Giovanna Di Guardia
Accounting / Finance Profile
Detail-focused professional leveraging multifaceted financial experience, leadership qualities, communication skills and educational background.
- Demonstrated proficiency in numerous accounting functions, including accounts payable/receivable and general ledger administration, cost accounting, invoicing, collections, cash flow management, account reconciliations, vendor relations, payroll administration, audit preparation and tax reporting.
- Solid analytical skills; adept at simplifying accounting procedures, ensuring cost-efficient purchasing, shipping and inventory management, assessing sales trends and providing information critical for management decision-making.
- Strong interpersonal abilities, contributing substantially to team efforts. Fluent in Italian; conversant in Spanish.
- Adept in using Microsoft Excel, Access and Word, as well as accounting and customer relationship software.
Professional Experience
Portionables, Inc., Bellingham, WA
Cost Accountant (2008-2009)
Created various user-friendly reports to manage and calculate overhead over / under absorption, labor standards, production variances, inventory, valuation, costing, and trend assessments. Reviewed reports to ensure optimal costing. Monitored physical controls and accountability for corporate and plant assets. Performed general accounting functions, including reconciliations, journal entries, financial statement preparation, and monthly reports. Key Contributions:
- Improved new product pricing and cost comparability capabilities by developing gross profit analysis report utilizing Visual Basic, SQL, and MS Access and enabling shift from actual to standard cost system.
- Generated ad hoc profitability reports to improve management’s ability to identify successful product lines.
- Successfully reduced data input and processing time for general ledger and accounts payable by implementing automated AP trade Accrual utilizing MS Access.
- Decreased data collection times from accounting modules; created tool allowing forecasting of cash receipts and outlays based upon established parameters.
- Identified and reconciled asset-related tax issues, successfully eliminating potential for penalties and fines during state audit.
- Spearheaded automation of various reports, significantly reducing processing time and establishing electronic imaging filing system for accounting data.
- Served as key resource for external contacts, supporting auditors and providing support to customers.
Homax Products, Inc., Bellingham, WA
Accountant (2006-2007)
Served in staff accountant capacity for this provider of home improvement products with annual revenue in excess of $150 million. Performed a variety of accounting tasks, such as reconciling sub-ledgers to general ledger and working with large amounts of data. Assisted colleagues with building proficiency in quickly obtaining accounting data. Performed inventory reconciliations. Key Contributions:
- Analyzed financial data and prepared financial statements and reports in accordance with GAAP.
- Managed corporate tax filing activity, saving monies in outsourcing while ensuring compliance with tax reporting requirements in multiple states.
- Helped revamp tax reporting systems to address deficiencies arising after the company’s acquisition of companies in multiple states.
- Created a more efficient method for completing accounts payable accruals using JDE; helped design worksheets to facilitate bank reconciliations and advocated adoption of PDF files for archiving.
- Wrote procedures to address issues with and achieve compliance in reporting goods and service taxes (GST).
- Played a key role in conversion of accounting system from MAS 90 and Macola to JDE PeopleSoft; developed procedures for posting journal entries, resolving batch errors, and setting up address books, tax codes and accruals for the new system.
Nationwide Tobacco, Inc., Blaine, WA
Senior Accountant (2003-2006)
Oversaw financial operations for organization with annual revenue more than $3M. Responsible for accounts payable / receivable, payroll, general ledger, bank reconciliations, invoicing and check generation. Planned cash flow to provide optimal liquidity for day-to-day business transactions and operations. Prepared amortization tables. Calculated, prepared and remitted monthly / quarterly tax returns to federal and provincial governments. Conferred with customers to collect on past-due accounts and resolve credit issues. Tracked changes in multimillion-dollar inventory at third-party warehouse. Cultivated mutually beneficial relationships with vendors; placed product orders and coordinated shipping. Communicated cash flow issues and sales trend analyses to management. Liaised with state offices on industry-related tax issues. Key Contributions:
- Decreased shipping costs one-third by thoroughly comparing rates and conditions as well as reducing last-minute shipping to fulfill inventory requirements.
- Designed spreadsheets to track inventory and process free trade zone clearances, as well as verify calculation of tax and duty.
- Contributed to development of new business and product strategies; conducted research to facilitate management decision-making.
- Achieved and maintained perfect accounts receivable collection rate.
- Rewrote and expanded the company’s accounting manual.
- Simplified accounting procedures to ensure accurate, audit-friendly record keeping.
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Additional experience concurrent with education with Sean Humphrey House and Big Brother / Big Sister, to include organizing fundraising events, providing resident assistance and preparing reconciliations / reports.
Education and Credentials
- Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA
- Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting & Finance (2002)
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Passed all 4 sections of the Certified Public Accountant Exam (CPA)
- Member, Institute of Management Accountants
Last modified: 2012-05-06