SHAKIDA FIELDS
Brooklyn,NY
Summary
Finance professional focused on accounting operations, financial control, and reporting accuracy. Brings depth in IFRS and GAAP, reconciliations, forecasting, audit support, pension accounting, and cash management, along with hands-on leadership of accounting staff. Known for organizing complex workflows, strengthening controls, and supporting sound financial decisions.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Accounting Manager
American Federation of Musicians and Employers Pension Fund
, NY
07.2023 - Current
- Lead the accounting function, ensuring accuracy and compliance with IFRS and GAAP accounting standards.
- Manage and develop a team of four direct reports, providing guidance, oversight and professional development.
- Prepared financial reports and unaudited financial statements to support management decision-making.
- Led annual financial audit process, coordinating with external auditors to ensure compliance and timely provision of necessary documentation.
- Manage the organization's budgeting process, monitor expenditures and support effective allocation of financial resources.
- Managed cash flow and liquidity, ensuring availability of funds for operational needs and pension obligations.
- Oversaw accounts receivable and accounts payable, ensuring timely and accurate processing of financial transactions to support financial integrity.
- Oversee Pension payment processing, including reconciliation and ensuring compliance with regulations.
- Maintain accurate financial records for invoices, checks, expenses, pension payments and other financial transactions.
- Serve as a point of contact for Trustee and employee reimbursement requests, maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders.
- Manage relationships with Bank of New York and other financial services partners, stakeholders, and vendors.
- Review and update contact information, and proactively follow up on emails regarding monthly employer statements.
Senior Accountant, Pensions & Benefits Accounting
Columbia University
, NY
04.2022 - 06.2023
- Assist in the planning and coordination of the annual audits, preparation of the financial statements of all pension plans and all post-retirement plans that require audits
- Interface with internal and external auditors and senior management on all aspects of pension accounting and reporting
- Prepared supporting documentation for audited financial statements, including year-end audit schedules, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards
- Prepare management reports on historical, current and projected post-retirement benefit expenditures
- Tracked, analyzed, projected, and recorded post-retirement expenses, contributing to accurate financial forecasting and budgeting
- Generated monthly asset activity reports for all plans, facilitating informed decision-making by management
- Manage Defined Contribution reconciliations between the Benefits and Payroll departments, and between the Benefits department and the three carriers at a summary level
- Prepare semi-annual reconciliation reports at a detailed participant level for three Defined Contribution carriers
- Provide instructions to the Plan Trustee for benefit reimbursements for Defined Benefit plans
- Coordinated contributions to the Defined Benefit plans under ERISA
- Prepare reconciliations of Columbia University Retirement Medical and Life Insurance (CURML) benefits plan activity with custodian bank carriers and ensure bank accounts are balanced
- Record and reconcile fringe benefit accounting activity, including preparing accrual entries and performing quarter-end and year-end related activities
- Maintain clear and effective communications with benefit carriers, senior management and auditors
- Research new accounting rules and updates and make recommendations as to applicability and implementation
- Assist in the preparation of the draft of the FAS 158 disclosure of the University's financial statements
- Work in collaboration with the Pension, Reporting and Enterprise Business Intelligence team on a special project to create a comprehensive testing regime for new pension procedures, conducted research and gathered data to move the pension accounts from a manual to an automated process.
Accountant
Rentokil Initial Barbados Limited
, Barbados
01.2018 - 02.2020
- Oversaw accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, and payroll processes, ensuring timely and accurate payments.
- Prepared monthly management accounts under IFRS reporting requirements.
- Completed accurate monthly forecasting for the business covering trading, debtors, operating cash flow and balance sheet management.
- Provided timely, accurate and relevant management information to the Regional Finance Director and General Manager.
- Produced and monitored Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) aligned with Area, Divisional, and Group requirements, facilitating analysis and preparation of improvement plans.
- Continually reviewed the reporting and information system requirements to meet the needs of the business.
- Tracked company costs to identify trends and presenting quarterly budget forecasts.
- Collaborated extensively with auditors during preliminary and year-end audit processes.
Assistant Accountant
Coconut Court Beach Hotel
, Barbados
01.2017 - 12.2017
- Ensured an accurate and timely monthly, quarterly and year end close.
- Prepared the monthly payroll, reviewed weekly payroll and related transactions (NIS & PAYE).
- Assessed accounting accuracy through A/P and A/R tracking, budgeting, payroll transactions, wage allocation, salary expenses, and reconciliations for bank, credit card, and petty cash.
- Maintained accurate accounts for cash, fixed assets and other transactions.
- Facilitated budget administration with detailed expense analysis and comprehensive report reviews.
- Performed audits of operational and financial areas to check compliance.
- Collaborated with direct reports to establish annual goals and objectives, monitoring progress to support professional development.
Accounting Assistant
Sagicor Life Insurance Company
, Barbados
09.2012 - 12.2016
- Researched and allocated payments for over 20,000 client accounts within tight deadlines, servicing Sagicor staff, Barbados government, private companies, and individual insurance premiums.
- Entered individual and batch insurance payments into the system daily.
- Performed data entry of payments via direct debits, online banking and standing orders procedures.
- Balanced and prepared reports and batch summaries for timely submission and approval.
- Analyzed bank statements to discover discrepancies and resolve any variances promptly.
- Collaborated with inter-departments to streamline processes, investigating and resolving customer queries and unallocated cash.
Education
Postgraduate Certificate - International Accounting and Finance
University of Liverpool
Liverpool, England10-2017
Bachelor of Science - Management Studies
University of West Indies
Barbados07-2011
Skills
- IFRS & GAAP Accounting
- General Ledger Accounting
- Financial Reconciliations
- Budgeting & Forecasting
- Cash Flow & Treasury Management
- Audit compliance
- Financial analysis
- ERP & Accounting Systems
- Process improvements
- Microsoft Excel & Word
- Team Development
- Financial Stakeholder Engagement
Career Break
- 03/2020 to 03/2022
- Relocation
- Perform ad-hoc administrative duties for a non-profit organization
Timeline
Accounting Manager
American Federation of Musicians and Employers Pension Fund
07.2023 - Current
Senior Accountant, Pensions & Benefits Accounting
Columbia University
04.2022 - 06.2023
Accountant
Rentokil Initial Barbados Limited
01.2018 - 02.2020
Assistant Accountant
Coconut Court Beach Hotel
01.2017 - 12.2017
Accounting Assistant
Sagicor Life Insurance Company
09.2012 - 12.2016
Postgraduate Certificate - International Accounting and Finance
University of Liverpool
Bachelor of Science - Management Studies
University of West Indies