Houston Business Journal

Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 7:21am CDT

Employers in the Houston area expect hiring to be upbeat in the fourth quarter, though the majority will maintain their workforce levels, according to data released this week by Manpower　

The Milwaukee-based employment company’s employment outlook survey reported that 22 percent plan to hire, while 13 percent expect to reduce their staff. Meanwhile, 64 percent said they would keep the same amount of employees.

Sectors with the best job prospects include non-durable goods manufacturing, transportation and utilities, wholesale and retail trade, information and financial activities, according to the report. Respondents in the construction and durable goods manufacturing areas said they are planning to reduce their staffing levels.

For Texas overall, the state’s employment outlook is the third best in the nation, Manpower’s report found. Twenty percent of companies planned to hire, 9 percent expect to cut staff and 67 percent of the workforce will be unchanged.

Manpower surveyed more than 18,000 employers in the country for the survey. Nationwide, 70 percent will keep employee counts as they are, 16 percent will add to their workforces and 11 percent expect to reduce employees during the fourth quarter.

Diane Delgado LeMaire|　Senior Managing Director, Accounting & Finance Recruiting | Creative Financial Staffing, a division of Fitts, Roberts CPA Firm | 5718 Westheimer Suite 800 | Houston, TX 77057 |713-260-5238 | dcd@fittsroberts.com| Blog| Twitter| LinkedIn

 45 to 60K DOE

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs quality review of operational departments including member enrollment and disenrollment activities

• Helps identify root cause with Business Unit Owners.

• Provides statistical analysis based on audit results for dissemination to management for use in identifying knowledge deficits and productivity issue

• Identifies functional area deficiencies.

• Prepares, reviews, updates and monitors Standard Operating Procedures, with input from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), to ensure proper process documentation, as well as compliance with CMS regulations.

• Reviews departmental policies and procedures to ensure compliance with functional and operational guidelines.

• Provides support for internal and external regulatory audits, reviews and site visits.

• Identifies potential compliance risks and recommends opportunities for improvement.

• Reviews and familiarizes self with Medicare operating materials, memorandums, and guidance to ensure regulatory compliance.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of quality assurance principles, practices and procedures and ability to apply this knowledge to the planning and accomplishment of a variety of work assignments.

• Ability to apply sampling methods.

• Ability to research, analyze, interpret and apply rules, regulations, and procedures.

• Ability to interpret Federal and State laws and regulations.

• 4 year degree, Accounting, Finance or Business

Diane Delgado LeMaire|

　Senior Managing Director, Accounting & Finance Recruiting | Creative Financial Staffing, a division of Fitts, Roberts CPA Firm | 5718 Westheimer Suite 800 | Houston, TX 77057 |713-260-5238 | dcd@fittsroberts.com

Diane Delgado LeMaire

713-260-5238

dcd@fittsroberts.com

PREREQUISITES
 Bachelor’s degree in Accounting
 2-5 years public accounting experience
RESPONSIBILITIES

 Preparation of monthly Consolidated Financials
 Review of balance sheet account reconciliations
 General ledger account adjustments and accruals
 Preparation of financial reports including, but not limited to:
o Status Report
o Hour Report
o Quarterly billing reports
o Job profitability Reports
o Customer reports and related analysis by region

SKILLS & ABILITIES
The Company is growing and vibrant. The candidate should thrive in such an environment while
possessing and demonstrating the following skills and abilities:
 Self-motivated and goal-orientated
 Professional verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
 Proven capabilities in problem identification and resolution
 Detailed in the execution of work
 Moderate to advanced user of Microsoft Excel and Access and of a computer
(windows-based applications)

Diane Delgado LeMaire|　Senior Managing Director, Accounting & Finance Recruiting | Creative Financial Staffing, a division of Fitts, Roberts CPA Firm | 5718 Westheimer Suite 800 | Houston, TX 77057 |713-260-5238 | dcd@fittsroberts.com| Blog| Twitter| LinkedIn

Texas energy sector drives state economy, Fed report says

Date: Thursday, September 8, 2011, 6:30am CDT

Texas’ energy sector continues to drive the state’s economy while other sectors experience flat growth, according to the latest report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas　 　

Known as the “Beige Book,” the report released Wednesday noted economic activity in the Dallas district — including Texas, northern Louisiana and southern New Mexico — grew at a “modest pace” since the last report in July. The energy sector continued its robust activity while other sectors like manufacturing, financial services, retail sales and employment were stable.

In addition, single-family housing was still weak, but the report found activity in the multifamily sector was strong and commercial real estate was seeing continued improvement.

