Sue
Maharaj-Singh
2004 Willow Way, San Bruno, CA 94066
Career Summary
Successful and comprehensive background in all areas of Finance, including Staff and Revenue Accountancy, Accounts Receivable, Credit & Collections, Deductions, Accounts Payable and Customer Service.
Proven abilities to thoroughly research, analyze situations, propose creative solutions, multi-task, effectively manage critical deadlines and pay attention to details while developing good rapport and bringing projects to completion.
Solid understanding of GAAP (
Insite Vision, Alameda, CA
Staff Accountant February 2009 – Present (Contractor)
Payroll – Bi-weekly payroll runs
Maintain and update PTO; vacations, sick and other status changes
Calculate and secure termination checks
Property Tax fillings
Manage and process vendor invoices – matching, coding, proper approvals, batching and keying
Research and reconcile vendor billing discrepancies
New vendor set-up, W-9’s
Review and approve all Marketing invoices for payments
Daily, Weekly and Monthly check runs
Generate and maintain Purchase Orders
Generate month-end close reports, expense report and audits for field sales
Responsible for preparing accounts payable register and related reports
Work with the management to develop and document policies and procedures
Work with Managers and auditors on requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)
Executive Assistant
Bare Escentuals -San Francisco, CA
Accounts Receivable, Credit & Collections Supervisor April 2008 – November 2008 (Cutback in staff by 15%)
Provided leadership to 3 A/R Accountants to understand and verify source data representing the Company’s Sales
Analyzed daily sales activity for Spa, Premium Wholesale, DTC and Int’l accounts & generate weekly sales reports
Ensured AR aging is at acceptable levels in accordance with company objectives
Monitored end of day process and ensured that revenue for Premium Wholesale, International, Spa and Direct to Consumer are accurately recorded into Oracle GL
Monitored daily exceptions report for closed orders and remittance receipts. Ensured that all transactions are properly posted.
Worked closely with wholesale Ops team, Director of Sales in managing new accounts and provide assistance with order issues
Reviewed and approved all new and previous clients requests for billing and payment terms
Ensured that all new accounts are set up and coded properly into Oracle GL
Worked closely with IT for any Oracle issues related to EDI; billing and Credit Card payments
Interacted with external auditors, including preparing client request items and providing analytical reviews.
Month end close, preparation of journal entries and ability to meet month end close timelines.
Review and prepare analysis on critical accounting estimates, including bad debt and returns
Ensure that all deductions for Spa, Premium Wholesale and Int’l accounts are properly coded into Oracle GL
Analyze daily credit card activities and create monthly reports
Provided assistance with Sr. Accountant in reconciling bank accounts
Ensured that all payments/credits are process accordingly
Researched & Reconciled open invoices (chargeback and deductions)
Made sure that Accounts Receivable processes and procedures were in SOX compliance
.
