Melissa Cesareo
Phoenix,AZ
Summary
Seasoned Financial Management professional with proven expertise in accounting processes, systems oversight and compliance reporting. Knowledgeable about AP/AR, contract administration, budgeting and all other aspects of successful financial operations. Talented team builder and supervisor with expertise to develop and maintain consistent, accurate and legal accounting structures. Talented Controller with expertise managing all aspects of financial operations. Adept in improving internal controls to mitigate risks and developing high-performing teams. Accomplished in guiding financial strategies that contribute to exponential organizational growth. Talented [Job Title] with expertise managing all aspects of financial operations. Adept in improving internal controls to mitigate risks and developing high-performing teams. Accomplished in guiding financial strategies that contribute to exponential organizational growth.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Financial Planning and Analysis Manager
Cambridge Companies Inc.
04.2023 - 04.2024
- Annual Budgeting, forecasting and long range planning
- Manage preparation and analysis of financial reports and KPI for senior team
- Collaborate with other departments to provide guidance on financial implications of proposed initiatives
- Job cost analyses to track project expense and provide insights to project managers for data driven decisions
- Develop and maintain job costing system and keep and maintain the WIP each month end close
- Perform all month end close activities on timely basis to include WIP adjustments for 4 companies
- Oversee and implement and train all new accounting software programs as needed
- Maintain all licensing for the company to included Business and Contractor licenses
- Manage and prepare all tax forms to included TPT and Payroll Taxes as needed
- Backup any and all accounting functions as needed
- Supervised 3 Project Coordinators and supported any needs or questions
- Backup Project Coordinator as needed upon personnel changes
- All I.T
- Support questions taken and handled as needed with IT company
- All year end reconciliations with CPA
- Performed all Accounts Receivable Billings to Owner via AIA
- Proficient in Crystal Reports for Sage
- Timberscan Administrator and user
- Expert Sage 300 CRE used for financial systems- All questions about Sage taken and supported
- Procore used for financials for job costing then integrated into Sage 300
- Monthly Bank Reconciliations
- Strong technical knowledge of GAAP and accounting standards.
Controller
Cambridge Companies Inc.
10.2020 - 04.2023
- Perform Daily, Weekly Month and Annual Accounting Functions to include daily bank reconciliations
- Bi Weekly Payroll processed and all payroll taxes and benefits
- All year end reconciliations with CPA
- All business and contractor licenses
- Accounts payable, entry, payment and aging reports
- Manage and prepare all tax forms to included TPT and Payroll Taxes as needed
- Timberscan Administrator and user
- Expert Sage 300 CRE used for financial systems- All questions about Sage taken and supported
- Procore used for financials for job costing then integrated into Sage 300
- Monthly Bank Reconciliations
- Strong technical knowledge of GAAP and accounting standards
- Supervised 3 Project Coordinators and supported any needs or questions
- Perform all month end close activities on timely basis to include WIP adjustments for 4 companies
- Annual Budgeting, forecasting and long range planning
- Manage preparation and analysis of financial reports and KPI for senior team
- Collaborate with other departments to provide guidance on financial implications of proposed initiatives
- Job cost analyses to track project expense and provide insights to project managers for data driven decisions
- Develop and maintain job costing system and keep and maintain the WIP each month end close
- Perform all month end close activities on timely basis to include WIP adjustments for 4 companies
- Oversee and implement and train all new accounting software programs as needed
- Onboard all new employees with benefits and training
- Maintain all company credit cards and expenses and report to Sage
- Preliens and help with waivers as needed.
Chief Financial Officer
Danson Construction LLC and Atlas Masonry
09.2019 - 08.2020
- Perform all month end closings/accounting duties for Commercial General Contractor and Commercial/Residential Masonry Company (owners are same)
- Changed and implemented entire new accounting system from Quickbooks to Sage 300 Real Estate and Construction software
- Perform all banking duties and duties for all accounting functions given
- Supervised and trained department of 3 employees in all aspects of accounting functions as needed.
