April 2015 Newsletter for Accounting & Finance Professionals in Houston by Diane Delgado LeMaire @ CFS

April 2015

Industry News and Updates
First things first. Please make sure that you have added my new email address to your contacts. It is dlemaire@cfstaffing.com.

With Q1 behind us lets jump right into the update for Houston. I am sure everyone is curious about the oil & gas prices and what impact they are having  on the job market in Houston. I have been in the recruiting industry for almost 14 years and have already been through 2 full blown recessions. 2015 has been an interesting year so far.  I feel like our local economy has taken a hit from the drop of Oil & Gas, but it’s not as severe (knock on wood) as I thought it would be. Some might beg to differ but, let me explain!

Obviously, Houston has been impacted by the depressed prices. Most Exploration & Production companies are not hiring at all. Some are even laying off, but downstream and midstream companies are still hiring. They are actually benefiting from the drop in price. Not to mention the back log of construction projects that are still on the books. We are also seeing increased demand from consumer products based companies (retail, restaurant, healthcare). Houston has gained nearly 570,000 residents in the past 5 years!

Just imagine the resources they will need from housing, healthcare to groceries and cars!

So, is the job market as good as it was last year? The simple answer is no, but there are still a lot of opportunities out there in several other industries outside of “oil & gas”.

Until next time..

Local Statistics:

  • National / Houston Unemployment rate:8/4.3
  • Price of Oil:$56.71(last year $100)
  • Oil Rig Count:1109 (last year 1803)
  • Industries hiring:Manufacturing, Construction, Consumer Products related companies, Real Estate & Homebuilding, Healthcare
  • Positions in demand:Controller, Financial Analyst, Tax, Internal Auditor, Payroll,

Local Searches

NEW!!!!!

– Property Accountant – Staff or Senior

– Treasury Analyst – Heavy Cash Management

– Treasury Analyst – Must speak Spanish

– Treasury Accountant – Must speak Spanish

– Controller – WIP / POC a MUST

– Full Time – Consultant – Transactions Advisory Services – All Levels!!!!

– Full Time – Consultant – Financial Advisory Services – All Levels!!!!!

– Hyperion Financial Analyst – HFM, Hyperion or Smartview experience – 1 to 2 years of experience!!!!

– Staff Accountant – work under 3 amazing controllers and learn from the best!!!!! no more than 2 years of experience needed.

– Internal Audit Manager – Pre-IPO company!

– Sales & Use Tax Accountant – staff and senior

– Payroll Manager MUST have Canadian payroll experience

– Financial Planning and Analysis Manager – HEAVY acquisition based

– AP Manager – SAP experience!!!!!

Still Looking For:

– Controller with domestic & international accounting experience (SEC too!)

– Controller, CPA with SEC

– AP Manager – bringing AP in house!

– Senior Accountant – Corporate accounting

– Director with International and Federal Tax experience – Partnership too

– Senior Auditor (less than 10% travel)

– Operational Auditor – 50% travel

– AP Supervisor – small company, family atmosphere

– Senior Accountant – Oil & Gas – Right hand person to the Controller

– Tax Analyst – Federal & State – Amazing tenure in this group!

– CFO – San Antonio – retail background preferred

– Budget Analyst – banner experience preferred

– Billing Clerk

– AP Clerk MUST speak French

News and Resources

Senior Accountant – The Woodlands – email: dcd@fittsroberts.com

Senior Accountant in Financial Reporting

External Reporting (SEC):
• Assist in the preparation of quarterly and year-end external financial reports, including business section, risk factors, footnotes and MD&A for quarterly earnings releases, 10-Qs and 10-Ks.
• Participate in SOX 404 efforts, including documentation of processes, testing process controls, and making recommendations for improvements.
• Help improve formal processes to ensure that appropriate support is maintained for all disclosures in the Company’s SEC filings.
• Assist with compliance and implementation of all new standards and guidance promulgated by the SEC, FASB, and other applicable regulatory agencies.
• Work closely with external auditors as well as the internal audit department.
• Assist corporate finance in various capacities, including but not limited to, internal reporting duties.

Technical Accounting:
• Help document accounting policies and assist in technical accounting research.
• Assist with implementation of new accounting standards.

Transaction Support:
• Assist with financial due diligence related to business combinations and purchase accounting.
• Help prepare pro forma financial statements as needed.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Knowledge of accounting and financial concepts.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills. Ability to independently identify and resolve problems or take advantage of opportunities.
• Strong computer skills, including a demonstrated ability to use accounting systems and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.

Qualifications:
• Bachelors/Masters Degree in Accounting.
• CPA required.
• Minimum 3 years of accounting experience including at least 1-2 years of public accounting (Big 4 Firm).
• SOX 404 experience preferred.
• Experience with GAAP accounting research and application.
• Excellent writing skills; proficient in technical accounting writing ability

SEC Reporting Manager – West Houston – dcd@fittsroberts.com

Manager – Financial Reporting

A Fortune 500 company with over $6.0 billion in annual revenues.

Manager of Financial Reporting. The position reports to the Corporate Controller, and is the direct supervisor of the Associate Manager of Financial Reporting.

