Experience

EDUCAUSE

• United States
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Controller

  • Sep 2022 - Present



Mount Mercy University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 200 - 300 Employee

• AVP/Controller

  • Sep 2016 - Present

  Cedar Rapids, Iowa • Work directly with the VP for Business and Finance, the President’s Cabinet, and the University Board of Trustees on projects that ensure the fiscal integrity and strength of the institution. • Serve as an active member of the Board of Trustees Finance and Investment and Campus Facilities Committees. • Direct 12 people on the Business Office, Financial Aid and Student Accounts Management teams; collaboratively created initiatives with these teams without benefit of a current University… Show more • Work directly with the VP for Business and Finance, the President’s Cabinet, and the University Board of Trustees on projects that ensure the fiscal integrity and strength of the institution. • Serve as an active member of the Board of Trustees Finance and Investment and Campus Facilities Committees. • Direct 12 people on the Business Office, Financial Aid and Student Accounts Management teams; collaboratively created initiatives with these teams without benefit of a current University strategic plan. • Strengthened the financial position of the University by restructuring the outstanding debt and bond issues bringing them up to compliance with all debt covenants. • Increased the reliability and integrity of the University’s financial data through the review and restructure of the chart of accounts and the re-engineering of Business Office processes; reviewed all areas of internal control and ensured proper division of duties. • Restructured the format of the financial statements to provide clearer information for all levels of stakeholders and automated the delivery process. • Determined the viability of past due AR and partnered with multiple collection agencies to increase cash flows to the University; implemented a financial responsibility agreement to extend the ability to collect past due accounts from 5 years to 10. • Conducted a process review of the Student Financial Services area determining strengths and areas for continuing improvement; implemented an improvement plan, stabilized employee turnover, and enhanced customer relations. • Position Achievements: o Promoted to AVP in addition to Controller in May 2018 and served as Interim CFO from Jan. to Oct. 2018. o Led a small team to completely overhaul all business office policies and procedures. o Created a budget process, where none existed previously, and without the aid of off the shelf software; created a dynamic spreadsheet for budgeting and held budget bootcamp for cabinet members for a year. Show less



Cedar Rapids Xavier High School

• United States
• Religious Institutions
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Controller

  • Feb 1998 - Sep 2016

  Cedar Rapids, Iowa • Managed the High School’s and Foundation’s accounting activities within a fund accounting environment. • Supervised all accounting activities including general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, purchasing, payroll and benefits administration. • Developed policy and procedure manuals and published them both in hard copy and online; held training sessions as needed to increase awareness and compliance with policies and procedures; participated in continuing education classes… Show more • Managed the High School’s and Foundation’s accounting activities within a fund accounting environment. • Supervised all accounting activities including general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, purchasing, payroll and benefits administration. • Developed policy and procedure manuals and published them both in hard copy and online; held training sessions as needed to increase awareness and compliance with policies and procedures; participated in continuing education classes to keep abreast of changing regulations that affect Xavier. • Served as an integral, working member of the Administrative Staff Team, Finance Committee, Buildings and Grounds Committee, Personnel Committee, Visioning/Strategic Planning Committee, Metro Finance Committee (representing 11 parishes and all metro Catholic schools) and the Xavier Board of Education. • Position Achievements: o Helped consolidate two existing high schools into one and participated in building a new school from the ground up, creating all necessary processes nearly from scratch including creating a chart of accounts, financial statements, and budgeting process. o Created a dynamic budgeting model that projected through the 19 year life of the bond issue used to finance the construction; kept the institution from making short-term bad decisions for long-term viability. o Created a tuition assistance program allowing students to attend who would not otherwise be able to. o Maintained collections of receivables at or above 98%; prepared timely, accurate monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements and management reports/analyses for internal, external and government users. o Coordinated the refinancing of $12.875M of debt to take advantage of stimulus money, secure lower interest rates, reduce administrative fees and extend repayment time allowing the High School and Foundation to undertake new projects to benefit the students always ensuring compliance with all debt covenants. Show less



Coe College

• United States
• Higher Education
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Assistant Controller

  • Jul 1989 - Feb 1998

  Cedar Rapids, Iowa • Supervised the College’s cashier, AR representative, and AP supervisor and provided support to payroll, purchasing, collections, and administrative computing. • Assisted the Controller with the annual and long-term budgeting processes. • Assisted in hiring and provided orientation and training for new employees. • Maintained the College’s accounting activities within a fund accounting environment. • Position Achievements: o Created a dynamic spreadsheet for budgeting that had… Show more • Supervised the College’s cashier, AR representative, and AP supervisor and provided support to payroll, purchasing, collections, and administrative computing. • Assisted the Controller with the annual and long-term budgeting processes. • Assisted in hiring and provided orientation and training for new employees. • Maintained the College’s accounting activities within a fund accounting environment. • Position Achievements: o Created a dynamic spreadsheet for budgeting that had not previously existed. o Streamlined the audit process to be more efficient. Show less



Bell and VanZee

• Staff Accountant

  • Sep 1988 - Jul 1989

  Cedar Rapids, Iowa • Reviewed and assisted in auditing financial statements and provided monthly and quarterly processing for clients. • Prepared payroll, individual, not-for-profit, fiduciary, partnership, corporate and pension plan tax returns. • Position Achievement: Revised all procedures for compilations, reviews, and audits and created a staff manual.



Girardot, Strauch & Cox

• Staff Accountant

  • Oct 1987 - Sep 1988

  Lafayette, Indiana • Compiled, reviewed, and assisted in auditing financial statements and provided monthly processing for clients. • Prepared payroll, property, corporate, partnership and not-for-profit tax and information returns. • Projected compiled statements of cash flows and income for potential and existing businesses. • Position Achievements: o Created and delivered software training programs for all levels of personnel from partners to secretaries. o Created projection spreadsheets for… Show more • Compiled, reviewed, and assisted in auditing financial statements and provided monthly processing for clients. • Prepared payroll, property, corporate, partnership and not-for-profit tax and information returns. • Projected compiled statements of cash flows and income for potential and existing businesses. • Position Achievements: o Created and delivered software training programs for all levels of personnel from partners to secretaries. o Created projection spreadsheets for current and potential clients which had not previously been done. Show less