MELANIE A. VARA
HAMBURG,NEW YORK
Summary
Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals. To seek and maintain full-time position that offers professional challenges utilizing interpersonal skills, excellent time management and problem-solving skills.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
ACCOUNTANT - ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Sodexo Inc.
09.2022 - 12.2023
- Managing Incoming Payments
- Cash Application
- Completion and Submission of ACH/EFT forms to perspective clients for payments on outstanding receivables
- Monitor and Tracking of daily Lockbox Hit Rate total
- Monitored timely collection and application of account receivable collections.
- Identified and implemented process efficiency improvements.
UNIT CONTROLLER III - In Reach Services
Sodexo Inc.
04.2021 - 09.2022
- Micro Market Installation Billing and Settlements
- Communicate out calculated monthly client vending commissions
- Invoice and Billing Support for vending branch locations along with processing and depreciation
- Completed journal entries, reconciliations, and account analysis to prepare quarterly financial documents and general account management.
- Completed year-end close processes through effective supervision financial functions and regular treasury transactions.
- Managed budgets, assets, portfolios, accounts payable, and receivable and general financial reporting procedures.
- Managed daily financial functions in collaboration with accounting and payroll personnel.
- Created and distributed reports on internal and external finances, audits, and budgets.
- Reviewed documents and data to give accurate presentations and forecasts to upper management.
- Accurately completed financial statement audits and thoroughly reviewed results.
- Formulated strategic plans and supported tactical initiatives to execute cost-savings deliverables.
- Worked with both internal and external users to create detailed financial reports.
- Projected monthly cash expenditures through efficient budgeting and detailed document reviews.
- Oversaw accounts payable and receivable operations for convenient solutions businesses with a range of $500-$100K in monthly expenses.
- Mitigated risk by implementing internal controls and safeguards for revenues and expenditures.
- Directed corporate decision-making and planning by monitoring and setting policies and procedures to optimize fiscal performance.
- Reviewed contracts financially impacting company and counseled executive leaders on impact contracts would have on company operations.
- Supported program managers in providing procedural training on finance and accounting.
UNIT CONTROLLER – OFFICE SERVICES
Sodexo Inc.
06.2019 - 04.2021
- Budget Analysis/, for building cost centers
- Rent Allocations within the building for occupied workspace
- Monthly Rent charges to departments within
- Weekly invoice payment processing for Facility Operations
- Corporate transmittal processing for specific on-site vendors
- Monitoring and control of Purchase Corporate Card Expenditures
- Prepared balance sheets, cash flow reports and income statements.
- Completed journal entries, reconciliations, and account analysis to prepare quarterly financial documents and general account management.
- Completed year-end close processes through effective supervision financial functions and regular treasury transactions.
- Managed budgets, assets, portfolios, accounts payable, and receivable and general financial reporting procedures.
- Managed daily financial functions in collaboration with accounting and payroll personnel.
- Created and distributed reports on internal and external finances, audits, and budgets.
- Reviewed documents and data to give accurate presentations and forecasts to upper management.
- Accurately completed financial statement audits and thoroughly reviewed results.
- Worked with Number executives to create annual budget and track actual expenses against projected expenses.
- Projected monthly cash expenditures through efficient budgeting and detailed document reviews.
- Managed outstanding balance amounts by evaluating reports and determining collection statuses.
- Oversaw accounts payable and receivable operations for Type business with $Amount in monthly expenses.
PROGRAM SPECIALIST – ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Sodexo Inc.
05.2015 - 06.2019
- Tracking statistical information of daily lockbox activity and reporting to management for KRI’s
- Administrator/Distributer for Duns & Bradstreet Credit Reports
- Process and completion of ACH electronic payment forms per request
- Process and completion of credit reference forms per request
- Provide current A/R activity Audit reports to requestors
- Completes requests for Employee On boarding and IT technical set up
- Assisting the VP of FSS in general office duties such as coordinating his personal as well as business meetings, catering events, travel, travel expense
- Organized meetings for executives and coordinated availability of conference rooms for participants
- Monitoring of cash revenue reports assembling within the department
- Received incoming phone calls and contact form submissions and provided timely responses to inquiries.
- Analyzed program data by tracking and reporting program outcomes to identify areas of improvement.
- Maintained regular communication between departments via email and phone calls to coordinate program logistics.
- Worked alongside other professionals to outline and implement program plans and objectives.
CREDIT CARD RECONCILIATION SPECIALIST
Sodexo Inc.
09.2008 - 10.2015
- Assisted customers with questions and inquiries to provide information regarding credit card accounts.
- Researched and resolved customer complaints and disputes related to credit card accounts.
- Recommended products and services to meet customers' credit card and banking needs.
- Reviewed and verified vendor completeness and compliance to rectify billing disputes and fraud cases.
- Implemented strategies to reduce risk of credit card fraud and identity theft.
- Supported continued monitoring, auditing and reporting to drive compliance and optimize credit card processing.
- Worked in tandem with sales team and customers to negotiate payments and verify account reconciliations.
- Built strong relationships with customers to increase retention and loyalty.
CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPERVISOR - FIELD OPERATIONS
Sodexo Inc.
01.1996 - 09.2008
- Supervised field operations teams to complete projects within established timelines.
- Monitored employee performance for compliance with regulations and policies.
- Investigated issues and developed effective solutions.
- Met with customers to resolve issues and build productive relationships.
- Resolved customer complaints to maintain satisfaction and loyalty.
- Trained workers in proper methods, equipment operation and safety procedures.
- Oversaw daily operations at site, keeping team production moving at optimal pace.
- Prepared and submitted reports on job progress and safety conditions to upper management.
- Responded to customer inquiries and resolved complaints to establish trust and increase satisfaction.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with customers to maintain loyalty and satisfaction.
- Optimized organizational systems for payment collections, AP/AR, deposits, and recordkeeping.
- Organized spaces, materials and catering support for internal and client-focused meetings.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Food Systems Management
STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
BUFFALOSkills
- Financial Reporting
- Regulatory Compliance
- Budget Analysis
- Financial Analysis
- Account Reconciliation
- General Ledger Entries
- Customer Relations
- Account Reconciliation Processes
- SAP Expertise
- Finance
Affiliations
Financial Shared Services Employee Tracking for the VP if Finance. Member of the Together Airborne Building Committee that communicates and attends meetings that pertain to facility questions/concerns. Member of the Building Safety Committee that attends meetings and addresses specific needs of safety.
Timeline
ACCOUNTANT - ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Sodexo Inc.
09.2022 - 12.2023
UNIT CONTROLLER III - In Reach Services
Sodexo Inc.
04.2021 - 09.2022
UNIT CONTROLLER – OFFICE SERVICES
Sodexo Inc.
06.2019 - 04.2021
PROGRAM SPECIALIST – ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Sodexo Inc.
05.2015 - 06.2019
CREDIT CARD RECONCILIATION SPECIALIST
Sodexo Inc.
09.2008 - 10.2015
CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPERVISOR - FIELD OPERATIONS
Sodexo Inc.
01.1996 - 09.2008
Bachelor of Science - Food Systems Management
STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
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