Senior Manager Order to Cash

• Jun 2023 - Present

Director of Credit and Collections

• Aug 2022 - Jun 2023

Director Of Accounting

• 2021 - 2022

Managed three direct and nine indirect professionals in coordinating all aspects of Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Treasury areas for this $150M consulting services firm. Organized and executed Finance projects, including a digital transformation effort to set up new systems (ERP). Onboarded and trained new hires in all processes and procedures. Led weekly revenue discussions with field leaders to ensure top quality data and risk mitigation. Created and updated cash flow model to estimate weekly cash collections. * Smoothly reconciled AR/Collections and Sales Integration for a newly acquired business; also supported purchase accounting entries and reconciled cash and receivables. * Collaborated with international colleagues in Order-To-Cash processing in the UK, Canada, Australia and Singapore to streamline data inputs and achieve optimal productivity and efficiencies. * Liaised with the Extended Leadership team on EBITDA optimizations for Gross-to-Net revenue deductions and profitability initiatives. Show less

Senior Manager - Accounting Services

• 2019 - 2021

As Process Owner, led five direct and five indirect staff members at Chicago corporate office, as well as 25 transactional staff in K+S Americas Business Center (ABC) in Santiago, Chile, with full oversight of Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Cash Application, Treasury and Internal Controls. Tracked and reviewed all operating processes, along with escalations, root cause analysis and documentation updates. Prepared monthly KPI dashboard to assist in executive decision-making. Establish and maintain full-scale framework for all internal controls to facilitate positive audit results and minimize risk to company. Ensured Accounting compliance with all relevant corporate and industry standards and requirements. * Closely supported due diligence and smooth sale of Morton, Windsor and Lobos salt businesses (US, CN, SA) from K+S to Stone Canyon Holdings.* Led team to achieve better working capital results in 2020 after optimizing processes and projects involving AP/AR and inventory functions with reps from Sales, AP/AR, Cost Accounting and Procurement.* Rolled out cloud-based cash application system to automate processes and improve auto-applied cash percentages; also participated in training and orienting newly transitioned shared services team to Chile.* Championed and administered global project to save $3M EBITDA by tightening sales processes for trade and non-trade deductions, including pricing, freight concessions and other areas; also instituted cloud-based software to automate and track accuracy for all transactions.* Acted as Lead for the Americas to define and transfer transactional volumes to K+S Shared Service Center in Santiago, Chile; also organized and prioritized work scope and function assignment, retaining most complex work at Chicago HQ.* Selected as one of only 16 companywide for elite global leadership development program via K+S and Frankfurt School of Business, representing 120 hours of classes. Show less

Senior Manager - Customer Financial Services

• 2015 - 2019

Oversaw 30-person team across US and Canada in handling all aspects of the Revenue cycle, including Accounts Receivable, Cash Application, Credit, Collections and Deductions. Focused on developing and optimizing critical policies and procedures, while closely collaborating with Sales, Sales Planning, Marketing, Customer Service and Accounting units.* Succeeded in taking this department from #16 to #6 status companywide through comprehensive cross-functional survey; also reduced deduction cycle time from over 110+ to 60 days during tenure.* Deployed ERP tools to increase cash application rates, auto-create deductions per code categories and set work lists for collections; also introduced credit insurance across North American operations.* Designed and instituted online credit application with standardized industry leader to optimize customer master data and streamline processes.* Personally mentored and developed two seasoned managers and four staff-level leaders to enhance efficiencies and effectiveness for customer financial services group.* Specially chosen as one of only three to attend Rapport Leadership Institutes immersion program for Morton and Windsor businesses; also selected to participate in prestigious Women Unlimited LEAD initiative.* Qualified for and passed certification test for Certified Credit Executive designation; also collaborated with international credit and trade spend share groups Show less

Senior Business Analyst/Finance Project Lead

• 2014 - 2015

Responsible for organizing and managing key finance functions and P&L review for the newly expanded Bulk Salt business, including the sister entity, International Salt Company. Developed and instituted the Budget and Forecasting process. ➢ Participated on a cross-functional team that added more rail capacity to a Midwest production facility; this involved return-on-capital evaluation, executive reporting and final project approval. ➢ Team-led a successful 14-month project to identify, correct and resolve significant trade promotion deficiencies, including systems issues (SAP), program over accruals ($10 million), design & standardization of policies, procedures, review of trade liability and promotional effectiveness. Show less

