NICOLE HEWITT
Cost Accounting Manager
Conroe,TX
Summary
Resilient leader with 15+ years of experience enhancing profitability for high growth manufacturing and construction companies. In-depth knowledge of cost accounting principles, manufacturing operations, navigating challenges, solving complex issues, and leading change management. Demonstrated success in improving the bottom line by at least $3 million dollars, effective teams, streamlining processes, and implementing financial controls to reduce costs and increase accuracy. in developing and implementing budgets, forecasts, and financial models to drive informed decision-making. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build consensus with stakeholders at all levels. Maintains focus and flexibility in high-stressed and fast-changing environments while meeting tight schedules and deadlines.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Small Business Consultant
That Figures Accounting & Consulting
06.2021 - Current
- Provides guidance and support in the areas of business planning, change management, digital transformation, accounting, finance, and human resources
- Propose strategies for achieving short and long-term objectives
- Resulted in an average of 25% increase in revenue within the first year, increased client satisfaction and repeat business
- Successfully prepared accurate financial statements for a client’s business, resulting in an unqualified audit report from an external auditor
- Reduced the time taken to prepare financial statements by 30% while maintaining accuracy
- Successfully implemented an internal control system for a client’s business
- Resulted in zero accounting errors over two years
- Reduced the number of accounting errors by 50% within six months of implementing the internal control system
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to optimize business processes and improve operational efficiency for clients
- Resulted in a 20% reduction in operational costs and a 15% increase in productivity
- Successfully implemented new training programs to for new employee’s, educate staff on business best practices and enhance skills and knowledge
- Resulted in a 25% improvement in employee performance and job satisfaction.
Cost Accounting Manager
Endeavor Energy Resources, RESTRUCTURE
03.2019 - 04.2020
- Endeavor is one of the largest privately held oil exploration and production companies in the United States - annual revenue of $1.3 billion
- Recognized for implementing exceptional change management strategies across the company
- Reduced team resistance and increased team retention, development, collaboration, and productivity by 46%
- Collaborated with plant management on the implementation of process improvements that improved efficiency, scalability, and automation
- As a result, the bottom line of the previous quarter shifted from a $1 million loss to a $3 million gain
- Established annual operating budgets and weekly rolling forecasts with a focus on volume and margin expectations
- Oversaw and monitored the efficiency of the day-to-day accounting and month-end close process, approved monthly balance sheet reconciliations, inventory transactions & reconciliations, journal entries, inter-company transactions and account balances to ensure validity, accuracy, and compliance
- Successfully Collected $1 million in outstanding A/R in just 30 days
- New client terms and credit checks were implemented
- Led month-end close process implemented a weekly soft close to catch technical accounting issues due to the new ERP software and inventory
- Automated manual processes for account reconciliations, reduced financial close from (7) to (3) days and eliminated month-end overtime
- Identified and rectified a significant discrepancy between the perpetual inventory and physical inventory count
- Spearheaded a yard cleanup and liquidated 84% of the old inventory
- Automated inventory reconciliation and led weekly cycle counts resulted in a 98% accurate cycle count, a 15% shrinkage reduction, reduced overtime, and accurate financial reporting
- Prepared and presented monthly financial statements, variance analysis, inventory valuation, and cost of goods sold
- Provided recommendations for improving productivity and profitability
- Successfully designed a change management plan to ensure a smooth transition to the new ERP system.
- Communicated changes in costs to engineers, designers, purchases and suppliers.
Cost Accounting Manager
US Silica Holdings
02.2018 - 03.2019
- PLANT START-UP–US Silica has been mining and processing sand for over a century and is the leading producer of frac sand in West Texas, generating six million tons annually - annual revenue of $1.5 billion
- Reviewed weekly production and cost reports with plant management and helped pinpoint and eliminate bottlenecks and redundancies
- Reduced cost from $37/ton to $13/ton surpassing goal
- Directed weekly production status and cost-reduction strategies with C level and plant management
- Tracked and reconciled $45m - $60m raw, WIP, finished goods, in-transit (railcar and truck), and store inventory
- Supported Regional Controller by completing all account reconciliations, adjusting journal entries, month-end accruals, preparing and reporting monthly financials per GAAP reporting standards
- Recommended course of action to enhance profitability
- Prepared quarterly standard cost analysis and updated new costs in the JD Edwards ERP system
- Coordinated and took part in internal and external financial audits
- Recognized for outstanding record keeping and compliance.
