MELISSA M. CUSICK
Finance Manager / Lead Financial Analyst
Elk River,MN
Summary
Accomplished Finance and Accounting professional with 20+ year history of success in financial and accounting operations. Leverages advanced analytical and communication skills and industry knowledge to help business partners obtain financial goals and plan for future. Specializes in process improvements and team efficiencies and is dedicated to creating unique and effective management plans to improve the quality of business operations. Navigates multiple demands to provide high level of service in fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Leads and motivates to improve team performance and deliver bottom-line results.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
LEAD FINANCE CONSULTANT
Wells Fargo, Commercial Banking Finance
Minneapolis, MN
10.2021 - Current
- Lead implementation of new Data Transformation organization, including overall financial reporting structure and control processes, supporting eight senior leaders.
- Established expense tracking model, implementing scenario-based expense analysis to support Senior Leadership in achieving expense reduction targets.
- Developed and implemented internal cost allocations for $250MM of back-office support costs and guided Enterprise Costing team on implementation of complex costing processes.
- Lead and develop team of two Finance Consultants
Finance Manager
Wells Fargo - Enterprise Cost Team
Minneapolis, MN
03.2016 - 09.2021
- Managed team of seven financial consultants, supporting 53 Commercial and Corporate & Investment Banking lines of business with $7.2B in expense allocations.
- Lead and collaborated with internal business partners to drive accurate internal expense allocations, aligning with company-wide risk standards and enterprise service level agreements,
- Established and enforced internal controls, workflows and policies for implementing, tracking, reconciling and reporting on expense allocation activities.
- Managed high volumes of financial activity in fast-paced, risk-based corporate environment.
- Drove process and data consistency with expanded reporting, analysis and expense forecasting support.
SENIOR FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
Wells Fargo-Wholesale Services Group Finance
Minneapolis, MN
02.2015 - 03.2016
- Led two financial consultant teams through annual internal expense planning process for $7.2B in internal cost allocations.
- Led monthly reporting and spend/recovery analysis processes for Wholesale Technology Services and other back-office support groups.
- Initiated audit of expense allocations for over 500 technology applications, reviewing system mapping and billing to appropriate business units, resulting in corrections to 34% of applications.
- Implemented new process to correct Reg W reporting inconsistencies for Service Relationship Inventory, resulting in no Audit issues for all six quarters following implementation.
- Designed new drill-through report to provide enhanced transparency to receivers of internal cost allocations, reducing report production time from one day to 30 minutes.
ACCOUNTANT 5
Wells Fargo
Minneapolis, MN
10.2013 - 02.2015
- Prepared reports and implemented processes while identifying progress and areas of opportunity for improved productivity
- Developed strategic processes to automate monthly expense, variance analysis process, reduce production time from two hours to 15 minutes and accurately record expenses for corporate sponsorships
- Coordinated re-design and streamlining of WF regional bank’s quarterly SEC and regulatory reporting process
- Managed multi-faceted teams for key Regional Bank SOX processes, Deposits, Teller Cash and Sponsorships.
SENIOR ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE CONSULTANT
Robert Half Management Resources
Bloomington, MN
03.2013 - 10.2013
- Implemented new, automated production of balance sheets, income statements, cash flows and other financial statements for 7 self-insured workman’s compensation funds following tight deadlines with little to no supervision.
- Created detailed documentation of all accounting and finance procedures while providing new CFO with roadmap to company processes.
AVP - ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE MANAGER
NAU Country Insurance
Ramsey, MN
05.2012 - 03.2013
- Managed 10-person Accounting team charged with accounts payable, accounts receivable, collections, month-end close, and annual 1099 processing.
- Identified and implemented efficiencies, improving timeliness of government-mandated reporting of past due receivables from 38% to 87% in six months.
- Implemented new bank lockbox system for processing all insurance premium payments, eliminating manual processing of over 100K pieces of mail and check deposits, annually.
- Established new, up-front efficiencies for 1099 tax process, reducing number of corrected 1099s by 78%, compared to prior year.
FINANCE MANAGER
Wells Fargo Insurance, Inc
St. Louis Park, MN
08.2010 - 05.2012
- Spearheaded annual operating plan, supporting 105 business units, reducing time to completion by two weeks.
- Monitored budget and revenue trends, compiling reports for company leadership to inform decision-making.
- Developed and monitored cost-driven metrics/models for major projects, ensuring cost/benefit projections were being achieved.
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT | FINANCE MANAGER
Rural Community Insurance Services, Wells Fargo
Ramsey, MN
12.2005 - 08.2010
- Reviewed and approved all quarterly and annual Insurance filings, STAT & GAAP Audit Reports and SEC filings.
- Led annual operating plan for largest US crop insurance company from start of process through consolidation and final presentation to senior leadership.
- Developed Microsoft Access database to improve tracking of compliance-related expenses, resulting in $3MM reimbursement from reinsurance partner.
- Designed new account reconciliation process, redefining controls and standards, ultimately adopted as benchmark for other Wells Fargo Wholesale Accounting departments.
- Documented all Sarbanes Oxley processes, and led all walk-throughs and testing.
ACCOUNTANT | SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST | FINANCE MANAGER
American Express Financial Advisors
Minneapolis, MN
01.1993 - 01.2003
- Led 5 accountants through quarterly and annual statutory and GAAP financial reporting process for 5 distinct life insurance companies, in absence of Finance Director.
- Sustained quarterly product profitability reports and provided related variance analysis for life insurance and annuity products.
- Completed quarterly and annual Corporate Tax filings.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Finance And Small Business Management
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Carlson School Of Management1993
Master of Arts - Marriage And Family Therapy
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN 09.2000 - 03.2003
Skills
- Financial Operations & Reporting
- Budgeting and Variance Analysis
- Internal Expense Allocations
- Expense Tracking & Containment
- GAAP & Statutory Accounting
- SEC & Regulatory Reporting
- Regulatory Compliance and Documentation
- Problem Anticipation and Resolution
- Process Improvement Champion
- Adaptable to Changing Conditions
- Proactive and Focused
- Staff Recruitment and Hiring
Additional Information
- Top Performer Award (Highest Company Honor for Outstanding Performance) | Wells Fargo - Wholesale Finance | 2018
- Finance Star Performer | Wells Fargo - Wholesale Finance | 2015
- Customer Excellence Award | NAU Country | 2012-2013
- Multiple "On the Spot" and "Team-On the Spot" Awards | Wells Fargo Insurance | 2010-2011
- Service Excellence Award (Recognized for consistently going “above and beyond” normal job duties) | RCIS | 2007
Timeline
LEAD FINANCE CONSULTANT
Wells Fargo, Commercial Banking Finance
10.2021 - Current
Finance Manager
Wells Fargo - Enterprise Cost Team
03.2016 - 09.2021
SENIOR FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
Wells Fargo-Wholesale Services Group Finance
02.2015 - 03.2016
ACCOUNTANT 5
Wells Fargo
10.2013 - 02.2015
SENIOR ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE CONSULTANT
Robert Half Management Resources
03.2013 - 10.2013
AVP - ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE MANAGER
NAU Country Insurance
05.2012 - 03.2013
FINANCE MANAGER
Wells Fargo Insurance, Inc
08.2010 - 05.2012
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT | FINANCE MANAGER
Rural Community Insurance Services, Wells Fargo
12.2005 - 08.2010
Master of Arts - Marriage And Family Therapy
Capella University
09.2000 - 03.2003
ACCOUNTANT | SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST | FINANCE MANAGER
American Express Financial Advisors
01.1993 - 01.2003
Bachelor of Science - Finance And Small Business Management
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
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