Rachel Ford
Lavon,TX
Summary
Accomplished Finance and Accounting professional with 20+ years of progressive experience spanning treasury management, accounts receivable, accounts payable and controller responsibilities. Harvard Business School certified in Finance and Accounting. Proven expertise in managing financial operations, vendor and client relationships and multifaceted in accounting. Strong background in Media Buying Agency operations combined with legal administrative experience and HR benefits knowledge. Proven track record in enhancing cash flow through effective accounts receivable management and negotiation skills. Adept at driving operational efficiency, fostering teamwork and collaboration, while streamlining financial processes to improve reporting accuracy and reduce month-end closing time.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Controller
Media Culture, Inc. (Formally Known as Koeppel Direct)
03.2012 - Current
- Originally hired as Accounts Receivable/Human Resources Manager in March 2012, Digital Accounting Manager promotion in March 2018 and Controller promotion in April 2022.
- Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable management
- Communicate incoming customers payments to internal teams to start the media buying process directly to the stations/networks for each broadcast month.
- Experience and legal understanding of Letter of Liability/Letter of Guarantee. Validate advertiser payments are received before creating and releasing LOL's to media vendors for a broadcast week or month to ensure company payment liability is covered.
- Perform soft reconciliations after the broadcast month post logs are completed in the CoreDirect Media buying system. Process helps accounting to determine if over clearing occurred and whether to collect shortage or reduce future media spend to cover spend shortages.
- Media invoice reconciliation process through the CoreDirect Media buying system. Collect and download monthly station affidavits from all the EDI various sites (EMediaTrade, MediaShare, TVInvoices, SpotData, Warren Lamb, etc.) to import and reconcile electronically against the media buy under the affidavit table of contents.
- Supply CoreDirect Media unmatched records report to media buyers to start the media discrepancy process and collect all station credits required to finalize the media invoice reconciliation.
- Compile several reports to complete the manual calendar reconciliation process for non-broadcast clients. Knowledge and complex understanding of media specific reconciling against different billing cycles, standard calendar dates or broadcast calendar dates.
- Export reconciled station affidavit information from Core media buying system. Review and update remit to information before converting information for importing bills up 1,200 a month through QuickBooks batch transactions for Accounts Payable.
- Compare the media buying software and accounting software reports to ensure accuracy of the importing process.
- Monthly accrual accounting reconciliations, complete journal entries, and account analysis to prepare financial documents and general account management.
- Manage specific details and unique requirements for each individual customer while operating several active customer accounts at a time. For example, digital or linear, broadcast or calendar account reconciliation, commission based on station gross or station net, media booked under advertiser credit terms or agency credit terms, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly invoicing, special reporting, etc.
- Commission calculations based on media buying agency contract commission rate. Knowledge of calculations between station gross, station net and client's gross/client's net.
- Managed full-cycle accounts payable including invoice processing, vendor payments, month end accruals. Ability to perform efficient data entry with high accuracy.
- Prepare and execute payments to media vendors using various methods, including ACH, electronic checks, checks and wire transfers. Working experience with AP platforms, FastPay and Melio.
- Establish and maintain strong working relationships with the vendors. Investigate and resolve any discrepancies between accounting systems by verifying open balance statements.
- Provided treasury and cash management by overseeing reconciliation of banks activity, credit card processing, etc.
- Followed up with delinquent accounts to obtain funds and reduce aging balances.
- Reduced month-end closing time by optimizing reconciliation procedures and improving collaboration between departments.
- Enhanced financial reporting accuracy by streamlining accounting processes and implementing internal controls.
- Improved cash flow management with rigorous monitoring and analysis of receivables and payables.
- Negotiated favorable terms with media vendors that supported business growth and cash flow.
- Reviewed contracts financially impacting company operations.
- Supported program managers in providing procedural training on finance and accounting.
- Ability to clearly communicate financial information and reporting to both internal teams and external - media buyers, account managers, clients and vendors.
- Manage financial tasks efficiently while juggling multiple client accounts and projects.