Description of Responsibilities

The responsibilities of this position primarily include:

Ownership and management of the process to prepare quarterly 1934 Act filings (e.g., Form 10-K and 10-Q) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC);

Creation and maintenance of XBRL documents to be filed with the SEC and related tagging;

Ownership and management of the process to prepare financial statements and other schedules, included in its quarterly earnings release and filed on Form 8-K with the SEC;

Coordination and preparation of various portions of investor presentations;

Interpretation, communication and implementation of new accounting and reporting standards and, as required, drafting response letters to the appropriate authority;

Preparation of monthly financial statements for one of corporate entities, including the preparation or review of various analytical procedures, reconciliations and periodic journal entries (e.g., stock-based compensation, shares outstanding and interest rate swap valuations);

Assistance in the coordination of the 401(K) plan audit and filing of Form 11-K with the SEC;

Preparation of statutory financial statements related to various foreign subsidiaries;

Involvement, as necessary, in any 1933 Act filings (e.g., Forms S-1, S-3 and S-8);

Drafting letters of response to SEC comments on filings, as required;

Coordination with external and internal auditors with regards to review and audit procedures; and

Census and other governmental reporting requirements.

Desired Qualifications

The candidate must be:

A team-first oriented employee;

Detail oriented, with a keen attention to quality control;

Process oriented, with an emphasis on internal controls;

An effective communicator, including the use of both verbal and written forms of communication, able to interact with various groups within the organization (i.e., Tax, Legal, Treasury, Investor Relations, etc.); and

Willing and able to work the necessary hours to accomplish all responsibilities, especially during month- and quarter-end close process, within a specific, defined timeline.

The candidate should have, at a minimum:

A Bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting, or a Finance degree with an accounting emphasis;

Certification as a public accountant;

Seven to ten years of relevant experience in accounting at a large, multi-location corporation and/or public accounting firm;

Experience with both internal and external financial reporting, including filing of SEC documents;

A firm understanding of accounting principles;

Experience effectively managing and developing staff-level accountants;

Proficiency handling multiple, simultaneous projects;

An intermediate to advanced working knowledge of Microsoft software products, particularly Excel and v-lookups, as well as a general ledger software package; and

A working knowledge of Hyperion Financial Management and other Hyperion software products.

SEC Reporting Manager – Houston – dcd@fittsroberts.com

Description of Responsibilities

The responsibilities of this position primarily include:

  • Ownership and management of the process to prepare  filings (e.g., Form 10-K and 10-Q) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC);
  • Ownership and management of the process to prepare financial statements and other schedules, included in its quarterly earnings release and filed on Form 8-K with the SEC;
  • Interpretation, communication and implementation of new accounting and reporting standards and, as required, drafting response letters to the appropriate authority;
  • Analysis and review of various periodic journal entries to be recorded in the general ledger of  corporate entities, including stock-based compensation, shares outstanding and interest rate swap valuations;
  • Creation and maintenance of XBRL documents to be filed with the SEC and related tagging;
  • Assist in the coordination of the 401(K) plan audit and filing of Form 11-K with the SEC;
  • Preparation of statutory financial statements related to various foreign subsidiaries;
  • Involvement, as necessary, in any filings (e.g., Forms S-1, S-3 and S-8)
  • Drafting letters of response to SEC comments on filings, as required;
  • Coordination with external and internal auditors with regards to review and audit procedures; and
  • Census and other governmental reporting requirements.

 

Desired Qualifications

The candidate must be:

·         A team-first oriented employee;

·         Detail oriented, with a keen attention to quality control;

·         Process oriented, with an emphasis on internal controls;

·         An effective communicator, including the use of both verbal and written forms of communication, able to interact with various groups within the organization (i.e., Tax, Legal, Treasury, Investor Relations, etc.); and

·         Willing and able to work the necessary hours to accomplish all responsibilities, especially during month- and quarter-end close process, within a specific, defined timeline.

 

The candidate should have, at a minimum:

·         A Bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting, or a Finance degree with an accounting emphasis;

·         Certified as a public accountant;

·         Seven to ten years of relevant experience in accounting at a large, multi-location corporation and/or public accounting firm;  

·         Experience with both internal and external financial reporting, including filing of SEC documents;

·         A firm understanding of accounting principles;

·         Experience effectively managing and developing staff-level accountants;

·         Proficiency handling multiple, simultaneous projects;

·         An intermediate to advanced working knowledge of Microsoft software products, particularly Excel and v-lookups, as well as a general ledger software package; and

·         A working knowledge of Hyperion Financial Management and other Hyperion software products.

Senior Corporate / SEC Accountant, Houston, Texas (70 to 80K) Minimal Overtime!!!

The Opportunity:

Company is seeking a professional, skilled individual for our Sr. Corporate Accountant position.  Responsibilities will include, but not be limited to supporting the Accounting Manager in working through complex accounting issues, supporting the monthly close process, financial preparation and review, GAAP/SEC research and key reconciliations.

 

Responsibilities:

  • Financial reporting
  • Reserve analysis
  • General ledger account analysis
  • Month end close
  • System maintenance
  • Ad hoc projects

Qualifications/Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting
  • CPA
  • Must have the following previous experience:  Big 4:  2-3 years of experience or Industry:  3-4 years of experience with a SEC registrant
  • SEC reporting experience
  • Big 4 experience highly preferred
  • Monthly close cycle experience highly preferred
  • Familiar with technical accounting aspects, with research ability (GAAP and SEC)
  • Proficient with Microsoft Excel
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to research and resolve accounting issues
  • Strong analytical skills
  • Experience with computer accounting systems
  • Team player