Monthly Archives: October 2013

Pet Peeves

CatInABitchBox

It seems like the newest trend in American language butchering is to answer a question with “So”.  I hear this all the time when I’m listening to interview programs on television.  The interviewer might ask, “Can you tell us more about how your widget works?”  The widget creator will invariably answer, “So, you put the gadget into the gizmo, and the widget starts right up.”  Why do you need “So”?  Every question about the widget gets answered with “So”.  It is SO annoying!

Before I get off my soap box (or out of the box in the picture), there’s a phrase that bothers me to no end every time I hear it.  “There’s No Place Like This Place Any Place.”  Then this place doesn’t exist!  Am I right?  Just add “else” to the end of the sentence people.  Then it makes sense (if it was even intended to make sense.)

About Me

It is my desire to help my organization and my team members succeed.  I strive to be outstanding in everything I do.

 

SUMMARY OF SKILLS

  • I have been in the accounting field since 1980
  • Extensive experience with audit preparation, both financial and tax
  • Highly focused on the balance sheet
  • Expert with treasury / banking management
  • Very proficient with QuickBooks and complex Excel functions

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

 

Senior Accountant                                                                             10/2007 – 6/2013

Coldwell Banker Bain (for Rainier Title & Escrow), Everett, WA

  • Engaged as a reconciliation expert to correct more than two years of inaccurate bank reconciliations, creating a new position of Escrow Accountant.
  • Saved the company many hundreds of thousands of dollars by correcting errors and preventing fraud.
  • Served as Escrow banking administrator, and oversaw several bank transitions and software transitions, both title & escrow software and accounting software.
  • Assumed duties of CFO and ran the accounting department, including financial statements and incentive calculations, during a change in department management.

Controller & Webmaster                                                                  3/1998 – 9/2007

American Freedom Group / Veteran Mortgage, Everett, WA (out of business)

  • Responsible for all accounting duties for a start-up mortgage company.
  • In-house payroll and taxes, financial statements, and commission calculations.
  • Licensed the company to operate and do payroll in 12 states.
  • Helped set up 60 branches, and prepared their daily commissions via ACH debit.
  • Audited mortgage files for accuracy and fraud prevention.

Executive Director and Board Member                                               3/2002 – Present

Volunteers for Outdoor Washington, Seattle, WA

  • Six months after first volunteering, I was elected to the Board of Directors as Treasurer to complete the term of the former member in that role.
  • Elected to two terms as President.
  • During this time, I assisted the Executive Director with his accounting duties, and prepared the annual Form 990.
  • Hired (part-time, weekends) as Executive Director.  I do all of the accounting, prepare financial statements for Board Meetings, and do all tax filings.

Owner – Accounting Service                                                                        1/1984 – Present

Accountech, Marysville, WA

  • Client bookkeeping, accounting, payroll and tax work.
  • From start-up companies to initial public offerings, simple bank reconciliations to complex financial statements and taxes.
  • Audit preparation expert.

Other Employment History

2001 to Present — Webmaster, Be the Star You Are!® Literacy charity

2000 to March 2002 — Controller, Century 21 Advantage, Lynnwood

1999 to 2004 — Webmaster, Veteran Realty Services, Inc., Everett

1999 to March 2002 — Controller, Advantage Mortgage Group, Inc., Everett

1989 to 1996  — Volunteer, Boy Scouts of America, Leadership training, Fundraising chair

1982 to 1983 — Retail sales, Pipelane, Ltd., Northgate Mall, Seattle

1981 to 1983 — Full-charge Bookkeeper, Datavue Corporation, Seattle

1980 to 1981 — Full-charge Bookkeeper, Sound Technical Services, Seattle

1980—General Office, Benson & McLaughlin, CPAs, Seattle

1979—General Office, Ederer Cranes, Seattle

1978—Insurance Agent Clerk, Farmer’s Ins., Oceanside, CA

1977—Cashier, Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour, Seattle

EDUCATION

2013—America’s Professor — Study course leading to Health Insurance License

2002-2003—Kaplan College — Certification in Financial Planning

2000—Certified Bookkeeper study course

1999—Escrow Funding & Standards Course & Basics of Mortgage Lending course,

         School of Mortgage Lending, Bellevue

1990—ACCPAC Plus Implementation Training Course, Bellevue

1984-1986—Training and mentoring with CPAs for audit preparation skills

1983—Assisted spouse with CPA Exam Study Course

1980-1981—Part-time student, Highline Community College, Seattle

                 Course of study: Computer Programming

1976-1977—Full-time student, Highline Community College, Seattle

                 Course of study: Biology & Chemistry

1976—Honors Graduate, Highline High School, Seattle

SKILLS AND AWARDS

  • Very experienced with Microsoft Office software, and multiple accounting softwares
  • Experienced managing large groups of volunteers
  • Experienced with major fund-raising campaigns, and grant-writing assistance
  • Notary Public
  • 1995 recipient of the Den Leader of the Year Award, Mt. Baker Council, BSA
  • 1996 recipient of the District Award of Merit, Mt. Baker Council, BSA
  • 2010 recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award, Volunteers for Outdoor Washington