Among the report highlights:

• Drilling activity was up since the last report with Texas adding 43 rigs over the past six weeks. Most of the demand was in land-based drilling, while activity in the Gulf of Mexico remained weak.

• Two large retailers said sales in Texas and the Southwest region was outpacing the rest of the country, though by a small margin.

• Contacts in the automotive sectors said sales were improving as demand for used cars remained high. They were optimistic that sales would increase through the end of the year, and felt Japanese manufacturers, still recovering after the March earthquake and tsunami, would resolve their issues by the end of the September.

• There was an overall lack of optimism in the financial services sector, though regional banks reported aggressive loan pricing. National bank contacts said they saw customers being more conservative about their borrowing decisions.

• Staffing services remained a high levels with one contact reporting that direct hiring was outpacing temporary placements.

Gregory Daco, principal U.S. economist for IHS Global Insight, said in a statement there was moderate improvement in economic activity.

“If no news is good news than this Beige Book was a positive one,” he said. “It highlighted the slow pace of economic activity while emphasizing that caution and uncertainty were major drags on growth.”

Diane Delgado LeMaire |　Senior Managing Director, Accounting & Finance Recruiting | Creative Financial Staffing, a division of Fitts, Roberts CPA Firm | 5718 Westheimer Suite 800 | Houston, TX 77057 |713-260-5238 | dcd@fittsroberts.com| Blog| Twitter| LinkedIn

Creative Financial Staffing (CFS) is the nation’s largest, privately-held accounting and financial staffing firm. We provide qualified accounting and finance professionals on a temporary and permanent basis across a broad range of industries. Our affiliation with leading accounting firms provides us with resources that help us better understand our client’s needs, attract a higher caliber of candidate, and best assess candidate potential. For more information please visit our website at

　www.cfstaffing.com

.

Date: Wednesday, September 7, 2011, 7:49am CDT

The U.S. could add 1 million jobs by 2018 and collect $36 billion in tax and royalty revenue over the next four years if it expands oil and gas production where drilling is now banned.

According to an analysis by Wood Mackenzie and commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute　 　 American Petroleum Institute , development of oil and gas resources in the U.S. and Canada could create 1.4 million jobs by 2030. Drilling in coastal waters could also produce an additional 1.27 million barrels of oil equivalent daily by 2015, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Several GOP candidates have touted expanded domestic energy development, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a business lobby, included that in its proposal.

“With unemployment persistently high (and) with the focus on jobs, the oil and natural gas industry can make a significant contribution to job creation,” said API President Jack Gerard. “We’re hopeful the president will seize on some of this and will say you know what, this doesn’t take an economic stimulus, this is private sector stimulus and the oil and gas industry stands ready to go.”

Diane Delgado LeMaire |　Senior Managing Director, Accounting & Finance Recruiting | Creative Financial Staffing, a division of Fitts, Roberts CPA Firm | 5718 Westheimer Suite 800 | Houston, TX 77057 |713-260-5238 | dcd@fittsroberts.com

• Reconcile and analyze balance sheet accounts for assigned companies.
• Prepare and review monthly journal vouchers for posting to General Ledger.
•  Review inter-company balances and correct out-of-balance situations.
• Clear edits during month end close on a timely basis.
• Prepare schedules for the financial reporting group as assigned.
• Perform Balance Sheet and Income Statement review for assigned cost centers and companies.
• Complete special projects as assigned on a timely basis.
• Serve as liaison between field office personnel and Houston Corporate departments.
• Adhere to the month end close checklist to ensure all month end procedures are fully completed under the strict time schedule and to document such review on the checklist.
• Ensure compliance with the company’s policies and procedures.
• Maintain sufficient supporting documentation for all journal vouchers, income statement budget variance reports, MD&A and any other documents to support decision making.
• Maintain continuous compliance with the requirements of Sarbanes Oxley Obtain an understanding of company structures and organizational relationship of companies within regions and assigned companies.
• Prepare bank reconciliation of Houston controlled accounts.
• Prepare audit schedules as directed.

Diane Delgado LeMaire | Senior Managing Director, Accounting & Finance Recruiting | Creative Financial Staffing, a division of Fitts, Roberts CPA Firm | 5718 Westheimer Suite 800 | Houston, TX 77057 | 713-260-5238 | dcd@fittsroberts.com| Blog| Twitter| LinkedIn

The Assistant Controller located in the Houston, Texas office, directs the accounting staff and assists the Controller in all phases of accounting; manages day-to-day Accounting Department activities and responsibilities; supervises/prepares month-end journal entries and handles monthly, quarterly and annual closing procedures; produces and/or assists the Controller with production of financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.