Achievements and contributions
1. Researched, Created and Implemented the Aging report to run within 5 minutes instead of 5 hours
2. Found a system credit card error of $700K
3. Researched and worked with IT to implement an automated report nightly to check on any credit card errors
4. Worked with EDI team to implement reports on transmission errors and turn around time to re-submit invoices
5. Researched, Created and Implemented Deduction codes into Oracle Cash application program
6. Mastered Spa sales and process within 30 days
7. Implemented communications regarding past due accounts with sales team
8. Trained Temps and new employees on Billing, collections, credit and new account processes
9. Worked with other departments (DTC) on payment issues
10. Implemented and enforced billing terms on all customers, Nationwide and International
West Coast Yellow Pages -Foster City, CA
Accounts Receivable Department Manager April 1st 2007 – March 2008 (Company closed)
Accounts Receivable & Collections Manager September 11th 2006 – April 2007
Contacted outstanding clients by phone and in person to resolve payment issues
Negotiated contracts, payment plans and billing terms
Processed all incoming cash, checks and credit card payments
Processed monthly invoices, bi-weekly statements and dunning letters
Run weekly reports – aging, forecasting and revenue recognition
Client support – answer questions, disseminate client needs to other departments
Handled projects and tasks as directed by CFO and Management Team
Achievements and contributions
DSO - 85% collected in the 30 day; 80% in the 31-60 and 65% over 61 days
Developed and Implemented Dunning Notices
Developed a strong awareness of WCYP’s process and products
Went on sales calls with Sales Team and helped close sale
Genentech, Inc. - South San Francisco, CA
Customer Finance – Receivables September 2005 – September 2006 (Contractor)
Completed and updated cash/credit card postings to customer accounts on a daily basis
Reconciled customers remittance advises of any issues or errors created by Mellon Bank data entry
Created manual batches for non-lockbox wire payments typically identified as EX-US accounts and posted to customer accounts
Assigned residual items created after cash application to appropriate CF Representative for immediate handling/escalation
Reconciled GL lockbox clearing account with Treasury Department of any issues that arise through the lockbox
Achievements and contributions
AmeriSource/Bergen - a major account
Researched and decreased past due invoices
Researched, addressed and collected monies on short ship; managed care and other open claims
Worked diligently to clean up several cash misapplications
Mastered cash application and GL lockbox in SAP
Created and maintained lockbox reconciliation spreadsheet
Responsible for all write offs, offsets and adjustments on customer accounts
Generated and monitored Past due Dunning run plus monthly statement run
Spearheaded the "reference fix" from CARS to SAP for the debit memo numbers
Worked with CIT basis team to streamline Statement and lockbox process
Established a relationship with SAP basis team to ensure uninterrupted lockbox service at all times
Tilia,
Inc. -
San Francisco, CA
Credit, Collections &
Deductions Manager
May 2005 – September 2005
(Contractor to close A/R)
Supervised and managed seven A/R Specialist
Worked with Sales, Retail Services and Operations in the resolution of chargebacks and deductions taken by customers resulting in unresolved debit balances
Ensured accurate accounting for customer billbacks and deductions
Ensured proper posting of billing/adjustments
Accountable for monthly reconciliations, and provided ongoing reports on various accounts receivable activities
Produced and reported weekly results and process to upper management
Reported directly to the Finance Manager
Accounting system used SAP
Achievements and contributions:
Decreased residuals (deductions)
Created and implemented Excel spreadsheets on tracking all deductions
Managed and guided A/R department through transition of business to Sunbeam
The
Loan Page, Inc. San Francisco, CA
Finance
Manager May 2004 –
April 2005 (One year contract)
Responsible for all activities in the Accounts Payable and Receivables functions
Run Bi-Weekly Payroll using QuickBooks
Maintained Employee Files and help CFO with Benefits Administration
Set up and maintained all contracts and files, Credit checks, Bank and Trade references
Reviewed all existing contracts and potential accounts for credit worthiness, filters and accuracy of pricing
Worked with sales on new and existing orders
Backup for Senior Accountant on three-month medical leave
Ensured timely payments of publisher invoices and sales expense vouchers
Maintained accurate records and control reports
Reviewed applicable accounting reports and accounts payable register to ensure accuracy
Weekly check runs and invoicing
Daily check deposits and reconciled monthly bank statements
Reported directly to the CFO
Accounting system used QuickBooks and Salesforce.com software
Achievements and contributions
Reduced Payables on vendor accounts by 45%
Worked with technology to implement returns system on Lender Leads
