Mike Mejia
Eagle,ID
Summary
I am an accomplished accounting and finance professional with 17 years of experience in diverse industries, including 12 years in managerial roles. I have extensive expertise in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and tax planning gained through 3 tax seasons in public accounting and 4 years of senior management experience, including controllership responsibilities. Committed to staying ahead of industry trends and best practices, I am planning to pursue further education and certification within the next 2 years to enhance my knowledge and skills in current technologies and emerging practices. As a mid-career professional, I am seeking new challenges and opportunities to leverage my skills and experience for the benefit of an organization.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Corporate Controller
LJD Holdings, Inc. (dba B&D Foods)
Boise, ID
03.2021 - Current
- Managed budgets, assets, portfolios, accounts payable and receivable, and general financial reporting procedures for a dynamic organization with a diverse range of clients.
- Completed journal entries, reconciliations, and account analysis to prepare accurate and timely quarterly financial documents, ensuring compliance with GAAP principles and internal controls.
- Oversaw accounts payable and receivable operations with approximately $4M in monthly expenses, implementing process improvements to reduce payment processing time by 20%.
- Supervised team of accounting professionals to ensure accurate, efficient, and compliant completion of monthly financial reporting packages, providing feedback, coaching, and performance evaluations.
- Prepared balance sheets, cash flow reports, and income statements, utilizing advanced Excel functions and data visualization tools to provide insights into financial performance and trends.
- Provided treasury and cash management by overseeing reconciliation of banking activity, credit card processing, and sales tax returns, ensuring optimal cash flow and liquidity management.
- Created and distributed reports on internal and external finances, audits, and budgets, collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop key performance indicators and metrics for financial analysis.
- Completed year-end close processes with Director of Finance through effective supervision, financial functions, and regular treasury transactions, resulting in the timely and accurate preparation of audited financial statements.
- Introduced internal controls to monitor critical areas of financial control, conducting risk assessments and implementing corrective actions to address risks or deficiencies.
- Utilized Sage MAS90 and ODBC via Access and Excel to prepare external audit documentation and financial reports, assisting management in operational planning and key decision making.
- Prepared and managed audits for a diverse range of public and private clients across manufacturing, banking, retail, not-for-profit, and entertainment industries, leveraging my expertise in financial reporting and auditing standards.
- Leveraged my public accounting experience to take the lead on handling financial and 401k plan audits for the company, bringing in my prior public accounting firm to take over our audits and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Implemented process automation and streamlining to reduce the accounting department by 16%, resulting in significant cost savings and increased efficiency.
- Performed an array of FP&A projects for the CEO and Finance Director related to cash flow, expense reporting, operations, and pricing, providing data-driven insights and recommendations to support strategic decision making.
Senior Auditor
White Nelson Diehl Evans, LLP
Irvine, CA
08.2019 - 10.2020
- Conducted in-depth research and assessments to identify control gaps in processes, procedures, and systems, and suggested methods for improvement to enhance operational efficiency.
- Stayed up-to-date with the latest developments in accounting principles and standards by attending annual Continuing Professional Education (CPE) training sessions, including BDO alliance training resources for annual GAAP updates and Employment Benefit Plan (EBP) audit updates.
- Provided comprehensive training on audit principles and firm procedures to new employees to ensure compliance with professional standards and company policies.
- Demonstrated proficiency in identifying audit risks, preparing budgets, and conducting preliminary expectation analysis with accompanying comparative trial balance reports to facilitate efficient engagement planning.
- Successfully led fieldwork teams and reviewed audit associates' work papers to ensure adherence to professional standards and facilitate manager/partner review and engagement wrap-up.
Audit Associate
White Nelson Diehl Evans, LLP
Irvine, CA
01.2018 - 07.2019
- Collaborated with audit teams to complete work papers for EBP (401k and ESOP), Governmental (City, Small Districts), Non-profit, and Privately held financial audits, reviews, and compilations across diverse industries, including Manufacturing, Technology Start-up (pre-revenue and post-revenue), Construction (contract billing, profit-fade analysis, percentage of completion, and ASC 606 updates on revenue recognition), Service (Engineering, Communications), Education (Schools), Food & Beverage, and Equipment Rental Company (Proficient in lease accounting updates ASC 842- Right of use asset), among others.
