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Providing services: Administrative Assistance, Executive Administrative Assistance, Human Resources (HR), Property Management, Data Entry, Financial Accounting, Virtual Assistance, Project Management, Advertising, Legal Consulting
Summary: Experienced Head Of Unit with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Skilled in Budgeting, Internal Audit, Risk Assessment, Internal Controls, and Mentoring. Strong business development professional graduated from CIPFA.
Providing services: Financial Accounting, Bookkeeping, Health Insurance, Insurance, Life Insurance
Summary: As a recent graduate from Michigan State University with a Bachelor's degree in Finance, I've developed my skills in financial planning and accounting. My tenure as a Finance Intern at Kellogg Company was marked by conducting Discounted Cash Flow analyses and presenting investment recommendations to senior leadership. These experiences highlight my core competencies in financial analysis and strategic decision-making. During my time at Kellogg, our team contributed to key project evaluations, facilitating informed decisions on significant initiatives. With a foundation in SQL and a comprehensive understanding of cross-functional corporate dynamics, I am well-equipped to align with an organization's culture and drive initiatives that resonate with diverse perspectives. My dedication to collaboration and continuous learning positions me to be a valuable team member in any financial role.
Providing services: Financial Accounting, Budgeting, Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Financial Planning, Business Analytics, Data Reporting, Strategic Planning, Project Management, Training
Summary: Financial Analyst with more than 15 years of experience providing executive leadership with accurate financial models, statements, forecasts and committed to leveraging data and insights to drive strategic financial decisions. Dedicated leader with excellent communication skills and a proven track record of success developing and implementing new policies, procedures, and training programs that increase efficiency, reduce costs, and boost revenue. Self-starter with well-developed skills in executive presentations, relationship building, developing/managing accurate budgets, operations management, market analysis and mergers & acquisitions.
Providing services: Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Financial Accounting, Life Coaching, Negotiation
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Providing services: Bookkeeping, Accounting, Financial Accounting, Administrative Assistance, Data Entry, Payroll Services, Invoice Processing, Executive Administrative Assistance, Budgeting, Small Business Tax
Summary: I have 15 years of accounting experience. My experiences come from a combination of the educational sector, the mortgage banking industry, and within a brick and mortar business. I excel in attention to detail, core accounting skills, communication skills, and collaboration. I am a self-starter who excels in a fast paced and customer service-oriented environment and can work independently. I am proficient in Workday; Loan Vision; QuickBooks; Encompass 360; Fiserve Clear Touch; Prologue; PeopleSoft (Oracle) Enterprise System; and Microsoft Office.
Providing services: Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, Insurance
Providing services: Performance Marketing, Product Marketing, Public Relations, Editing, Accounting, Financial Accounting
Summary: I am a highly motivated & focused individual, seeking a suitable opportunity to work for leading worldwide company for getting international experience, where I can use my skills and knowledge with all my might, my fast reacting on task requests and finding solution abilities, strong character and understanding Company goals to achieve success and team as a whole – sure I am a great candidate for Administrative jobs, where there will be potential advancement and growth prospects. Good communication, presentation, listening skills, Great sense of humor, great team player. Hardworking and dedicated, sociable with a pleasing personality, can work under pressure with time bound performance, sincere and result oriented.
Whether you're managing a rapidly growing business or launching a start-up in Chicago, having precise, up-to-date information about your company's finances is critical to making informed decisions. The right financial accounting service can ensure you always have accurate insight into your business's fiscal health.
Read on to learn more about what an accountant does, the different types of accounting, and how to choose the best accounting service for your business.
Before getting any further, it's important to clarify the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant.
Some businesses employ accountants who also provide bookkeeping services.
It's not uncommon to find entrepreneurs who use accounting software to manage their finances. When you're watching your bottom line, it's understandable if you want to take a do-it-yourself approach to keep your costs down.
This may work for a business with limited transactions, but hiring an accountant to oversee the finances of a business from the outset can make long-term sense. Whether you own a sports bar near Wrigley Field, or a book shop in Hyde Park, a professional accountant in Chicago can help position your business for future growth.
It's essential that your financial data is properly collected and stored so you can present information to the government, banks, auditors, and investors when needed. An accountant can recommend the right software or systems that work for your business. They can also establish proper procedures to ensure your books meet generally accepted accounting principles.
While many businesses only consider accountants at tax time, financial accounting services can provide year-round support. An accountant can make sure you're registered for the right small business programs and incentives, recommend ways to cut costs, and provide tips on the right time to make key expenditures.
In addition to making sure your day-to-day transactions are tracked, an accountant can generate the reports needed to analyze your company's performance over time. You can use the expertise of an accountant to understand trends in revenue and costs, and effectively plan the growth of your business.
Accountants ensure that best practices are followed when it comes to gathering and presenting financial information. They typically implement Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which are the standards by which financial statements are prepared. While the use of GAAP is required by publicly traded companies, many businesses also consider them standard practice.
