, and regulations, and uphold data security standards for student financial records and systems.

Accounting Supervisor

RouteOne, LLC
10.2020 - 04.2023
  • Oversaw and coached a team of 6-8 direct reports. Conducted interviews, oversaw onboarding, and provided training.
  • Implemented processes to ensure continued staff development in a remote environment.
  • Managed all AP functionality for US & Canada entities - oversaw billing processes, including invoicing, payment application, collections, and customer service.
  • Provided final review for all monthly product revenue schedules and account reconciliations.
  • Oversaw monthly and year-end budgetary forecasting for all AP/AR related accounts.
  • Identified inefficiencies, provided solutions, and implemented process improvements.
  • Successfully transitioned to a new accounting system, trained staff on the new system, and continued to facilitate the post-implementation process.

Senior Accounting Specialist

RouteOne, LLC
05.2018 - 10.2020
  • Oversaw a team of 2-4 direct reports.
  • Prepared and analyzed monthly revenue schedules and dealer product schedules to ensure billing and accounting accuracy.
  • Prepared budgetary forecasting, while communicating with management to provide analysis detailing variations, their causes, and providing corrective actions as needed.
  • Budget vs Actuals analysis performed monthly. Researched variances and worked with various departments to make corrections when needed. Reported monthly to executives, responding to follow up questions and requests.
  • Performed all dealer billing, while working with internal product teams and sales teams, as well as with customers. Identified and implemented numerous billing process improvements.
  • Audited and analyzed Fee for Development projects to ensure that expenses were properly managed and allocated.

Staff Accountant

RouteOne, LLC
08.2012 - 05.2018
  • Performed AP functions - processing invoices, maintaining AP records for audits, preparing month end journal entries, processing purchase orders.
  • Prepared monthly and year-end budgetary forecasting for AP accounts
  • Reviewed and reconciled bank accounts monthly.
  • Filed quarterly Canadian taxes, while performing detailed reconciliations between revenue schedules, general ledger accounts, and expense reports.
  • Assisted the Accounting Supervisor with billing processes and associated product reconciliations.

Contracts Administrator

ITC Holdings Corp (Power Line Supply)
01.2007 - 08.2012
  • Planned for services and procured inventory materials for multi-million dollar construction projects and software system implementations
  • Identified prospective suppliers, negotiated rates and established contracts.
  • Developed processes for budgetary forecasting for inventories.
  • Cultivated and maintained a synergistic relationship with the ITC Supply Chain, IT, Legal, Facilities, and Accounting teams.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Mathematics And Statistics

University of Michigan
Dearborn, MI

Associate of Applied Science - Accounting

Macomb County Community College
Macomb, MI

Skills

Process Efficiencies & Improvement, Budgeting/Forecasting & Planning, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Data Gathering & Analysis, Reporting & Documentation, Task Prioritization, Team Leadership & Motivation, Proficient in MS Word/Excel, PeopleSoft, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Workday, Business Objects

Timeline

Senior Supervisor of Accounting & Records

University of Michigan
04.2023 - Current

Accounting Supervisor

RouteOne, LLC
10.2020 - 04.2023

Senior Accounting Specialist

RouteOne, LLC
05.2018 - 10.2020

Staff Accountant

RouteOne, LLC
08.2012 - 05.2018

Contracts Administrator

ITC Holdings Corp (Power Line Supply)
01.2007 - 08.2012

Bachelor of Arts - Mathematics And Statistics

University of Michigan

Associate of Applied Science - Accounting

Macomb County Community College

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Lena Nichols