- Conducted meetings with clients to evaluate business controls, risks, and workflow inefficiencies to identify potential audit gaps in processes, procedures, and systems.
- Proposed corrective actions to client management by identifying and analyzing risks and errors in accounts to improve their business processes.
- Communicated with key client management to collect information, resolve audit-related issues, and provide recommendations for business and process improvements.
- Followed up on reviews to assess and report on the progress or completion of corrective actions.
- Adhered to GAAS (Generally Accepted Auditing Standards) to perform auditing work and meet stringent quality standards
Sr. Accountant
Brandify
Anaheim, CA
01.2017 - 09.2017
- Developed New Accounting S.O.P.’s and Financial Reports
- Documented month-end close process and helped reduce close time to 7 days.
- Completed biweekly payroll and maintained employee records and converted payroll systems from QBI to Paychex.
- Partnered with auditors on company annual audits.
- Assisted in several due diligence audits for financing projects including building models and answering questions.
- Completed all accounting work for acquisition of new business to include reviewing APA agreement and setting up new company file in accounting software, research to setup COA in alignment with existing business and much more.
- Set up and improved accounting systems and processes to meet business needs and maximize operational success.
- Built several financial models and analysis including budget and forecast models, pricing model, expense trend analysis etc..
Assistant Controller
C&F Foods, Inc.
City of Industry, CA
01.2014 - 12.2016
- Continued to manage the AP, AR, Promo/Rebate departments as well as Inventory Control, two receptionist/filing clerks and two staff accountants (General Ledger work).
- Managed the department supervisors and directed the month end closing process for each module in the system.
- Prepared & analyzed preliminary financial statements, made adjusting entries, made closing entries, closed general ledger and rendered final statements to the executive team.
- Assisted the corporate controller with various audits such as sales tax, bank, CPA firm, etc...
- Worked closely with the IT department, management, and 3rd party ERP software developers/implementation team as the project lead from the accounting/finance team to convert from the AS400 to Just Food ERP (Microsoft Dynamics) system.
- Worked with management on a pasta company acquisition. Assisted the new staff in various setup and implemented new S.O.P. to incorporate structure. (i.e. revised chart of accounts, cash flow procedures and management, introduced opportunities to implement new cost accounting methods geared towards manufacturing, revised the inventory item naming convention and operational S.O.P. to assist in capturing previously unidentified costs, etc…)
- Managed fixed assets/CAPEX and worked with CPA firm on depreciation schedules and any applicable bonus depreciation (for all purposes book, tax, and AMT using MQ and HY MACRS Convention)
- Led technical planning and requirements gathering phases.
- Worked with data stewards to identify business terms.
- Participated in technology renewal activities such as applying new software upgrades, patches and completion of required programming, testing and improvements.
- Coordinated deployments of new software, feature updates and fixes.
- Provided treasury and cash management by overseeing reconciliation of banking activity, and credit card processing.
General Accounting Manager
C&F Foods, Inc.
City of Industry, CA
01.2011 - 12.2013
- Developed strategic plans for day-to-day financial operations.
- Prepared cash flow projections, cost analysis and monthly, quarterly and annual reports.
- Assisted Controller and CFO in Inventory reconciliations and balance sheet adjustments.
- Assist the controller and CFO in planning the budget and streamlining the data entry process to manage the budget performance tracking in a timely, efficient and accurate manner.
- Resolve issues with suppliers and customers that require cross-functional collaboration between departments. (Heavily with Sales team, Pricing, Purchasing, Logistics, IT, and Operations)
- Manage an accounting staff of approximately 20 including 2 supervisors. (Oversee AP, AR, Promo/Rebate departments)
- Created custom expense, cash flow, sales, short pay & deduction reports for CFO.
- Manage and streamline accruals involving collaborative work with in house programmers.