Project/Cost Accounting Manager
Stellar Construction, START
03.2017 - 02.2018
- UP-Stellar Construction is a project development and management company specializing in building and renovating luxury apartment buildings - annual revenue of $300 million
- Configured and migrated data for the Yardi Voyager and Procore software implementations
- Improved data transparency, accuracy, and productivity
- Acted as a point of escalation and collaborating with other business functions to drive resolution of operational issues of high complexity in support of customer/partner requirements
- Implemented all policies and procedures for daily accounting and month-end financial close, ensured all accounting and reporting were completed in a timely and accurate manner by the US GAAP standards
- Sat clear and measurable goals for employees, provided regular feedback to track progress, and ensured deadlines were met
- Reviewed all new project setups in Yardi and Procore approved all AIA billings accounts receivable in customer collections, accounts payable, and payroll, including all job costing, project billings, change orders, and project close-out
- Approved all subcontractor payment applications (AIA Documents) and verified document requirements (licensing, insurance, W-9, lien release)
- Created monthly project progress and performance reports to provide valuable insights into the project's status, identify risks, address issues, and ensure that the project stays on track and within the budget
- Managed the project close-out process with an integrated project management team and made decisions related to changes and back charges in the close-out
- Assisted Project Manager with bid invitations, proposals, contract negotiations and management, procurement, jobsite management, and safety compliance for all projects.
- Monitored project costs, developed job cost forecasts, managed cash flow and approved invoices for payment.
Corporate Controller
Charter Construction
12.2005 - 03.2017
- Charter Construction is a custom home builder for large-scale developers - annual revenue of $400 million
- Assisted with business development strategies and continued to re-evaluate to optimize profits for the seven subsidiaries
- Performed all hiring, employee goal setting, development, and performance evaluation
- Implemented monthly team building workshops for employee development
- Planned and led daily accounting and warehouse operations for 20 employees and oversaw month and year-end closures for seven subsidiaries
- Ensured general ledger accuracy, approved all adjusting journal entries, and all account reconciliations
- Prepared daily cash flow reports for management, reviewed and managed cash needs and cash transfers for each entity
- Prepared and reported monthly financials, P&L variance analysis, actual vs
- Budget vs
- Forecast analysis, and recommended course of action to enhance profitability
- Monitored project budgets and costs ensured prompt subcontractor and vendor payments, audited contracts, and change orders to invoiced before closing out
- Spearheaded weekly project status meetings to address risk, safety concerns, project status, cost, and the percentage of completion.
General/Cost Accounting Manager
National Buildings, RESTRUCTURE
08.1994 - 11.2005
- National Building is a leading metal building manufacturer and contractor - annual revenue of $225 million
- Developed annual financial plan for both the manufacturing and construction entities, prepared the plant’s long-range plan and developed a year-to-year cost change analysis
- Performed all hiring, employee goal setting, development, and yearly performance evaluations were performed for 200 employees
- Successfully realigned and led the supply chain and accounting team through company restructuring
- Streamlined and managed all accounting, financial, and procurement operations for the construction and manufacturing entities
- Oversaw month and year review and approved all account reconciliations, adjusted journal entries, month-end accruals, and inventory reconciliations
- Cultivated a continuous process improvement culture spearheaded weekly project manager, production, supply chain, supply chain, and accounting meetings
- Created concise and detailed weekly status reports to
- Implemented and prepared weekly cash flow reports, job cost reporting, budget vs forecasted variance analysis, and aged receivables status reporting
- Worked with plant leadership to develop savings initiatives by identifying areas of greatest opportunity and creating plans to meet goals.
Education
Project Cost Management -
2023
Strategy & Execution - undefined
2022
Bachelor of Science - Accounting, Manufacturing Operations Management
Sam Houston State University
2021
Leading Change Management - undefined
2021
Skills
- CORE SKILLS
- General/Cost Accounting
- GAAP/Sox Regulations
- ERP Implementation
- Financial Analysis
- Staff Training/Development
- Excel/Pivot tables/V-lookup
- Reconciliations
- Budgeting
- Vendor & Customer Relations
- Internal Controls/Auditing
- Financial Projections
Timeline
Small Business Consultant
That Figures Accounting & Consulting
06.2021 - Current
Cost Accounting Manager
Endeavor Energy Resources, RESTRUCTURE
03.2019 - 04.2020
Cost Accounting Manager
US Silica Holdings
02.2018 - 03.2019
Project/Cost Accounting Manager
Stellar Construction, START
03.2017 - 02.2018
Corporate Controller
Charter Construction
12.2005 - 03.2017
General/Cost Accounting Manager
National Buildings, RESTRUCTURE
08.1994 - 11.2005
Project Cost Management -
Strategy & Execution - undefined
Bachelor of Science - Accounting, Manufacturing Operations Management
Sam Houston State University