Compliance

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

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

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

Corporate Accounting Manager – Galleria – EMAIL: dcd@fittsroberts.com

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The corporate accounting manager will effectively manage all general accounting activities for multiple corporate controlled entities under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).  The Corporate Accounting Manager is responsible for managing the month-end close process and supervising the corporate accounting staff to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting and analysis.  The position will report to the Assistant Controller and be called on to interact with executive management as needed.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Maintain policies, procedures and internal controls required to ensure financial statements of corporate companies are prepared timely and in accordance with GAAP.
  • Maintain procedures to ensure expenditures made by corporate departments are identified and properly accrued each month
  • Ensure compliance with internal controls
  • Complete monthly variance analysis of financial statements for all corporate companies
  • Complete monthly departmental analysis reports comparing actual to budget and prior year actuals
  • Supervise month-end close and financial statement preparation process
  • Supervision of accounts payable
  • Evaluate processes and procedures for improvement and develop recommendations for improvements
  • Ensure timely reconciliations to supporting ledgers or documentation of all GL account balances
  • Ensure all bank account balances are properly reconciled on a monthly basis
  • Ensure information required for entries to be made by subsidiaries is accurate and is provided timely
  • Identify profit improvement or cost reduction opportunities at corporate
  • Respond to inquiries made by independent auditors and or Business Compliance department
  • Provide team assessments to executive management
  • Develop relationships with all corporate departments and be responsive to their needs
  • Supervise and review reconciliations for multiple subsidiary accounts to ensure accurate reporting of consolidated financials
  • Manage annual budgeting process for corporate departments and corporate companies

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting; CPA or CPA candidate preferred
  • 5+ years experience, including audit, supervisory and management experience
  • Strong understanding & ability to interpret and apply GAAP
  • Hyperion experience a plus
  • Public company experience a plus
  • Strong verbal communication skills
  • Ability to maintain productive working relationships with other employees outside of the department
  • Ability to exercise initiative and sound judgment
  • Consolidation experience a plus
  • Strong skills in use of complex Excel spreadsheets

Diane Delgado LeMaire|　Area Director, Executive Search & Branch Manager | Creative Financial Staffing, a division of Fitts, Roberts CPA Firm | 5718 Westheimer Suite 800 | Houston, TX 77057 | 713-490-6003 | dcd@fittsroberts.com|

Senior Auditor – Greenspoint 15% Travel – 70 to 75K – dcd@fittsroberts.com

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JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title:

Senior Auditor I

Location:

Greenspoint Area

Reports to:

Director of Internal Audit

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Position requires ability to provide oversight, training and guidance to junior auditors, and directly assist management in the conduct regular and special purpose audits. Position will also require that the associate become a mentor up to three staff auditors. Position requires industry knowledge and the practice of auditing. Also requires excellent written and verbal communication skills for extensive report writing responsibilities.

This position requires approximately 15% travel.

Education and Experience Requirements:

A Bachelors degree in Accounting and CPA. Minimum three years working experience in Auditing. Public Accounting experience a plus. Certifications in other related specialties (CFE, CIA, CMA, CISA) highly desirable.

Management reserves the right to change the duties and responsibilities set forth herein at any time.

Physical Requirements:

This is primarily a sedentary office position which requires the ability to occasionally bend, stoop, reach, lift, move and carry office materials and supplies weighing 25 pounds or less. Finger dexterity is required to operate a computer keyboard and calculator. Position requires the ability to drive to audit location during the day, and lift audit bag weight.

Additional Requirements:

Candidates should be flexible and able to adapt to the audit approach to each assignment. Good sense of judgment, positive attitude and ability to deal effectively with auditees.

This position outlines the basic tasks and requirements for the position noted. It is not a comprehensive listing of all job duties of the associates.

AVP – SOX Compliance, Houston, Texas

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Job Title:  Assistant Vice President – Director – SOX Compliance

Department: Internal Audit

Reports To: Vice President Corporate Internal Audit

 Summary: Directs, manages and coordinates the development and maintenance of companies documentation, analysis, evaluation and testing of internal controls, and reports to senior management on the status of companies system of internal control for Sarbanes Oxley compliance.  Works closely with financial officers at multiple locations and related business process owners to ensure internal controls are designed and operating effectively.

Responsibilities:

  • Consults, analyses, recommends and implements improvements in the alignment of companies financial, operational and administrative business processes in order to increase effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Provide consulting services to organizational management and staff.
  • Assist with the development of the annual audit plan.
  • Provide training, coaching and supervision to staff.
  • Maintains all organization and professional ethical standards.
  • Has direct responsibility for compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in matters of financial and operational controls and disclosure requirements as mandated by the Act. This includes strict adherence to the company’s Business Conduct Statement and Code of Ethics. The emphasis will be on compliance with financial procedures and protocol, internal controls, and maintaining the highest level of workplace behavior.

 Qualifications:

  • Strong project management and analytical skills.
  • Strong knowledge of Sarbanes Oxley compliance and reporting requirements.
  • Considerable knowledge of the Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing and Code of Ethics developed by the Institute of Internal Audit

Experienced Required:

  • 8+ years of auditing, accounting and reporting experience, preferably with 2+ years of experience in the insurance industry.

Skills:

  • Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work closely with people at al levels of the organization and facilitate the implementation of corrective action.
  • Works independently under general direction with excessive latitude for initiative and independent judgment.
  • Significant experience with Excel and with audit and financial software systems.
  • Working knowledge of ACCESS and SQL databases.
  • Strong written, verbal and presentation skills.

Education/Certifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or related field with CPA/CIA credentials.
  • Prefer CPA with 5+ years of public accounting experience or CIA with 6+ years of internal audit experience.
  • A graduate degree in businesses administration, accounting or a related field is desirable.

Travel Required:

  • 20%  travel required to perform SOX walkthroughs and audits at other locations.

Diane Delgado LeMaire | 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  | http://cfstaffing.blogspot.com/| www.dianedelgadolemaire.wordpress.com| www.twitter.com/CPARecruiterHOU| www.linkedin.com/in/dianedelgadolemaire