- Worked with various departments during the acquisition of a subsidiary company in Colorado. (Including traveling to the new facility for research, filing for all business licenses, training new employees and merging new business processes with existing business processes and more)
- Attended various seminars, conferences, and workshops in conjunction with becoming an IMA member and subscribing to various business magazines in order to keep current in modern business practices and to present new ideas to the executives and ownership of the company.
Staff Accountant
C&F Foods, Inc.
City of Industry, CA
01.2007 - 12.2010
- Assisted General Accounting Manager and Corporate Controller with various accounting projects as well as assisting with accounts payables and receivables processing.
- Compiled various expense accruals for month-end close process.
- Worked with accounting team on month-end inventory close process (physical counts as well as reconciliation process)
- Streamlined operating expense budget (reporting of actual vs budget) process to reduce data entry time by approximately 75% demonstrating constant consideration of process improvement.
Assistant to Director of Operations / Acctg Clerk
C&F Foods, Inc.
City of Industry, CA
01.2006 - 12.2007
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams on a range of special projects of varying degrees of complexity, including assisting the Director of Operations with planning the installation of new equipment, conducting performance analyses of machinery, and applying relevant coursework in statistics to improve work processes.
- Acquired proficiency in QuickBooks software and successfully transferred subsidiary company financial information from spreadsheets to the system, in addition to training an executive assistant to maintain books and financial statements.
- Provided valuable assistance to the Corporate Controller in preparing a detailed cost segregation analysis during and after the completion of putting into operations a new manufacturing facility in Texas.
- Demonstrated versatility by performing various clerical accounting duties, including but not limited to, budget data entry, accounts payable processing, inventory control data entry, and more, to ensure accurate financial records and reporting.
Sergeant (E-5)
United States Marine Corps
San Diego, CA / Iwakuni, JPN / Yuma, AZ
04.2000 - 04.2005
- Assistant Class Leader in A school (post boot-camp training) and guide during C school (additional aviation training)
- Held top-secret level clearance in order to work with highly valuable aviation electronic equipment and confidential codes on a daily basis.
- Managed a work center of 30 marines and attended leadership courses as well as management meetings with squadron officers.
- Achieved recognition while overseas for exemplary performance during critical times: (worked with team to attain 100% equipment readiness up from 69.6%.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Business Administration - Accounting Emphasis
05.2009
Skills
- Public Accounting
- Financial Modeling
- FP&A (Financial Planning and Analysis)
- Profit and Loss Management
- General Ledger Accounting and Reconciliations
- Project Management
- Various ERP system experience including Sage MAS90
- Corporate Leadership and Administration
- Month-End and Year-End Closings
- Budget Development and Administration
- Acquisition Integration
- Pricing and Costing
- Financial Statement Review and Fiscal Reporting
- Monitoring Expenditures and Cash Flow
- Financial Controls Implementation
- Payroll Processing and Commission Calculation
- Team Oversight and Corporate Communications
- Accounts Payable and Receivable
- Corporate Structures and Audit Preparation
- Systems Testing and Audit Management
- Consolidated Financial Statement and Financial Statements Expertise
- Critical Thinking and Trend Analysis
- GAAP Principles
- Intercompany Reconciliations
Timeline
Corporate Controller - LJD Holdings, Inc. (dba B&D Foods)
03.2021 - Current
Senior Auditor - White Nelson Diehl Evans, LLP
08.2019 - 10.2020
Audit Associate - White Nelson Diehl Evans, LLP
01.2018 - 07.2019
Sr. Accountant - Brandify
01.2017 - 09.2017
Assistant Controller - C&F Foods, Inc.
01.2014 - 12.2016
General Accounting Manager - C&F Foods, Inc.
01.2011 - 12.2013
Staff Accountant - C&F Foods, Inc.
01.2007 - 12.2010
Assistant to Director of Operations / Acctg Clerk - C&F Foods, Inc.
01.2006 - 12.2007
Sergeant (E-5) - United States Marine Corps
04.2000 - 04.2005
California State University, Fullerton - Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration - Accounting Emphasis