 RESPONSIBILITIES:

Perform general ledger accounting for corporate activities including

• Monthly corporate allocations to plants
• Other transactions related to assigned companies

Perform monthly close functions for assigned companies including

• Ensuring assigned companies are closed in a timely manner
• Recording appropriate asset amortizations
• Recording appropriate accruals
• Maintaining intercompany balances and preparing monthly roll up entry
• Intercompany elimination entries
• Analyzing and reconciling general ledger balance sheet accounts

QUALIFICATIONS

• SAP
•  Excel (required) and Access (preferred) 

 EDUCATION

• Degree in Accounting with preference towards a CPA. 
• Three to five years of experience in accounting

SUMMARY 

• monthly close and consolidations
• monthly and quarterly reporting
• assisting with reviews and audits
• preparation of policies and procedures
• process improvement activities  

RESPONSIBILITIES

1.      Ensure consolidation is performed accurately on a monthly basis.

2.      Prepare monthly internal financial reports, as well as related analyses, for management. 

3.      Prepare reports to support external financial reporting and SEC filings.

4.      Prepare schedules for quarterly review and year-end audit processes with outside audit firm(s).

5.      Draft accounting policies and procedures.  

QUALIFICATIONS

•  SAP (required)
• Excel (required) and Access (preferred). 

 EDUCATION

• Degree in Accounting or equivalent
• Five plus years of progressive accounting experience
• CPA and/or MBA preferred

Texas led nation in July job growth

Houston Business Journal

Date: Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 2:40pm CDT – Last Modified: Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 2:43pm CDT

Related:

Jobs, Economic Snapshot

Texas led the nation in year-over-year job growth in July, according to the latest seasonally adjusted figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Lone Star State gained 269,500 jobs between July 2010 and the same month this year.

Five other states also had a job upswing over the past 12 months, including California (189,600 jobs) and New York (106,600 jobs). Thirteen other states added at least 25,000 jobs during the past year.

Meanwhile, six of the 50 states experienced employment declines since July 2010. Indiana (down 28,300 jobs) and Georgia (down 24,900) had the largest drops.

Texas and North Dakota fared the best, registering 11 employment gains in 12 months. Georgia and Indiana were the worst, with nine month-to-month declines

Diane Delgado LeMaire | Senior Managing Director, Accounting & Finance Recruiting | Creative Financial Staffing, a division of Fitts, Roberts CPA Firm | 5718 Westheimer Suite 800 | Houston, TX 77057 | 713-260-5238 | dcd@fittsroberts.com| Blog| Twitter| LinkedIn

Houston unemployment rate steady despite July losses

Houston Business Journal – by Christine Hall , Reporter

Date: Friday, August 19, 2011, 12:44pm CDT

The weekly job numbers are out from the Department of Labor, and the good news is that new jobless claims in the U.S. fell by 10,000, down to 382,000 for the week ending April 2.

More Houstonians joined the civilian labor force and left the ranks of the unemployed in July, according to figures released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission.

Houston added 7,700 people to the labor force between June and July, while 1,500 people were removed from the unemployment list.

Despite those additions, the commission on Friday reported a 0.4 percent loss in total nonfarm jobs between June and July.

The Houston area lost 9,200 nonfarm jobs as the government sector cut 14,300 jobs during the month. In addition, the professional and business services industry lost 1,800 jobs.

Sectors making hires included the mining and logging industry (1,300 jobs), manufacturing (1,700 jobs), education and health services (2,200 jobs) and other services (1,600 jobs).

The unemployment rate was down slightly to 8.9 percent from 9 percent in June.

Meanwhile, the Texas seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 8.4 percent from 8.2 percent in June.

The state added 29,300 jobs during the month, which gave Texas the second-largest over-the-month increase in employment in the nation. New York gain just 100 more jobs in July.

