Tara Allen
Liberty,TN
Summary
Dynamic Accountant with a proven track record at Cummins Inc., enhancing financial reporting accuracy and compliance. Skilled in GAAP standards and advanced Excel functions, I led initiatives that improved project efficiency and streamlined processes. My attention to detail and effective communication foster collaboration, driving successful outcomes in complex financial environments.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Accountant
Allen Solutions Inc.
Liberty, TN
01.2014 - Current
- Categorized income and expenses in QuickBooks to deliver accurate financial reporting
- Calculated payroll tax deductions for Federal, Medicare, Social Security, FUTA, and SUTA taxes to ensure compliance
- Prepared quarterly form 941 along with Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet statements
- Filed annual documents including W-2s, 1099s, 941s, 940s, and S Corporation taxes to uphold accuracy
Benefits Retirement Specialist
Cummins Inc.
Nashville, TN
06.2014 - 09.2021
- Facilitated the implementation of the payroll system, 401(k) portion, for over 43,000 employees, enhancing operational efficiency
- Led an initiative to streamline the reconciliation of weekly 401(k) contributions using a rigorous three-way reconciliation process, improving financial reporting accuracy by 20%
- Spearheaded the verification process for the 401(k) plan, ensuring accurate calculations and seamless processing of eligibility
- Prepared quarterly compensation and contribution calculations, reconciling eligible pay, employee and employer 401(k) contributions, and contributions for over 43,000 employees
- Collaborated with third-part vendors to resolve discrepancies in three-way reconciliation and ensure accurate compensation calculations
- Verified compliance of all transactions and corrections with ERISA and SOX regulations
- Implemented comprehensive documentation system for auditors, resulting in 20% faster query resolution and improved audit accuracy by 10%
- Reviewed Power of Attorney documents to ensure legal alignment, leading to a 15% increase in expedited processing timelines
- Collaborated with IT to enhance weekly files and reduce time reconciling 401(k) contributions
Benefits Accounting Analyst
Cummins Inc.
Nashville, TN
05.2010 - 06.2014
- Trained and supervised five summer interns, enhancing financial modeling and data analysis skills, resulting in 20% increase in project completion efficiency
- Completed month-end close activities, ensuring accurate journal entries for fringe benefits and workers' compensation allocations
- Reconciled monthly balance sheet accounts from $10K to $85 million, including payroll taxes, concur, stock options, and 401(k), in accordance with accounting controls
- Coordinated with Cambridge, Travelers, Sedgwick, and Corporate to reconcile third-party administrator accounts monthly
- Prepared quarterly calculations and journal entries for RSP cash and share match charge-back allocations, completing a Six Sigma project that improved processes
- Calculated US funding for RSP, CRP, ESPP, and ASP contributions; managed worldwide funding for workers' compensation claims
- Uploaded weekly US and Canada concur journal entries, while correcting applicable accounts to maintain accurate records
Tax Accounting Specialist
Cummins Inc.
Nashville, TN
08.2009 - 05.2010
- Established a tax account reconciliation process, reducing reconciliation time by 50%, and achieving SOx compliance for the first time
- Reconciled complex US payroll tax liabilities across five accounts and fourteen business units.
- Examined tax amendments, payroll runs, and funding reports to resolve approximately 500 variances quarterly
- Transformed payroll data into state unemployment insurance and COBRA journal entry allocations, coding hundreds of accounts accurately
- Balanced refunds from taxing authorities exceeding liabilities totaling $995,706 within one quarter
- Executed month-end close for Intercompany department, balancing 146 accounts under strict deadlines
- Managed intercompany collections for invoices over ninety days past due, resolving disputes efficiently
Accounting Intern
Cummins Inc.
Nashville, TN
05.2008 - 08.2009
- Analyzed and reconciled tax documents and closed 1,086 line items with appropriate actions
- Directed international and intercompany journal entries, overseeing UK pension cross-charge journal entries, enhancing financial accuracy
- Collaborated with payroll team to resolve discrepancies in reconciliations, reducing errors by 55%
- Implemented reconciliation procedures that saved 20 hours monthly
- Examined unclaimed property trends using predictive analytics, preventing $300,000 in potential losses.
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting, Business Administration
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN05.2009
Skills
- GAAP compliance and standards
- General ledger reconciliation and analysis
- Microsoft Office Suite proficiency
- Advanced Excel functions; formulas, VLOOKUP, pivot Table
- Account reconciliation and analysis
- Oracle ERP experience
- Financial statement preparation
- Journal entry management
- Month-end and year-end closing
- Internal and external auditing
- QuickBooks expertise
- Data analysis with Discoverer
- Payroll tax reconciling and compliance
- Budget forecasting techniques
- Variance analysis strategies
- ADP Crystal Reports proficiency
- ADP PCPW and Report Smith skills
- Proprietary accounting systems knowledge
- Database utilization expertise
- Attention to detail
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Process improvement strategies
- Effective communication skills
- Vendor management expertise
- Document workflow management
Certification
Six Sigma, Green Belt certification, 05/2015
Community Service
- Habitat for Humanity – stocked/organized shelves
- Homeless Shelter – Fixed food for the homeless
- Youth Learning Center – Cleaned Youth Center in preparation of grand opening
- Holiday Stockings for Lakeshore Heartland – Stuffed stockings for kids in need
- Angel Tree Salvation Army Warehouse – Helped sort hundreds of bags of donations for Angel Tree kids
- Love Helps – Christmas cards for kids without families
References
References available upon request.
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Benefits Retirement Specialist
Cummins Inc.
06.2014 - 09.2021
Accountant
Allen Solutions Inc.
01.2014 - Current
Benefits Accounting Analyst
Cummins Inc.
05.2010 - 06.2014
Tax Accounting Specialist
Cummins Inc.
08.2009 - 05.2010
Accounting Intern
Cummins Inc.
05.2008 - 08.2009
Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting, Business Administration
Middle Tennessee State University
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