LESIA HARPER
Monticello,USA
Summary
Dynamic accounting and procurement professional with extensive experience at Georgia Pacific, LLC. Proven track record in regulatory compliance and contract negotiation, driving process improvements that enhance efficiency. Adept at data analysis and team leadership, successfully managing multi-million dollar inventories while fostering strong supplier relationships. Committed to achieving operational excellence and cost savings.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager of Accounting - Internal Financial Control
Georgia Pacific, LLC
08.2021 - Current
- Ensured compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, industry standards.
- Created reports for management, summarizing operational performance metrics.
- Established processes to ensure efficient workflow throughout the review process.
- Ensured compliance with company policies and procedures.
- Facilitated team meetings and workshops to foster collaboration and share best practices.
- Worked with sites to conduct physical inventories.
- Educate individuals on policies and best practices.
- Procurement SME, leading a team in establishing the site purchasing and stores internal financial review based on policy and procedures.
Area Purchasing Manager
Georgia Pacific Wood Products, LLC
08.2016 - 08.2021
- Manage Purchasing and Storeroom operations for Fordyce OSB and Hope CP in adherence to laws and Georgia-Pacific’s policy.
- Analyze inventory, purchasing, and processes to optimize cost saving opportunities.
- Manage Purchasing and Storeroom in Safety, Health and Environmental Compliance ensuring team has the knowledge needed to succeed.
- Partner with mill leadership teams to strategize initiatives that create value.
- Building knowledge and skillset of employees to encourage ownership and leadership within the department by providing direction, development and supervision.
- Manage the procurement process, including negotiations and contract creation ensuring price and terms are agreed upon.
- Negotiate pricing with vendors/contractors to ensure best quality at the best price.
- Work with a team including Central Procurement to develop best SOP’s for procurement practices, inventory control to ensure compliance.
- Work with contractors to bid projects and analyze bids for projects while maintaining a close working relationship with vendors and contractors.
- Ensure contractors are fully qualified to work on site with agreements, ISNetworld (safety) and insurance requirements.
- Work with planning department to manage purchases and receipts of needed parts.
- Participate in team development of programs to build a more efficient tool and train fellow associates in the new programs.
- Audit policies and procedures as well as inventory to ensure we are properly following Internal Financial Controls.
Sr. Buyer
Georgia Pacific, LLC
06.2011 - 08.2016
- Negotiate and manage aspects of Labor/Service and Material Contracts including rates and specifications (MRO, engineered equipment, large capital projects).
- Managing appropriate use of national, regional, and local contract agreements.
- Qualify all contractor (specific agreements, insurance and safety requirements).
- Identify and analyze opportunities to competitively bid local spend to achieve the lowest total cost of ownership.
- Working with requestors to understand requirements, specifications, services, and timing.
- Trained salaried and temporary employee for contract services.
- Manage the purchase order process for stock and consignment expediting approved requisitions to delivery to ensure internal customers have what they need, when they need it and where they need it.
- Continually seek process improvements/ efficiencies, cost reduction and inventory level working with Storeroom on overmax, slow moving, obsolete and returns for $30MM to $50 MM of inventory.
- Trained salaried on Storeroom purchasing.
Material Manager
Hood Packaging Corp.
02.2001 - 06.2011
- Provide leadership and be an effective mentor for salary and hourly associates by understanding their strengths and position them to be successful in their role. This includes identifying training requirements.
- Sourcing, purchasing, negotiating, and managing inventory, equipment, MRO, services and supplies from external vendors.
- Responsible for all purchases totaling up to $30MM annually.
- Worked with vendors and associates to reduce inventory. Inventory managed varied from $20MM - $25MM.
- Found creative ways to reduce inventory as well as capture cost savings.
- Conduct monthly inventory, resolve inventory discrepancies and reconcile inventory.
Controller, Cost Accountant, and Plant Accountant
Hood Packaging Corp.
02.2001 - 07.2008
- Managed up to six accounting associates as well as purchasing, shipping and receiving departments.
- Develop tools for costing product, analyze data for changing prices and negotiate those prices with vendors.
- Responsible for financials, accounts payable, accounts receivable and inventory.
- Managed the monthly inventory counts for raw material and finished goods.
- Conducted Annual Audits on standard operating procedures of operations workflow and worked with supervisors to update and maintain correct procedures.
- Conducted Audits with raw material, finished goods and WIP on quarterly basis ensuring inventory was correct and completed according to the standard operating procedures.
- Developed a costing standard for finished product.
Accountant
C.H. Clowers
10.1998 - 02.2001
- Accountant for distributing company.
- Managed up to two employees, evaluating and training when needs arose.
- Responsible for financials, accounts payable, accounts receivable and inventory.
Accountant
Wiley Barron, CPA
11.1994 - 10.1998
- Responsible for financials and monthly taxes for up to 19 customers.
- Maintained contributions, accounts payable and financials for political campaign.
Education
Bachelor of Applied Science - Business
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Monticello, AR12.2010
Associates of Art - Accounting
South Arkansas Community College
06.1995
Skills
- Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, OneNote, PowerPoint)
- Teams
- Computer systems (MP2, Ariba, ISNetworld, MDM, Asset Suite, SAP)
- Reporting systems (Tableau, Power BI, SharePoint, Spark, Qlik)
- Regulatory compliance
- Inventory management
- Procurement processes
- Contract negotiation
- Process improvement
- Financial reporting
- Data analysis
- Risk assessment
- Supplier relationship
- Team leadership
- Workflow optimization
- Negotiation
- Risk management
References
References available upon request.
Programs With Proficiency
- Excel
- Word
- Teams
- Outlook
- One note
- Power Point
- MP2
- Ariba (contracts and invoicing system)
- ISNetworld (safety program for contractors)
- MDM (Material Data Management)
- Asset Suite
- SAP
- Tableau
- Power BI
- Share Point
- Spark
Timeline
Manager of Accounting - Internal Financial Control
Georgia Pacific, LLC
08.2021 - Current
Area Purchasing Manager
Georgia Pacific Wood Products, LLC
08.2016 - 08.2021
Sr. Buyer
Georgia Pacific, LLC
06.2011 - 08.2016
Material Manager
Hood Packaging Corp.
02.2001 - 06.2011
Controller, Cost Accountant, and Plant Accountant
Hood Packaging Corp.
02.2001 - 07.2008
Accountant
C.H. Clowers
10.1998 - 02.2001
Accountant
Wiley Barron, CPA
11.1994 - 10.1998
Bachelor of Applied Science - Business
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Associates of Art - Accounting
South Arkansas Community College