Controller promoted to Chief Financial Officer
D.L. Withers Construction LLC
06.2014 - 12.2019
- All Accounting performed and managed in department
- Perform all month end closings/accounting duties for Commercial General Contractor
- Maintain update and troubleshoot accounting system that consists of Sage 300 CRE (Timberline) Accounting Software
- Manage department to include accounts payable, subcontracts payable and payroll
- Oversee payroll and approve and manage all benefits, insurance and special benefits as needed
- Maintain update and distribute work in process on monthly basis to CFO and President
- Exercise discretion and independent judgment in performance and maintenance of office accounting functions necessary to complete the daily, monthly and annual accounting cycles
- Initiate procedures and process documents necessary for the expeditious completion of assigned projects
- Provide guidance and assistance to the accounting staff
- Maintain good lines of business communications with clients, bankers, accountants, lawyers, vendors and company staff
- Resource for company staff in utilizing Sage (Timberline) Construction Accounting software
- Provide direct support to CFO for accounting department activities while performing as controller
- Continually monitor and improve on the existing system of internal controls throughout the Company
- Perform daily cash reconciliations to previous days transactions
- Facilitate all communications between company and banking representatives
- Set up, update and maintain SILR's and approve monthly Owner SILR Supplemental A forms for monthly funding
- Monitor checks on hold and checks in circulation for stale and outdated checks
- Review Accounts Receivable aging and follow up with applicable parties to obtain payment
- Deposit Accounts Receivable checks on a back up basis
- Provide accounting advice when required by both internal and external sources
- Drive preparation of year-end audit financial information
- Preparation of year-end Audit Confirmations
- Coordinate all annual reviews and audit with CPA firm
- Prepare monthly WIP schedule
- Obtain quarterly Project Manager CCR's
- Draft monthly financial statements
- Identify areas for possible P&L improvements
- Review monthly job cost and billing totals
- Prepare monthly PCS allocation based upon PCS billings
- Responsible for all department reports that reside in Crystal Reports
- Administrator of Kwiktag
- Labor burden analysis and forecasting
- Assist in 12 month forecasting
- Responsible for all Paradigm related activity (i.e
- Lease, loan, financial reporting)
- Responsible for all project start-up, sub pre-qual and close-out meetings
- Oversee the accumulation and filing of closed job documentation
- Responsible for builder's risk, general liability, safety, dust, warranty and vehicle insurance monthly allocations
- Assist CFO in maintaining accounting and internal control procedures
- Handle special projects for President and CFO
- Assist PM's with CCR maintenance
- Review all bids for accuracy re: taxes, bonds insurance etc
- Timberline file maintenance
- Additional General accountant job duties added: Sales Tax accruals and payments
- Set up new jobs
- Change orders logged into KwikTag
- Final job close out calculations sheets
- All A/R Invoices verifying, posting and adjusting in Timberline
- E-mail notice of all A/R Payments: checks, cashier checks, money orders, etc to include over/under-billings worksheets when applicable
- Review payroll weekly to ensure proper posting to internal accounts, etc
- Backup of Payroll when needed
- Oversee and provide assistance for year-end payroll procedures to include W-2's
- Oversee preliens are ordered for new jobs
- Backup subcontract payables accountant as needed
- Maintain sales tax meeting log for jobs to be bid.
Controller
Titanium Builders
02.2014 - 06.2014
- Controller for General Contractor for North Dakota work.
Accounting Assistant
Echo Canyon Electric
08.2012 - 02.2014
- Accounts Payable/ Purchase Orders/ Subcontracts/Change Orders
- All aspects of construction accounting
- Payroll for 100+ employees
- Closeouts for jobs; spreadsheets; various office duties.