Cash Management Coordinator
Affiliated Computer Services, A Xerox Company
02.2010 - 03.2012
- Accounts Payable, Billing and Accounts Receivable.
- Create billing invoices using QuickBooks.
- Reconcile billing issues and maintain detailed records.
- Review and submit all vendor invoices to AP.
- Review P&L and General Ledger for month end closing.
- Maintain detailed excel spreadsheets for revenue/expenses.
- Assist in Forecasting company's financial goals for the upcoming year.
- Work with clients to resolve unpaid invoices to ensure timely receipt.
- Balance accounts.
- Review previous day banking transactions to inform account managers of incoming transfers.
- Make bank deposits.
- Download and reconcile cleared check files into IR2020 Cash Management System.
- Initiate and submit daily Positive Pay files, Domestic and International wire transfers and ACH bank transactions through multiple online banking systems.
- Research/reconcile daily positive pay exceptions.
- Print ACH return notification reports and update investor files in IR2020 Cash Management System.
- Work as a team player with office staff to insure all accounting duties are completed on time and accurate.
- Maintain daily staff, client and bank communications.
- Create weekly reissue spreadsheets, submit for account manager approval and print checks.
- Process and reissue custodial reimbursement payments.
- Process in house weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly commissions and distributions for multiple clients.
- Secure, maintain, and customer pre-printed check stock and office supplies.
- Assist Senior Operations Manager and Account Managers with special projects.
Cash Management Coordinator
Tarragon Corporation
04.2005 - 12.2009
- Originally hired as Administrative Assistant and was promoted to Cash Management Coordinator in January 2006.
- Daily bank reconciliation.
- Cash forecasting experience.
- Maintain asset and treasury/cash management files.
- Daily review of transactions and supply proper documentation to accounting department.
- Research and resolve any and all cash related issues.
- Maintain check issuance and clearing schedule to monitor outstanding checks.
- Maintain and establish working bank relationships.
- Business online banking experience with Bank of America, Wachovia, Signature, Sovereign, CNL and Compass.
- Program administrator for banking software includes maintaining confidentiality, administering access levels, solving communication problems and assisting accounting with transfers.
- Knowledge and experience with electronic transfers: Domestic wires, ACH and book transfers.
- Track and help maintain schedule for line of credit draws from affiliate and banking entities.
- Ensure receipt of monthly analysis reports from banks to compare and negotiate pricing.
- Facilitate interest payments for Lines of Credit after verifying interest charged.
- Assist properties with personnel remote deposit service and training.
- Opening and closing of bank accounts including finding preferred banks.
- Order bank supplies working with vendor directly and keeping records of such.
- Investigate and submit forgery affidavits for fraudulent items.
- Performs Microsoft Access database maintenance.
- Ongoing communication with corporate, property level departments and property management companies.
- Assist internal auditors with year end audits and providing efficient financial support.
- Assist Direct of Cash Management with special projects.
Education
High School Diploma -
Ashworth University
Corners, GeorgiaCertificate in Leading With Finance
Harvard Business School Online
05-2023
Certificate in Financial Accounting
Harvard Business School Online
12-2022
Skills
- Proficiency with QuickBooks, accounting software
- Skilled knowledge with CoreDirect Media buying software
- Microsoft Outlook, Excel & Word
- Accounts receivable and payable management
- GAAP compliance
- Finance
- Month-end and year-end closings
- Commission calculation
- Negotiation
- Attention to detail
- Organizational skills
- Collaborative teamwork
- Analytical thinking
- Multitasking Abilities
- Dependable performance
- Workflow streamlining
Timeline
Controller
Media Culture, Inc. (Formally Known as Koeppel Direct)
03.2012 - Current
Cash Management Coordinator
Affiliated Computer Services, A Xerox Company
02.2010 - 03.2012
Cash Management Coordinator
Tarragon Corporation
04.2005 - 12.2009
High School Diploma -
Ashworth University
Certificate in Leading With Finance
Harvard Business School Online
Certificate in Financial Accounting
Harvard Business School Online
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