Robert Whitefield
Chicago
Summary
Internal audit professional with experience in SOX compliance, control testing, and public reporting support. Collaborates with finance, IT, and external auditors to reconcile data, validate revenue recognition timing, and improve audit accuracy using Power BI, SQL, and VBA.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
Internal Auditor
W ESC O
11.2024 - 10.2025
- Managed quarterly Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Compliance controls to verify adherence to SEC regulations across all business units.
- Ensured public accounting accuracy during quarterly tie-outs by collaborating with PWC to finalize 10-K, 10-Q, earnings, and press releases. Led AI services audit, evaluating KPIs and OKRs to recommend strategic investments or divestments.
- Mitigated cybersecurity risks by ensuring newly onboarded vendor software completed intake process with IT department. Executed branch audits in Kansas, Boston, and Massachusetts to verify compliance and identify operational efficiencies.
- Performed aged inventory audits to reconcile data and inventory in PowerBI between Inventory Management and Finance departments. Collaborated with PWC to confirm revenue recognition aligned with fiscal quarter.
Financial Analyst, FP&A
W ESC O
11.2023 - 11.2024
- Supported sales management by conducting pro forma analyses to ascertain Return on Investment (ROI) and break-even points for proposed sales initiatives.
- Analyzed trends and variances between planned and actual results to enable sales managers to optimize revenue performance.
- Conducted contextual analysis for large (> $1M), high-margin (>45%), and low-margin (<5%) orders to alert sales management of abnormal metrics affecting month-over-month results.
- Implemented financial analysis software and strategic compliance practices for recently acquired corporations ('owned brands') to enhance financial reporting and analysis.
- Established credibility as a trusted advisor for external stakeholders including PWC, Protiviti, vendors, and customers within a rapidly growing client business.
Systems Analyst, Financial Systems
W ESC O
06.2023 - 11.2023
- Developed a variance report from scratch using VBA to ensure financial reporting accuracy between on-system and off-system data.
- Monitored Anixter's Daily Operational Sales (ADOS) to identify trends affecting revenue and cash flow, including validating adjustments across all regions within WESCO's financial databases.
- Migrated off-system financials to WESCO systems, supporting Digital Data Platform rollout and retiring financial databases of newly acquired companies.
- Redesigned financial systems departmental training SharePoint site using AI to enhance response efficiency for common IT inquiries from new hires.
- Mentored new hires in early career Financial Development Leadership Program, equipping them with essential skills for success as financial analysts.
Accounting Internship
W ESC O
06.2022 - 08.2022
- Gained insight into 10-K filing and audit procedures to ensure compliance before publication of earnings and financial statements.
- Submitted journal entries to enhance accuracy in global and distribution accounting departments.
- Achieved proficiency in various on-system and off-system software to support WESCO's integration following Anixter acquisition.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Finance
Illinois State University
Normal, IL05-2023
Skills
- SOX compliance
- Internal controls
- Compliance auditing
- Audit analytics
- Risk assessment
- Revenue recognition
- Financial reporting
- Audit planning
- Data reconciliation
- Power BI
- Proficient with Excel
- Experienced with SQL
- Experienced with VBA
- Oracle
- Peoplesoft
- ERP
- Process improvement
- Analytical thinking
- Critical thinking
- Attention to detail
- Stakeholder communication
- Cross functional collaboration
Timeline
Internal Auditor
W ESC O
11.2024 - 10.2025
Financial Analyst, FP&A
W ESC O
11.2023 - 11.2024
Systems Analyst, Financial Systems
W ESC O
06.2023 - 11.2023
Accounting Internship
W ESC O
06.2022 - 08.2022
Bachelor of Science - Finance
Illinois State University