PR Coordinator/Accounting
Pace Pacific Construction
04.2010 - 08.2012
- Perform all Payroll for weekly and semi-monthly employees
- All payroll done in house using Computer Ease Software
- Also handle all accounts payable for both general and job costing aspects as needed
- All payroll taxes quarterly, yearly, and W-2s
- Also maintain Field Vehicles with registrations and insurances
- Various office software used including Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
Office Manager/Controller
G & K Construction
Brunswick, OH
01.1999 - 01.2009
- Working as Office Manager/Controller for Commercial Site Excavating Contractor (company closed due to lack of work/economy)
- Managed and performed all of the construction accounting to include: accounts payable, accounts receivable, equipment, inventory, job costing, payroll, general ledger
- Used the foundation accounting system to perform accounting functions
- Kept timesheets, employees accrued time, banked time and prevailing wage reports
- Prepared quarterly and monthly and yearly payroll taxes
- Prepared W-2's and year end
- Prepared and cut checks to pay vendors/material suppliers
- Prepared and sent all invoicing including AIA billings to clients
- Managed and supervised the collection process of such invoicing and billings
- Maintained costs on each job for purpose of profitability
- Prepared and maintained spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel) to keep yearly budget of company
- Balanced checkbook for three accounts each month
- Maintained and updated the accounting system with updates and year end closes
- Managed and supervised all Workers Compensation claims/pmts
- Managed and performed all the general office duties to include: ordering all supplies
- Maintained and repaired office equipment (i.e
- Copier/fax/printer/blue printer, etc
- Typed all correspondence (Microsoft Word)
- Answered phones and checked voice mail daily
- Reprogrammed office phones as needed
- Kept forms up to date to included employee applications, osha records, etc
- Checked mail and dispersed accordingly
- Responsible for all file making and maintenance for bid files/job files and annual filing of year end; filled out all credit application for vendors, materials suppliers, etc.; maintained D&B info
- Using Microsoft Outlook, kept track of all emails/addresses/events/ and schedules
- Supervised scheduling of field crew for work to be performed on daily basis
- Followed up end of each day with progress on job production from foreman
- Supervised and managed all cellular phone activities to include monthly charges/overages and repairs
- Ordered all blueprints for estimating and maintained estimating bid list
- Filed all Notice of Commencements/Notice of Furnishings on each job
- Managed and performed all licensure for each city and renewed each year
- Tracked and registered all company vehicles
- Called in inspections/deliveries to jobs
- Set up and maintain network for computers within office
- Performed maintenance as required
- Created and designed the website for the company and kept it updated as needed using Microsoft Front Page.
Office Manager/Controller
Infinity Construction
- Worked as Office Manager for Commercial General Contractor
- General office duties to include: ordering all supplies/maintaining office equipment; answer phones/reprogramming of phones and cell phones/type all letters/correspondence or change requests (Microsoft Word); keep track of all numbers and addresses in Microsoft Outlook; file making and maintenance for bid files/job files and annual filing of year end; received mail and sorted to appropriate parties; fill out all credit application for vendors, materials suppliers, etc.; maintain D&B info
- Accounting duties to include: Using Timberline Construction Accounting Software maintained and managed accounts payable/accounts receivable/payroll/job costing
- Balanced checkbook each for month
- Supplied proper information to accountant for year end and taxes
- Prepared quarterly and yearly payroll taxes
- Maintained and managed accounting system with updates, year end close and balancing accounts
- Managed personnel information to include hiring and firing of employees.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Community College of Air Force
San Antonio04-1996
Skills
- Any 10 Key
- Textura
- Procore
- ERP: Sage 300, Quickbooks, Computer Ease and others
- Excel
- Pivot Tables and Macros
- Financial Forecasting
- WIP
- Timberscan
- Kwiktag
- Core Cloud
- Arcoro HR
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Variance Analysis
- Expense Management
- Cost accounting
- Cash Flow Management
- Internal Controls
- Data Analysis
- Critical Thinking
- Work Planning
- Staff Recruitment and Hiring
- Quality Assurance
- Cost Data Analysis
- Decision-Making
- Operational Reporting
- Proactive and Focused
- Financial Resource Management
- Self Motivation
- Account analysis expertise
- Financial Instruments
- Organizational Skills
- Active Listening
- QuickBooks experience
- Time management abilities
Certification
- PROCORE CERTIFIED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
- SAGE 300CRE ADVANCED USER
- FOUNDATION SOFTWARE ADVANCED USER
- IT AND TECHNOLOGY SAVVY
Timeline
Financial Planning and Analysis Manager
Cambridge Companies Inc.
04.2023 - 04.2024
Controller
Cambridge Companies Inc.
10.2020 - 04.2023
Chief Financial Officer
Danson Construction LLC and Atlas Masonry
09.2019 - 08.2020
Controller promoted to Chief Financial Officer
D.L. Withers Construction LLC
06.2014 - 12.2019
Controller
Titanium Builders
02.2014 - 06.2014
Accounting Assistant
Echo Canyon Electric
08.2012 - 02.2014
PR Coordinator/Accounting
Pace Pacific Construction
04.2010 - 08.2012
Office Manager/Controller
G & K Construction
01.1999 - 01.2009
Office Manager/Controller
Infinity Construction
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Community College of Air Force