Experience

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  Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry

  • Retired July 5, 2022

    • Jul 2022 - Present
• 

  Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (LDAF)

  • Accountant

    • Jan 2002 - Present

    I have been a licensed CPA since 01/31/82. I am a self-starter; very good in Excel; and willing to learn new procedures, software, et cetera. I am not afraid to ask questions when I do not know the answer. From January 2002 to present, I have been working for the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry. From January 2002 to December 2003, I was an Auditor working mostly on LAFA keeping the books straight. From January 2004 to November 2010, I was the Internal Auditor, working mostly on LAFA, keeping the books straight. From November 2010 to present, I have been an Accountant. As on Office Accountant, I perform Accounting, Purchasing, Accounts Payable, Budget, Grant Management, and Revenue duties. ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTSEvery year, I download the applicable Annual Financial Report (AFR), and clean up the template for my co-workers to prepare their assigned AFR. I prepare the Annual Financial Reports for the Dairy Industry Promotion Board and the Louisiana Strawberry Commission for submission to the Office of the Legislative Auditor and the Office of Statewide Reporting & Accounting Policy (OSRAP) of the Division of Administration. SECURITY ADMINISTRATORSince May 2008, I have been a Security Administrator for JPMorgan Chase Bank where the Travel & Imprest Fund bank account is located. I approve the template changes and release the funds to reimburse employees for travel and petty cash expenditures. From January 2004 to March 2012, I was the ISIS Liaison, performing the duties of the Security Administrator for ISIS.

  • Acting LAFA Accountant

    • Jun 2012 - Jul 2012

    During June and July 2012, I took on the role of the LAFA Accountant while the LAFA Accountant was on extended leave. I created and mailed invoices; posted deposits; processed Requests for Approval in the LAFA Purchasing system; created, printed, and mailed checks; created new accounts; created adjusting journal entries; corrected incorrect postings; created the accruals for June 30, 2012; reconciled five (5) bank accounts; allocated interest earned on the operating bank account to the appropriate funds; prepared the monthly Cash Summary Report memos and distributed; boxed FY 2011 and all Indian Creek deposits for archiving; set up the folders for the new fiscal year; and filed supporting documentation.

  • LAFA Head Accountant / LAFA CPA / LAFA CFO

    • Jan 2002 - May 2012

    The Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (department) and the Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority (LAFA) are separate legal agencies. However, the administrative and accounting functions are performed by department personnel. LAFA uses QuickBooks Pro accounting software. When I was hired, QuickBooks Pro was being used as checkbook. I arranged the books to reflect the generally accepted accounting principles for a proprietary fund (enterprise fund), using the accrual basis of accounting. I re-worded the chart of accounts; set-up financial statements in QuickBooks Pro; and corrected transaction misclassifications. I converted the LAFA depreciation schedules from Quattro Pro to Excel; started with my last audit of LAFA (FYE 06/30/00) and carried the compilation through to FYE 06/30/02. Until May 2012, I was considered the LAFA “expert” and “expert” for the QuickBooks Pro accounting software, the Mag-Filer software (for creating and filing 1099s), and the Loan Manager Plus software (used to track the loans made with the federal grant proceeds). I prepared the budget and budget reports, presented financial reports to the authority, corrected posting errors, compiled very complicated financial statements, created and maintained the depreciation schedules, created and maintained the records for the loan/grants programs, and prepared the Requests for Reimbursements (SF 270). I worked closely with the LAFA Director and handled matters of great confidentiality.

  • Internal Auditor

    • Jan 2003 - Nov 2010

    I was the Internal Auditor from January 2003 to November 2010. I updated the internal audit charter. I developed the annual assessment of risks, the annual audit plans, and the audit programs. I researched laws, rules, and regulations that would impact the audit program and ensured agency compliance with all mandated changes; evaluated the internal control structure. I performed special projects/investigations as assigned by the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner, and handled matters of great confidentiality that included, but was not limited to, investigating alleged theft of money and alleged payroll fraud; presented the findings to the Commissioner of Deputy Commissioner; wrote the applicable District Attorney, and testified, if necessary. From March 2003 to April 2009, I audited/tested the LaCarte Purchasing Card Program every month, creating extensive Excel spreadsheets; and provided feedback to the Commissioner of Agriculture & Forestry, the Agency Program Administrator, the Accountants, and the Cardholders.

  • Acting Fiscal Director

    • Jan 2008 - May 2008

    From January 2008 to May 2008, I was the Acting Fiscal Director for the department. I monitored the securities (collateral) for the bank accounts to insure that the funds are protected in accordance with LSA-R.S. 49:321(C); received and coordinated payments to GE Capital Lease, which includes monitoring the Forestry Protection Fund to make additional principal payments if the funds are available (these funds cannot be carried forward and have to be used for purchasing forestry protection equipment, as stated in LSA-R.S. 3:4321); signed checks for the separate bank accounts; issued the 1099s for LAFA (LAFA vendors are outside the ISIS software and W-9s have to be requested for these vendors to add them to the system for the yearly submission to the IRS, and fielded calls from vendors after the 1099s are issued); coordinated the preparation and submission of the department's quarterly state unemployment benefits payments to the Louisiana Department of Revenue.

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  Office of the Legislative Auditor - State of Lo...

  • 1600 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70804

  • Auditor

    • May 1982 - Jan 2002
    • 1600 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70804

    From May 1982 to January 2002, I was an auditor. I designed and controlled audit tests of all accounting cycles with minimal supervision from the auditor-in-charge; prepared audit reports, financial statements, and note disclosures for review by the auditor-in-charge; and performed all aspects (...

• 

  Erikson, Krental, & Barre'

  • New Orlean, La

  • Accountant

    • Jan 1981 - Feb 1982
    • New Orlean, La

    From January 1981 to February 1982, I performed the monthly accounting for several small businesses; prepared tax returns; assisted on audits.