Olga Y. Waterworth
Phoenix
Summary
Strategic and results-driven finance executive with 20+ years of leadership experience driving financial performance and operational excellence. Proven success leading accounting, FP&A, tax, treasury and payroll functions for high-growth and complex organizations. Recognized for building high performance teams, implementing financial controls, optimizing processes and leading transformational initiatives that enhance shareholder value.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
EVP of Finance and Accounting
SafeStreets USA
07.2023 - Current
- Automated executive financial reporting, eliminating manual processes, increasing data accuracy, and providing leadership with faster, real-time financial insights
- Reduced monthly financial close by over 50%, improving the close process from 15 business days to 7 business days through process redesign, automation and enhanced accountability
- Partnered with executive leadership to successfully secure significant institutional investment by leading financial due diligence, developing investor ready financial presentations, and providing strategic financial analysis that supported funding decisions
- Established executive level reporting packages for the board of directors and investors, delivering timely, accurate financial analysis and performance metrics
- Leveraged AI-driven analytics to automate executive reporting and transform complex financial and operational data into actionable business insights
- Applied AI and advanced analytics to develop predictive customer attrition models, enabling leadership to identify at risk customers, implement targeted retention strategies, improve revenue predictability, and protect company’s most significant drivers of profitability
- Led the successful implementation of a new enterprise payroll system, improving efficiency, compliance and payroll accuracy
- Consolidated four companies into a single accounting platform, standardizing financial processes and improving reporting consistency
- Led finance’s role in the redesign of company CRM system by aligning its architecture with evolving business needs to support multiple revenue models, streamline workflows, and enhance executive reporting
Financial Controller
Kaizen Collision Center
09.2022 - 07.2023
- Managed the accounting and finance departments including month end close, financial reporting packages, sales and use tax filing, audit schedules, and treasury functions
- Built both AP and AR teams while going through new accounting system implementation, rebuilt processes, and outlined new procedures
- Lead implementation of new accounting system (NetSuites)
- Built Budget and Forecast model and started the process of monthly financial review calls with departments
- Streamlined daily activities and introduced process improvements to increase efficiency and as a result reduced month-end reporting time from 30 to 10 days
- Performed the analysis of consolidated financial statements, financial metrics, and trends
- Met regularly with Investors to communicate financial condition and achievement of goals and objections
- Performed comprehensive variance analysis of financial results and determined root-cause for each significant variance on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis
- Oversaw Sales and Use tax filings as well as Property tax filings
Sr. Director of Finance and Accounting
SafeStreets USA
02.2016 - 08.2022
- Managed funding department, restructured their compensation pay, streamlined reporting what provided visibility and as a result improved funding KPIs and saved company over 5mil in the first year
- Successfully rolled out new Budgeting and Forecasting software
- Improved cash flow and working capital management processes; raised debt and financing as needed
- Revamped Inventory tracking and recording process what lead to reduction of inventory shrinkage by over 500,000
- Developed annual budget process and work across all departments to ensure costs are accurately projected
- Directed all aspects of accounting operations, overseeing all transactions related to the general ledger including receivables, payables, and payroll
- Oversaw the production of monthly reports such as financial statements and cash flow projections for use by Executive management
- Built entire finance and accounting department from the ground up, including hiring, developing, coaching
Director of Finance (First Transit, a division of FirstGroup America)
FirstGroup America
09.2012 - 08.2015
- Responsible for the oversight and delivery of annual budgets (410M yearly revenue)
- Managed all regular accounting functions for operating activities, monthly, quarterly, and annual closing of the general ledger; preparation of budget to actual financial reports
- Worked with Business Development team on pricing strategy, bid proposals, reviewed contracts, and analyzed progress of revenue generation goals & make recommendations for adjustments/actions
- Established key internal controls for cash handling procedures for the field offices
- Performed value added analysis on risks and opportunities and presented options to executives
Senior Financial Analyst (First Transit, a division of FirstGroup America)
FirstGroup America
04.2008 - 09.2012
- Responsible for the oversight and delivery of annual budgets (410M yearly revenue)
- Managed all regular accounting functions for operating activities, monthly, quarterly, and annual closing of the general ledger; preparation of budget to actual financial reports
- Worked with Business Development team on pricing strategy, bid proposals, reviewed contracts, and analyzed progress of revenue generation goals & make recommendations for adjustments/actions
- Established key internal controls for cash handling procedures for the field offices
- Performed value added analysis on risks and opportunities and presented options to executives
Portfolio Accountant
CIT/Wells Fargo
10.2006 - 04.2008
- Organized and analyzed cash receipts for disbursements to investors
- Prepared journal entries as required for disbursements of funds
- Complete/assist in reconciliation of specific general ledger accounts
- Assisted with research on payment issues related to sold or managed Portfolios
Education
Certified Public Accountant -
Arizona Board of Accountancy
01-2016
Masters in Accountancy and Applied Leadership - undefined
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ05-2011
B.S. - Finance
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ12-2005
Skills
- MS Office Suite - MS Excel, Word, Access, Outlook
- Accounting and Payroll Software – Netsuites, JD Edwards, Quickbooks, UKG, Workday, ADP
- Forecasting/Budgeting/Reporting- Cognos, Hyperion, Essbase, PowerBI, Tableau
- CRM: SalesForce, Quickbase
Areas of Strength
- Accounting and Financial Management
- Financial Analysis and Reporting
- Process Improvement
- Policy Development
- Budgets & Forecasts
- Expense Controls & Reduction
- Fixed Assets
- Risk Management
- Strategic Business Planning
- Growth Strategy Development
- Cash Management
- Team Building
- System implementations
- Audits
Timeline
EVP of Finance and Accounting
SafeStreets USA
07.2023 - Current
Financial Controller
Kaizen Collision Center
09.2022 - 07.2023
Sr. Director of Finance and Accounting
SafeStreets USA
02.2016 - 08.2022
Director of Finance (First Transit, a division of FirstGroup America)
FirstGroup America
09.2012 - 08.2015
Senior Financial Analyst (First Transit, a division of FirstGroup America)
FirstGroup America
04.2008 - 09.2012
Portfolio Accountant
CIT/Wells Fargo
10.2006 - 04.2008
Masters in Accountancy and Applied Leadership - undefined
Arizona State University
B.S. - Finance
Arizona State University
Certified Public Accountant -
Arizona Board of Accountancy