Sara Olsen
Moseley,VA
Summary
Knowledgeable administrative and accounting professional with over 18 years experience in governmental accounting, administrative functions, office management and staff coordination. Successfully streamlined accounts payable processes, enhancing productivity and efficiency. Demonstrated proficiency in problem-solving and maintaining effective communication within teams.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Budget Administrator
Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office
Chesterfield, VA
12.2024 - Current
- Lead staff of Budget and Finance Unit to include leave approval, employee evaluations, and training.
- Oversee all financial activity to include approval of invoices, purchase orders, expense reports, and purchasing card transactions
- Review operating budgets totaling over $50M to analyze trends affecting budget needs and ensure appropriate allocation of funds.
- Manage all department grants- reviewing expenditures against budgets, ensuring funds were utilized appropriately and within scope of grant, submitted quarterly financial and progress reports, requested reimbursement of expenditures.
- Help prepare and submit additional funding requests annually.
- Provide regular budget updates to leadership.
- Document and keep standard operating procedures up to date for budget and finance division.
Principal Accountant
Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office
Chesterfield, VA
04.2019 - 12.2024
- Provided exceptional customer service to both internal and external stakeholders through prompt response times and thorough issue resolution efforts.
- Entered purchase orders, invoices and payments into company accounting system.
- Managed purchasing card program for department, ensuring compliance and completing reconciliations.
- Prepared travel expense reports and made travel arrangements for all department related travel.
- Supported annual audits by providing comprehensive documentation and assisting auditors with inquiries related to transactions, resulting in clean audits each year.
- Maintained up-to-date records of accounts payable and receivable, ensuring all financial transactions were accurately recorded.
- Reviewed and approved department deposits for accuracy and proper coding.
Tax Compliance Auditor
Chesterfield County Commissioner of Revenue's Office
Chesterfield, VA
02.2018 - 04.2019
- Audit local business taxes and returns, including: business professional and occupational license tax, business personal property and equipment tax, manufacturing and enterprise zone rebates, local sales tax allocation and specialty taxes.
- Interpret and apply local and state case law to ensure taxes are administered fairly and uniformly.
Business Tax Assessment Specialist
Chesterfield County Commissioner of Revenue's Office
Chesterfield, VA
01.2017 - 02.2018
- Screen, audit and process business license applications and business personal property filings.
- Review new business license applications to determine classification of business activity and all criteria are met before issuing license.
- Assist taxpayers on the phone and in person regarding license requirements and filings.
Accounts Payable Specialist
Chesterfield County Department of Social Services
Chesterfield, VA
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Reviewed invoices for accuracy and processed timely for weekly check run.
- Prepare journal entries to ensure all financial updates reflected in various accounting systems.
- Scan all invoices into department database to maintain up to date record of client payment activity.
- Reconcile credit card statement used for client clothing purchases monthly.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA08.2013
Skills
- Accounts Payable Management
- Purchasing Card Administration
- Process Improvement
- Financial Reporting
- Staff Management
- MS Office-including Excel
- Compliance with policies, procedures, and GAAP
Timeline
Budget Administrator
Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office
12.2024 - Current
Principal Accountant
Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office
04.2019 - 12.2024
Tax Compliance Auditor
Chesterfield County Commissioner of Revenue's Office
02.2018 - 04.2019
Business Tax Assessment Specialist
Chesterfield County Commissioner of Revenue's Office
01.2017 - 02.2018
Accounts Payable Specialist
Chesterfield County Department of Social Services
01.2015 - 01.2017
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Liberty University