Collected monies owed company
GETSMART.COM,
a division of Providian Financial - San Francisco,
CA
Operations/Accounts Receivable,
Credit and Collections Manager
March 1999 – February 2004 (sold to
Lending Tree)
Reviewed and authorized all new Lender Credit Applications and Contracts
Set-up and established credit limits and invoicing terms
Reviewed and approved all Marketing invoices for payments
Managed 2 billing staff in processing weekly and monthly invoices, manual and automated
Managed accounting operations (two direct report), accounting close, reporting, reconciliations, and annual external audit
Investigated, researched and reconciled credit and payment issues and any customer issues or concerns
Responsible for checks, credit cards, Bamtrac, ACH, Lockbox and Wire transfer applications, payments and adjustments
Developed and enhanced weekly and monthly operations reports
Approved and handled all outsource collections and bankruptcies
Handled all correspondence between company and customer
Supported and interacted extensively with Sales and Finance Management on customer status on a daily and weekly basis
Worked with senior management to provide motivation by developing incentive programs
Ensured financial records are in compliance with GAAP
Managed 2 Customer Service Staff
Interviewed, documented business operations, identified business risks and controls, recommended and presented solutions from audit findings to senior management
Reviewed sales team for additional annual bonus/incentives
Responsible for staffing, training and performance evaluations of five team members
Achievements and contributions
Managed receivables to achieve Days Sales Outstanding from 180 days to 23 days
Implemented and automated invoicing/billing system
Implemented and administrated Credit/Collections and Customer Service policies and procedures
Reduced billing processing time by a day and accuracy of all customer invoices
Implemented procedures for timely collections, credit application and deposits of cash and PC Payment / POS Partner Software
Researched and implemented Dun & Bradstreet Ram software
Reduced bad debt write-offs to 1% of sales revenue yearly
Managed and implanted quality control, reducing credit memos to 1.2% of sales revenue year
Established departmental operating results improvement program to identify issues, provide understanding of the cost drivers, and make recommendations
Maintained strong, effective working relationship with sales and other business units
11. Implemented process and procedures in compliance with SOX
ORAL-B
LABORATORIES, a division of Gillette -
Redwood Shores, CA 1990 - 1999 (Moved to Boston)
Staff
Accountant 1997
– 1999
Credit and Revenue & Collections Administrator 1990 – 1997
Ensured timely payments of vendor invoices and expense vouchers and maintained accurate records and control reports
Responsible for preparing accounts payable register and related reports
Responsible for royalty payments, accruals, product sales, coupon redemption, miscellaneous cash and prepaid expenses, Sales and Use Tax payments, bank reconciliation
Preparation of journal entries, general ledgers, auditing and adjusting balance sheet entries
Supported quarter-end, interim and year-end audits by providing timely and accurate data and communication
Set-up accounts in fourth shift
Generated month-end close reports, expense report and audits for field sales
Responsible for military and mass merchandisers contracts, credit limits, aging and deductions
Gathered and analyzed customers’ financial data
Established and monitored credit worthiness
Reconciled customer accounts and money owed company
Handled all promotional / advertising payments, invoicing, returns, shortages, EDI orders, special allowances
Achievements and contributions
Developed payment plans
Developed and executed collections letters
Reduced days sales outstanding to 22 days
Increased military sales
Education
Douglas
College Vancouver,
B.C.
Accounting/Bookkeeping/Business
Competencies:
Skills, knowledge, & abilities
Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle Financial, Oracle, SOX, PeopleSoft, Crystal Reports, Quick Books, DIAD, Salesforce.com, Lawson, Outlook, Lotus Notes, ACH, Bamtrac, POS Partner, PC Payment, VeriSign & PayPal Payments, Wire Transfers, Daily Bank Deposits, Windows 95, Microsoft Word 7.0, Excel 7.0, PowerPoint 7.0, 4th Shift, Spyglass, Sequel, JDE and Prism, AS400
a very fast leaner and an over-achiever
Strong analytical skills with rigorous attention to details
Solid technical knowledge of accounting functional areas
Strong time management skills in order to meet unmovable deadlines
Ability to work with a variety of duties and changing priorities
Able to identify areas of improvement
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work well independently as well as part of a team
Resolves conflicts constructively with little or no input from manager
Flexible, organized, and able to handle competing priorities
Self-starter with strong ability to work independently
Follows through to ensure timely completion of tasks
Builds solid and strong relationships with business partners
A strong work ethic combined with a passion for success
Strive for Excellence