Responsibilities:

• Supporting both the BU and Corporate in Month-End Close Activities including:
  • Journal Entry posting, General Ledger responsibilities, and Account Reconciliations
  • Providing Quantitative Financial Variance Analysis of accounts and respective month end close notes for both Forecast and Budget
  • Preparing supporting roll-forward schedules and ad-hoc analysis as needed
  • Department level P&L preparation and distribution
  • Partnering with functional groups and identifying drivers to forecast account level expenses
• Supporting the Internal Operational Groups in the Business Unit including:
  • Meeting with, supporting, and creating a partnership with the Director, Area Managers, and Managers of the group across the BU’s
  • Identifying opportunities for improvement from a financial reporting and modeling standpoint; Searching out ways to improve decision making accuracy and process efficiency
• Managing the CAPEX Process including:
  • Partnering with requesting parties to ensure all expected guidelines are met and thorough risk / reward assessment is made on the investment
  • Providing in-depth quantitative analysis to provide a range of potential financial outcomes based on the investment including ROI and NPV
  • Managing Capital Budget and Forecast

Education:

BA/BS degree in Finance or Accounting. CPA or advanced degree a plus

 Experience:

• Big Four Public Accounting experience a plus, but not required
• Minimum 3 years progressive Accounting and Financial Analysis experience including Journal Entry, GL, and Month-End Close responsibilities;
• Strong Excel skills (should be advanced with basic Vookups and pivot tables)

Diane Delgado LeMaire | Senior Managing Director, Accounting & Finance Recruiting | Creative Financial Staffing, a division of Fitts, Roberts CPA Firm | 5718 Westheimer Suite 800 | Houston, TX 77057 | 713-260-5238 | dcd@fittsroberts.com| Blog| Twitter| LinkedIn

• Sr. Revneue Accountant (55 to 75K)
• JIB Supervisor (65 to 95K)
• Production Accountant (70’s)
• JIB Auditor (70K to 100K)
• Internal Audit (65 to 85K)

Diane Delgado LeMaire | Senior Managing Director, Accounting & Finance Recruiting | Creative Financial Staffing, a division of Fitts, Roberts CPA Firm | 5718 Westheimer Suite 800 | Houston, TX 77057 | 713-260-5238 | dcd@fittsroberts.com| Blog| Twitter| LinkedIn

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

Provide assurance that internal controls and business processes are effective and operating as planned.  Evaluate compliance with the company’s policies and programs.  Assist business groups in their compliance efforts and achieving process / control improvements.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES MAY BE ASSIGNED AT DISCRETION OF COMPANY):

Internal Audit

• Assist in conducting annual business group risk assessments including financial, non-financial and fraud risk areas.
• Execute assigned Internal Audit / Compliance projects
• Prepare audit programs and procedures for executing Internal Audit / Compliance projects
• Plan and communicate project objectives
• Conduct evaluations and Internal Audit / Compliance projects
• Prepare and review work-papers documenting audit procedures
• Conduct project close conferences ensuring understanding and acceptance of project results
• Write and review reports ensuring clear communication of project results
• Follow up on action plans and corrective actions
• Assist business groups in achieving compliance
• Assist with documentation and testing as required
• Perform quality control objectives to ensure adequate performance
• Evaluate control deficiencies and assist with remediation
• Assist business groups with improving processes / controls
• Provide for and share best practices across business groups
• Support and assist in development of group wide tools and methods
• Provide compliance / control training
• Coordinate activities with financial auditors as required

• Senior Auditor (Galleria- 30 to 35% travel all domestic)
• Senior Auditor (Energy Cooridor – less than 10% travel)
• JIB / JV Auditor (Galleria – 20 to 25% travel)
• Tax Staff (International – Galleria)
• Tax Manager International – 100 to 135K plus bonus
• Senior Auditor Public Accounting
• JIB Supervisor (NW Houston)
• Accounting Manager (Oracle/ Hyperion /CPA) – Sugar Land
• Financial Analyst (Sugar Land – Percent Completion)
• 3 Senior Auditors (Greenway Plaza – 35% travel) Could be Supervisor
• Staff Accountant (Westchase – 1 year of expereince)
• Senior Accountant (Westchase with Mgt Track – need go getters)
• Senior Auditor (DT – 65% travel – 75 to 85K)
• Senior Accountant (Heights – Big 4 or Audit background to 65K)
• Revenue and Production Accountant (DT)
• Financial Analyst (Woodlands)
• Controller (Woodlands – must have big 4 in background and industry expereience)
• Senior Accountant (Woodlands – Must have public accounting audit background)
• IT SAP Business Analyst (Galleria)
• Tax – ALL LEVELS – For local CPA Firms
• Billing and Collections Manager – SW Houston – 60 to 85K

Diane Delgado LeMaire | Senior Managing Director, Accounting & Finance Recruiting | Creative Financial Staffing, a division of Fitts, Roberts CPA Firm | 5718 Westheimer Suite 800 | Houston, TX 77057 | 713-260-5238 | dcd@fittsroberts.com| Blog| Twitter| LinkedIn