Manager of Business Analytics

• 2008 - 2013

Closely collaborated with VPs and Directors in Sales, Marketing and Product Development units to support key decision-making relating to new product launches, forecasting and sales reporting. Liaised with Director of Quotations to prepare pricing for quotes and profitability initiatives. Generated business intelligence reports on a monthly basis by analyzing many industry and financial indicators. Researched and reviewed retail market trends through national accounts and chains. Instituted dashboards to monitor critical metrics across all product lines.➢ Team-led a 2-year project involving the roll-out of an ERP (BAAN) platform to support systems and processes for net sales and profitability reporting.➢ Transitioned the special pricing agreement (SPA) process from accounting to quotations, resulting in timely contract payments, lower program costs and greater operating efficiencies.➢ Instrumental in implementing Zilliant/Tableau business intelligence software for pricing structure activity.➢ Specially selected to participate in a senior internal development effort, Leadership Excellence Acceleration Program (LEAP) between 2011-2012.➢ Promoted to this position after initial hiring as Senior Financial Analyst between 2007-2008; handled several projects, including the design of an agent scorecard to track key metrics and optimize website accessibility. Show less

Senior Financial Analyst

• Jan 2007 - Dec 2008

Managed cross-functional efforts to assist in daily operations with Sales, Marketing and Business Development teams to improve operating efficiencies and interdepartmental communications.Instrumental in creating an agent scorecard that highlighted ten key metrics for each agent on tracking personal performance, while ensuring accessibility via a secure website.Achieved $50,000 in annual savings with new procedures for processing DIY sales deductions.Planned and organized the Finance group's "lunch and learn" program, including speaker selection, during 2008.Organized and executed a Sales and Operations Meeting for over 30 Executive Managers and Department Directors to discuss business issues and key decisions related to purchasing and inventory activity. Show less

Senior Financial Analyst

• Jan 2003 - Jan 2007

Managed P&L analysis for sales, general and administrative expenses, along with month-end close for various costs with the $250 million Orval Kent Foods unit at this consumer-facing industry leader. Coordinated financial analysis and reporting for sales and customer profitability. Supervised a Broker Commission Analyst in daily review tasks. Performed balance sheet functions for different accruals, including AR reserves, trade promotions, deductions, discounts and broker commissions. ➢ Smoothly piloted the $15 million SG&A budget process for the Prepared Foods division. ➢ Instrumental role in assisting with arbitration proceedings for 2 company sales disputes involving $6 million in trade promotion and $500,000 in AP/AR issues. ➢ Greatly helped in a 2003 SAP roll-out and remapping the SAP platform in 2005. Show less

Controller

• 2002 - 2003

Supervised a team of 5 professionals in handling critical financial functions, along with sales reporting and special projects for this $25 million specialty insurance firm. ➢ Developed and introduced many policies and procedures to enhance efficiencies involving accounts payable, claims processing and commission tracking. ➢ Cross-trained and motivated staff to optimal job performance, interdepartmental support and generation of accurate documentation. Supervised a team of 5 professionals in handling critical financial functions, along with sales reporting and special projects for this $25 million specialty insurance firm. ➢ Developed and introduced many policies and procedures to enhance efficiencies involving accounts payable, claims processing and commission tracking. ➢ Cross-trained and motivated staff to optimal job performance, interdepartmental support and generation of accurate documentation.

Senior Accountant

• 1998 - 2002

Tasked with managing a wide range of functions, including corporate accounting, process reengineering, reporting and business support strategies, for different client engagements for this world-class entity. ➢ As Accounts Payable Manager, directed a 4-person team in process changes, internal staff training and organizational structuring at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. ➢ Acted as Team Lead for general accounting tasks at FiNetrics Accounting Source, a shared services center; helped with company start-up. ➢ Deployed to various out-of-state sites with Waste Management and performed external audits, metrics analyses and preparation of working papers. Show less