Rachel Karros
Lees Summit,MO
Summary
Accomplished operations leader with extensive experience building high-performing teams and driving business transformation initiatives. Demonstrated success in leading teams of up to 35 professionals, with expertise in relationship management, compliance, and cross-functional project leadership. Proven track record of centralizing operations, developing talent, and implementing comprehensive training programs across diverse enterprises. Skilled in fostering collaborative environments that enhance team productivity and drive operational excellence through effective coaching, mentoring, and change management.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Director of Payroll Compliance
Verizon
05.2019 - Current
- Led a team of skilled professionals responsible compliance, audit and operational support functions.
- Developed annual strategic plans, aligning departmental goals with organizational objectives.
- Responsible for SOX Control Management including, proactive monitoring, identification of potential weaknesses, developing and executing risk mitigation plans related to findings, annual baseline testing and user access reviews.
- Management oversight of the recoupment of employee overpayments, ensuring compliance to state regulatory requirements, providing escalation support, supporting legal requests, identify and drive process efficiency projects to decrease backlog and increase recoupment, preparation of aging and read out to senior leadership.
- Implemented a comprehensive compliance framework to ensure adherence to local tax withholding requirements through the execution of quarterly audits in high-risk jurisdictions, resulting in an 87% assessment reduction.
- Provided project management oversight in the execution of over 6 successful M&A transactions, ensuring adherence to federal, state and local regulatory requirements.
Senior Manager - Global Accounts Payable
Verizon
07.2013 - 05.2019
- Led a highly skilled team of 35+ accounts payable professionals responsible for processing employee travel expense reimbursements and corporate card administration.
- Provided strong leadership to enhance team productivity and morale.
- Managed the global travel expense and corporate card program, ensuring compliance with corporate policies, adherence to statutory and regulatory requirements, and promotion of best practices for efficiency, compliance, and financial integrity.
- Oversaw 3rd party vendor relationships, ensuring smooth communication, adherence to contract terms, and timely resolution of issues.
- Instrumental in driving finance transformation projects to centralize global accounts payable operations; oversaw staff recruitment, facilitated knowledge transfer, documented procedures, and implemented comprehensive training programs.
- Led the Corporate Card and Employee Expense System RFP processes, from initial requirements gathering to vendor selection and contract negotiation, resulting in improved terms and cost savings for the company.
- Designed and implemented the Concur globally, managing all project management functions to ensure successful deployment and user adoption.
Manager of Accounts Payable
Ferrellgas
09.2006 - 07.2013
- Managed full cycle accounts payable process, including invoice receipt, coding, approval, payment processing, and vendor reconciliation.
- Led a team of 16 Accounts Payable specialists, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of invoice processing while adhering to SOX controls.
- Collaborated with finance and procurement teams to resolve discrepancies and improve efficiency.
- Ensured compliance of card programs by conducting ongoing reviews of card issuance, policy enforcement, audits, and fraud monitoring through the use of reporting tools and transaction data.
- Prepared and reviewed month-end entries and account reconciliations for Accounts Payable, and completed yearly department budget workbooks along with monthly operating report reviews.
- Implemented and managed stringent vendor setup and maintenance policies to ensure IRS reporting accuracy, including responsibility for the 1099-Misc reporting process.
Accounts Payable Supervisor
Meadwestvaco Calmar
08.2005 - 08.2006
- Drove strategic initiatives to centralize global accounts payable operations by overseeing staff recruitment, facilitating knowledge transfer, documenting procedures, and implementing comprehensive training programs.
- Monitored accounts payable to ensure timely resolution of PO pricing and quantity discrepancies and accurate application of sales and use tax.
- Processed inter-company payables, performed monthly procurement card reconciliation, and completed monthly Accounts Payable close and accrual entries.
- Reviewed existing procedures, identifying areas for improvement, and documented policies and procedures relating to Accounts Payable.
Accounts Payable Supervisor
Westlake Ace Hardware
06.2002 - 08.2005
- Manage up to 6 accounts payable clerks: including training, performance reviews and goal setting.
- Reviewed and updated accounts payable processes in accordance with best practices to ensure efficiency and accuracy.
- Audited expenses to ensure proper coding and approvals, resolved costing and receiver variances for warehouse inventory, and managed procurement card usage and reconciliation of monthly statements.
- Prepared and reviewed month-end inventory accruals, reconciled general ledger accounts including payroll bank reconciliation, and conducted year-end accounts payable inventory packet reviews and entries.
- Managed vendor maintenance and review to ensure accuracy and adherence to controls, as well as overseeing the 1099-Misc reporting and B-Notice process.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration And Management
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK05-2019
Skills
- Team leadership
- Coaching and mentoring
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Communication
- Compliance and Risk Management
- Relationship Management
- Project Management
- System Implementation
Timeline
Associate Director of Payroll Compliance
Verizon
05.2019 - Current
Senior Manager - Global Accounts Payable
Verizon
07.2013 - 05.2019
Manager of Accounts Payable
Ferrellgas
09.2006 - 07.2013
Accounts Payable Supervisor
Meadwestvaco Calmar
08.2005 - 08.2006
Accounts Payable Supervisor
Westlake Ace Hardware
06.2002 - 08.2005
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration And Management
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
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