Lorena Lopez
27162 Golden Field Ct,California
Summary
Motivated Accountant proficient in MS Office and accounting software. Bringing 27 years of hands-on experience with payroll functions, maintaining accounts payables, general ledger maint Independent and self-motivated team player possessing outstanding mathematics and strong analytical abilities.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Accountant II (Confidential)
Easter Municipal Water District
Perris, CA
12.2023 - Current
- Processed payroll for over 500 employees on a bi-weekly basis.
- Maintained employee records and updated information in the payroll system.
- Reviewed and approved time cards, vacation requests, overtime hours, insurance deductions and other pay related items.
- Reconciled discrepancies between payroll systems and general ledger accounts.
- Resolved complex payroll issues including garnishments, retroactive payments.
- Compiled data from various sources to prepare monthly financial reports relating to payroll costs.
- Ensured compliance with federal, state and local regulations pertaining to wages and taxes.
- Provided technical support to internal staff members regarding all aspects of the payroll process.
- Investigated audit findings related to payroll transactions or processes.
- Calculated bonuses, commissions, sick leave accrual balances, retirement contributions and other special payments as needed.
- Prepared journal entries to record changes in payroll related accounts on a monthly basis.
- Maintained confidential files containing personnel information such as salaries, benefits enrollments.
- Reviewed payroll processing systems to verify accuracy of salaries, benefits, garnishments, taxes and other deductions.
- Enforced compliance with federal, state and local payroll, wage and hour laws and best practices.
- Analyzed balance sheets for mistakes and inaccuracies.
Management Analyst II
Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District
Beaumont, CA
02.2015 - 11.2023
- Prepare and maintain accurate records and reports of payroll transactions.
- Facilitate paperwork and processing for new hires, terminations and changes to pay rates.
- Enforce compliance with federal, state and local payroll, wage and hour laws and best practices.
- Identify and recommend updates to payroll accounting software, systems and procedures.
- Collaborate with auditors in support of scheduled and unscheduled audits.
- Review invoices for correct documentation and validated approval prior to releasing payment.
- Identify problems, researched root causes and implemented solutions.
- Review payroll processing systems to verify accuracy of salaries, benefits, garnishments, taxes and other deductions.
- Reconcile invoices and vendor statements, researched issues and corrected discrepancies.
- Update and manage accounts payable databases, employing access controls to protect data.
- Analyze balance sheets for mistakes and inaccuracies.
- Research and implement best practices to improve audit results.
- Cross-train employees, enabling completion of priority tasks during personnel absences.
- Manage and train team members to enhance audit department performance and increase operational efficiency.
- Comply with Sarbanes-Oxley Act and GAAP principles to maintain complete transparency.
- Design internal control policies to improve audit scores.
- Diminish financial discrepancies and accurately reconciled accounts using detailed data analysis results.
- Obtain quotes from various suppliers to determine most cost-effective purchasing options.
- Maintain appropriate inventory levels to meet personnel and corporate needs.
- Facilitate streamline purchasing and resource availability through monitoring and oversight of company inventory.
- Track and approve procurement plans and inventory levels.
- Manage purchase orders, receiving, purchasing, and change orders.
Accountant III
City Of San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA
08.2013 - 02.2015
- Developed and documented business processes and accounting policies to maintain and strengthen internal controls.
- Analyzed monthly department budgeting and accounting reports to maintain expenditure controls.
- Reviewed financial information detailing assets, liabilities and capital and prepared balance sheets and profit and loss statements.
- Prepared monthly and year-end closing statements, financial documents and invoices.
- Cost Allocation Planning
- Grant Management
- Grant drawdown and reporting
- General Ledger maintenance
- Lead Single Audits with external auditors
- Account reconciliations
- Journal entry preparation
Senior Accountant
Moulton Niguel Water District
Laguna Niguel, CA
04.2010 - 08.2013
- Managed and prepared journal entries and reconciliations to support monthly general ledger closing activities.
- Completed month-end and year-end close procedures and reconciled bank accounts.
- Reviewed and reconciled discrepancies in accounts and financial documentation.
- Managed daily closing, reporting and reconciliation functions.
- Collaborated with Controller and external auditors to conduct year-end close process.
- Implemented procedures and best practices for bank reconciliation process and completed balance sheet reconciliations.
- Analyzed monthly department budgeting and accounting reports to maintain expenditure controls.
- Maintained accurate invoice summaries and collection records to enhance monitoring of billing and cash inflows.
- Verified documentation for requested disbursements to facilitate payments.
Accounting Technician
City of Chino
Chino, CA
01.2005 - 04.2010
- Assessed data and information to check entries, calculations and billing codes for accuracy.
- Recorded debit, credit and account transactions in computer spreadsheets and databases.
- Accessed financial information to answer questions and gather details about specific accounts.
- Performed financial calculations for amounts due, interest charges and balances.
- Received and recorded cash, checks and transfers.
- Classified and summarized financial data to compile and enter in financial records.
- Reconciled computer reports with manually maintained ledgers.
- Record and manage fixed assets.
- Create journal entries, recurring journals, fiscal agent recording journals.
- Investment reporting
- Payroll support
- Accounts payable support
- Senior accountant support
Education
Certification - Government/Public Sector Certificate Program
American Payroll Institute
08-2023
Certification - Fundamental Payroll Certification
American Payroll Institute
04.2022
Certification - Accounting
Westech College - Pomona
09.1997
Non-Profit And Government Accounting
University of California, Riverside
Accounting
Santiago Canyon College
Accounting
Moreno Valley College
Skills
- Accounting Policy and Control
- Accounting Records Analysis
- GAAP Accounting Practices
- Accounting Procedures Validation
- Payroll Management
- Financial Projections
- ERP Software
- Audit Preparation
- Critical Thinking and Analysis
- Payroll Auditing
- Effective and Professional Communication
- Financial Reporting
- CalPERS Reporting
- ACWA/JPIA Reporting
- State Compensation Reporting
- Quarterly Tax Liability Reporting
- W-2 Processing
- Annual Compensation Letters
- Monthly and Annual Journal Entries
- Account Reconciliation
- Accounts Payable
- Accounts Receivable
- Warehouse Management
- Utility Billing Customer Service
Timeline
Accountant II (Confidential)
Easter Municipal Water District
12.2023 - Current
Management Analyst II
Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District
02.2015 - 11.2023
Accountant III
City Of San Bernardino
08.2013 - 02.2015
Senior Accountant
Moulton Niguel Water District
04.2010 - 08.2013
Accounting Technician
City of Chino
01.2005 - 04.2010
Certification - Government/Public Sector Certificate Program
American Payroll Institute
Certification - Fundamental Payroll Certification
American Payroll Institute
Certification - Accounting
Westech College - Pomona
Non-Profit And Government Accounting
University of California, Riverside
Accounting
Santiago Canyon College
Accounting
Moreno Valley College
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