Following GAAP assures that financial statements are:
The less time you're spending on the finer details of accounting, the more energy you have to devote to running your business. If you don't need a full-time or part-time staff accountant, it may be cost effective to use an outside accountant on an as-needed basis.
Accountants come with a wide variety of credentials. In fact, anyone can provide accounting services, even without a degree.
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) meets the industry's highest standards. CPAs have graduated from an accredited degree program and passed a rigorous exam administered by the American Institute of CPAs.
CPAs must meet minimum experience requirements, follow a Code of Professional Conduct, and satisfy continuing education requirements to maintain their designation. They must also hold a state license in order to use the CPA designation.
A CPA's skill set may include:
Like many professionals, accountants may be generalists who serve the needs of diverse businesses or specialize in certain areas.
Here's a look at what different types of accountants do to help you determine the expertise your company needs.
All registered companies are legally required to prepare regular statements that show a company's financial situation. Most businesses hire financial accountants to prepare these reports.
Management accountants develop customized reports to help with planning and forecasting. Some may have a Certified Management Accountant designation and specialize in management accounting for larger corporations.
Cost accountants analyze a company's manufacturing costs to see if there's a more effective way to manage them. This specialty falls under managerial accounting.
Tax accountants focus on tax planning, preparing returns, maximizing deductions, and ensuring records are compliant with the requirements of the IRS and industry regulations.
External auditors examine a company's financial statements and ensure they're presented properly. Internal auditors look at a business's accounting systems to ensure there's no fraud, mismanagement, or waste.
Forensic accountants are hired on a project basis to investigate fraud, negligence, and disputes, often for legal or insurance purposes. They may also be required to reconstruct missing or destroyed records. Some forensic accountants may have a Certified Fraud Examiner designation.
Any businesses or accounts administered by a third-party may be managed by a fiduciary accountant. This includes estates, trusts, and assets in receivership.
Project accounting involves tracking the finances of a particular project and creating frequent reports to ensure the project stays on track until completion. Accountants in this field often work on construction projects or new product launches.
While there are many branches of accounting, the two main types used by businesses are financial and managerial.
Financial accounting involves the creation of reports and statements including:
These reports are created on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis to provide a consistent flow of information to lenders, investors, and other external audiences.
Financial accounting is Intended to provide a snapshot of a company's financial position during a specific period of time. Financial statements are prepared according to GAAP and do not include forecasting or projections.
Management accountants help companies set realistic goals through highly detailed reports for an internal audience. Managers request, at their discretion, specific information to help with planning and decision-making.
Unlike financial statements which follow a set presentation, these types of reports are customized and often include an analysis of a company's resources and future projections. Management accountants may help with:
Chicago is home to many experienced accounting professionals. If your company doesn't yet have the means to keep an accountant on staff, consider hiring one to work with your business on an hourly or retainer basis.
Here are some things to consider when trying to find a professional accountant who's well-matched to your business needs.
Before you begin your search, make a list of your needs. Decide how much work will be done in-house, and what you want an accountant to perform. Do you have an established accounting system, or do you need one set up?
Some businesses may choose to have an internal bookkeeper record daily transactions, and ask an accountant to help with financial statements and tax returns.
Review the credentials of candidates. Do they have a formal degree and training? If they're a CPA, make sure they're in good standing and licensed to practice in your state.
Consider the size and types of businesses the accountant has experience with. Ideally, they should have clients with companies that are the same size as yours and larger. It's even better if they have experience working with companies through stages of growth.
Previous expertise in the same industry may be an advantage if you're in a specialized sector.
Accountants typically charge by the hour and submit monthly invoices. Depending on the volume of work, some may ask for a monthly retainer.
While more experienced accountants charge higher fees, they are often more efficient at completing work. It's useful to outline the services you require, and ask candidates to give you an estimate of how many hours they expect to take so you have a rough idea of the monthly cost.
Your accountant should be a trusted advisor and support to your business. Make sure you're comfortable with putting your finances in their hands and feel you can ask questions.
Consider how approachable an accountant is when it comes to your business needs. Do they respond promptly and professionally to your emails and calls? Do they take the time to answer your questions carefully and thoughtfully? It's a good sign if they ask for more information to try to thoroughly understand a problem.
Ask for a list of current clients who you can call for references, and review any online ratings or testimonials of each candidate's work. Find out if clients are satisfied with the accountant's quality of work and accuracy.
Try to get a sense of whether the accountant is responsive to a client's questions and needs. Did the clients encounter any problems, and if so, how were they resolved? It's also helpful to find out if there have been any surprises when it comes to fees.
Shortlist a few accountants to meet with in person or by video conference. It's helpful to have questions prepared before chatting with your candidates.
Your questions should be customized to the needs of your business, but here are some basic topics to help you get a sense of their experience and how they might fit with your company.
Once you've selected the right candidate, take some time to make sure you both have the same expectations of the job at hand. Then, start building a collaborative relationship.
A financial accounting service is a critical part of your business team, whether you're launching a new business, moving into an expansion phase, or wanting to free up other resources by putting your books in the capable hands of a professional.