Tamara Kowalski
Hutchinson,MN
Summary
Experienced in payroll have worked with 3 different software's. Most of my time was in retail where I managed 25 plus employees. I learned to be patient with employees because everyone learns in a different way so I have experience in training people based off of how they learn. I have some experience in HR as when working for Bed Bath and Beyond I took care of the HR for our building. As a Property maintenance manager where I did low maintenance for an apartment for 65 plus and disabilities. When I started there were 80 plus work orders and I was able to get it down to where we rarely ever have more than 5. I strive to keep learning so that I'm well rounded when it comes to knowing my job.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Payroll Administrative Assistant
PHB Accounting CPA
Cokato, MN
11.2025 - Current
- Processed payroll for diverse employee groups, ensuring timely and accurate disbursements.
- Maintained employee records in payroll software, promoting data integrity and compliance.
- Assisted in resolving payroll discrepancies through effective communication with employees and management.
- Collaborated with HR to update benefits information, enhancing employee understanding of available options.
- Supported year-end tax preparation by gathering necessary documentation and verifying accuracy of data submitted.
- Maintained strict confidentiality of all payroll information and records.
- Created new hire and termination documents for payroll.
- Prepared Quarterly’s throughout the year.
- During Tax season verified completed tax returns, scanned them into our system, made copy’s and reviewed overpayments and taxes due with the clients.
- Set appointments for clients to sit with their accountant during prep tax time and again during tax season.
- Filed client files in our file room.
- Create new clients, inactivate non returning clients.
- Restored Business clients backups on QuickBooks.
- Software used Ultra Tax, Accounting CS, Practice, Doc.It and QuickBooks.
Property Maintenance Manager
Housing & Redevelopment of Litchfield
Litchfield
05.2024 - Current
- Take bids on different contractors to find the most cost effective.
- Doing my payroll.
- Speak with contractors to set up appointments when needing licensed plumber or election.
- Meetings with the Director and going over our capital projects which then she has me take bids.
- Mapping out the property for changes and then walking with the Director to get approval and then with contractors.
- Yearly unit inspections.
- Move in & move out inspections.
- Low maintenance fixing damages around the building, leaky pipes, heating, scrubbing carpets.
- Take care of grooming the outside to keep up a nice appearance for the tenants.
- Getting to know all the tenants so they feel comfortable with me entering their apartments with or without them home.
- Some of the tenants get stiffens to work around the building, I create calendar to do lists for a them that they date and time stamp then they turn back in and I review and they will receive payment each month.
- Organize unit turns getting them painted new bath and kitchen accessories installed, removing the toilet so that the flooring company can come in and lay new flooring and ending with our housekeeper doing a detail cleaning.
Store Manager
Ace Hardware
Litchfield
01.2023 - 11.2023
- Started this location from the ground up.
- Put out new merchandise.
- Hired all the employees.
- Trained employees on product knowledge.
- Created the schedule.
- Payroll
- Ordered merchandise to fill the holes and sell downs.
- Loaded grills or larger items and delivered them to homes.
- Put on large events to drive customers in, smoked and grilled different meats and appetizers to help sell products.
- Put freight away.
- Mixed paint.
- Reached out to businesses around town and got them signed up for business accounts.
Store Manager
Bed Bath & Beyond
Saint Cloud
09.2017 - 01.2023
- Hiring
- Terminating
- Did the HR for the building
- Reviews
- Reviewed schedules
- Payroll
- Training
- Created planograms
- Attended weekly meetings Via phone with all store managers and District staff in our district.
- Walked the building speaking about sales and KPI's with District, Regional and the VP of our area.
- Ordered merchandise for the building.
- Walked the sides of the store with the managers and reviewed planograms, freight put away.
- Processed freight when receiving was on vacation or sick.
- Company went out of business, I stayed until the very end taking in discontinued merchandise from other stores that were not in the process of closing yet and selling it very cheaply.
- Sold all the fixtures and walls.
Operations Manager
Bed Bath & Beyond
Saint Cloud
12.2009 - 09.2017
- In charge of receiving, making sure freight was being processed correctly and ship outs were done in a timely manner also that put away was completed in the amount of time given.
- Vendors would send us paperwork on items that were either not shown received or that the amounts were in correct. I would go out and locate the items and make the adjustments to the system if it was incorrect on their end they would get notification that it was not received yet.
- Create the schedule
- In charge of the KPI's when it came to the front end cashiers hitting the goals.
- Watching our coupon use.
- In charge of the bridal dept. Making sure consultants were giving the couples one on one attention and assisting with training them on taking one item and building from it.
- Walking the store with District, Reginal and VP.
- Assisting with freight put away.
- Assisting with planograms.
- New hire orientation.
- Ordering office supplies and building supplies.
- Calling contractors if needing repairs in the building.
Education
Certificate - Medical Coding
Rasmussen College
Saint Cloud06.2024
Skills
Communication
Management Skills
Critical Thinking
Ability to Learn Quickly
Time Management Skills
Highly Organized
Interpersonal Communication
Leadership and Teamwork
Microsoft Word
Excel
Microsoft Power point
Quick Books
Ultra Tax
Practice
Accounting CS
ADP
Timeline
Payroll Administrative Assistant
PHB Accounting CPA
11.2025 - Current
Property Maintenance Manager
Housing & Redevelopment of Litchfield
05.2024 - Current
Store Manager
Ace Hardware
01.2023 - 11.2023
Store Manager
Bed Bath & Beyond
09.2017 - 01.2023
Operations Manager
Bed Bath & Beyond
12.2009 - 09.2017
Certificate - Medical Coding
Rasmussen College