Experience

• 

  Southwest Water Company

  • Senior Accountant

    • 2010 - Present

    Supervised all accounting for the company's largest regulated utility in Texas.Key member of SAP testing and implementation for regulated utility group.Currently focused on SAP improvements in GR/IR process through coordination with operations and impact on financial results; reduced expense by $1.5 million within six months.

• 

  AET Tankers, Inc

  • Senior Accountant

    • Feb 2009 - Aug 2009

    Contract position involved in month-end closing process, account reconciliations, and preparation of initial and correcting journal entries.Performed the reconciliation of several balance sheet accounts that had not been completed for months. Able to clear account balances that were, in most cases, over a year old. Largest account cleared resulted in a $3 million increase to bottom line.

• 

  Carriage Services, Inc

  • Senior Accountant

    • Aug 2006 - Oct 2008

    Reviewed work of junior staffers during financial statement close process and other projects. Trained them in more advanced analytical methods and technical expertise. Built a new template for field accruals that allowed the company to discontinue the use of out-of-date and expensive software. Revised the form and database used to produce the notes to the financial statements.

• 

  Shell Oil Company

  • Supervisor - Consumer Products Demand Planning

    • Apr 2004 - Jan 2006

    Forecasted product demand using Advanced Planner and Optimizer, an SAP module. Improved forecasting and budgeting through coordination of data between internal departments. Reported Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) for each product, product family, and customer forecast. Developed new forecasting KPI's Allowed better tracking and reporting on reasons for inaccuracies. Improved forecast accuracy by at least 25%Led to better availability of products, reduced inventory, and reduced costs in excess of $2 million per year.

  • Senior Financial Analyst

    • Jan 2003 - Apr 2004

    Reported financial results and performed monthly account analysis and reconciliation for two divisions. Prepared sales forecasts and expense budgets (operational and administrative).Performed short-term projections of sales and labor for company-owned stores.Developed sales and labor projections system.Developed and automated a new method of calculating bonuses for store-level managers.

• 

  Pennzoil-Quaker State, Jiffy Lube Division

  • Accounting Supervisor

    • Apr 1999 - Jan 2003

    Supervised accounts payable function for two divisions (two direct reports). Supervised accounting entries for stores in my divisions (four indirect reports). Responsible for server operation, office IT coordination, and most computer training issues within the office.Created more accurate yearly budgets for 600+ company-owned locations. Introduced aspects of seasonality, regionality, and trends into sales forecasting.

  • Staff Accountant

    • Jul 1994 - Mar 1999

    Responsible for all financial accounting entries for up to 80 company-owned stores.Analyzed monthly expenses. Reconciled all daily cash entries and made necessary corrections to the ledger. Trained a number of new accountants.Developed and coordinated the standardizing cost of goods sold system used for tracking invoice variances.

• 

  University of Texas at El Paso

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

    • Aug 1992 - Jun 1994

• 

  U.S. Army

  • Staff Sergeant

    • Nov 1982 - Jul 1989

• 

  Ponderosa Steakhouses, Inc

  • Assistant Manager

    • May 1976 - Jun 1982