March 2010 Newsletter for Accounting Professionals in Houston, Texas

Industry News and Updates

So, I know everyone is very anxious to hear what is happening in Houston. Well, believe it or not it I have great news to report! Our Houston CFS office has been extremely busy this year. We had a great start in January and that has continued all the way into March. We have been placing accounting professionals in permanent and temporary jobs at a greater pace every week. A lot of companies cut pretty deep with layoffs in 2009 and are starting to see their volume of business pick up again. This is prompting them to first look to contractors and then eventually it will lead to more permanent positions. It may be time to dust off that old resume! Or just follow my blog at: www.dianedelgadolemaire.wordpress.com. I also accept all LinkedIn invitations: www.linkedin.com/in/dianedelgadolemaire

Local Statistics

  • National / Houston Unemployment Rate: 9.7% / 8.3%
  • Price of Oil / Natural Gas:  $81 / $4.42
  • Oil Rig Count: 1396
  • Industries hiring: Upstream Oil & Gas, CPA Firms, Non Profit, Healthcare, Business Services, Commercial & Residential Property Management
  • Positions in demand: Tax Staff, Tax Senior, Tax Manager (Public & Industry), Controller & CFO (coming back), Senior Accountant, Oil & Gas Revenue Accountant
  • Industries not hiring or flat: Manufacturing, Construction, Homebuilding

Great Article

http://www.accountingweb.com/topic/education-careers/hiring-outlook-good-accounting-pros

 

 

Below is a partial list of our local and national searches:

 
Revenue Accountant
West Houston, 80K, 10% Bonus Potential

Joint Venture Accountant
West Houston, SAP

Senior Auditor (Public Accounting) 
Centra Houston, Work Life Balance, Paid Overtime

Corporate Accoutning Director
West Houston, 150K plus bonus

Bookkeeper
Houston, Great Plains & Job Costing

4 Senior Tax Accountants
Galleria, Public Accounting

IT Auditor (E&P)
Galleria, 110K

Tax Manager or Senior Tax Manger
Downtown and Galleria, Public Accounting

Tax Lead Partnership Accounting
Downtown

Accounts Payable / Purchasing Speciailst
Channelview, Great Plains, 40K

Director of Credit & Collections – Houston

 

Experienced collections professional with significant experience in managing a team of collectors, coordinating with attorneys and interacting at a senior management level both internally and with our customers.

Essential Responsibilities:

  • Review, direct and guide a staff of 12 onshore (including one senior collections manager) and 12 offshore collectors
  • Works closely with Lease Administration staff (Accounting) to understand tenant billing issues
  • Coordinates with in-house legal team on tenants where legal action is required
  • Establishes relationships with appropriate management level personnel at most significant tenants in order to facilitate efficient handling of disputes/issues
  • Updates accounting platform (CTI) with all relevant information related to the eviction case / process
  • Reviews and makes recommendations to Leasing, and Property Management on terminated accounts
  • Responsible for accuracy and adequacy of bad debt reserves and bad debt expense
  • Coordinate the process of determining whether to pursue with internal legal resources, or outsource the process to third party Collection Agency.
  • Prepares information for Collection Agency and in-house Legal team
  • Handles all dark tenants ~ abandonment, lockouts, eviction ~ preparing the file for litigation determination
  • Reviews and approves the vacancy notices
  • Preparation of notice of abandonment
  • Prepares termination of possession letters for tenants residing in Texas
  • Assists in the review of credit reports to determine whether to pursue legally
  • Communicates with internal clients to insure accuracy, and company’s objectives are met
  • Designing effective and efficient procedures
  • Other tasks on an as needed basis

 Education and Experience:

  • Must have 5-10 years of experience in collections with 2-3 years experience in a managerial role

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

Current Job Openings!!!!! Accounting & Finance – Houston, Texas

  • Assistant VP SOX Compliance
  • Audit Manger (Government & Benefits)
  • Tax Director (Multinational Company)
  • Senior Tax Manager (Multinational Company)
  • Tax Accountant (1 to 3 years of corp. tax experience)
  • Tax Manager (FAS 109, Federal & State)
  • Controller, Odessa, Texas
  • Revenue Accountant (7 Openings!!!!!)
  • Gas Plant Accountant
  • Director of Credit & Collections
  • Tenured Bookkeeper
  • Property Accountant
  • Senior Property Accountant
  • Senior Manager Public Accounting (2)
  • Tax Supervisor (Public Accounting)
  • Senior Financial Analyst (Modeling – Energy)
  • Credit Manager
  • Senior Credit Analyst (at least 5 years of experience – large energy company)

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

Credit Analyst, Sugar Land, Texas 60 to 80K

Credit Analyst

5-10 years of relevant experience

Client base are independents so small to mid cap companies

Review financial statements

Liaison between sales, ops and finance

Bachelor’s degree is required

Must be comfortable interacting and being in front of clients

Must have the ability to work directly with the sales team

$65-80K Bonus

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  | www.cfstaffing.blogspot.com| www.dianedelgadolemaire.wordpress.com| www.twitter.com/CPARecruiterHOU| www.linkedin.com/in/dianedelgadolemaire

International Finance Manager, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 POSITION TITLE

International Finance Manager

REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer, VP Finance

SUMMARY OF POSITION

PURPOSE

The International Finance Manager will be responsible for managing all financial and related administrative activities related to company’s businesses outside the USA. Areas of responsibility include treasury, accounting, finance, financial reporting, bonding, banking, insurance and tax. Approximately 50% international travel is anticipated.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Treasury Management

1. In cooperation with senior management, determine appropriate levels and sources of financing / bonding / liquidity. 2. Develop, manage and provide accounting support for the Company’s F/X operations, currency hedging, cash management and other related functions. 3. Maintain strong relationships with the Company’s financial institutions, surety providers and other related firms. 4. Develop a timely and accurate process of monitoring cash flow to ensure a high level of internal control and maximize return on cash assets. 5. In conjunction with senior management, develop credit policies and ensure the proper execution of these policies throughout the Company. Ensure that receivables are collected as quickly as possible to minimize working capital needs. 6. Supervise and oversee outside attorneys as required.

Accounting / Financial Reporting

1. Create, coordinate and continually evaluate/upgrade the financial programs and supporting information systems of the Company. 2. Oversee International implementation of a new global IT system. 3. Monitor compliance to company intercompany pricing policies and adapt as necessary. 4. Prepare timely and accurate financial reports, special analyses and information reports. 5. Generate creative cost saving ideas and work with other managers to develop cost studies, management metrics and other information they can use to drive revenue and profitability, increase efficiency and improve the performance of their personnel. 6. As a member of the management team, develop business plans and forecasts to estimate the future impact of business decisions and changing market conditions. 7. Supervise the development of department budgets which consolidate into an overall corporate budget and become part of the corporate business plan. 8. Develop and monitor capital expenditure budgets considering project cost, financing costs, cash flow and return on investment. 9. Establish accounting policies and ensure records are maintained in accordance with GAAP. 10. Work with independent auditors in the preparation of the Company’s annual financial statements. 11. Supply all reporting required by any debt agreements and ensure compliance with all covenants. 12. Develop and maintain an internal control structure which ensures the integrity of the Company’s information, especially in the areas of revenue and profit recognition, cash management, financial reporting, tax compliance, etc. 13. Supply all reporting required in the debt agreements and insure compliance of all debt covenants.

Insurance / Tax

1. Along with outside advisors, develop and coordinate tax planning strategies to minimize tax liabilities on a worldwide basis. 2. In conjunction with outside advisors, ensure that the Company is in compliance with all income tax regulations including those related to intercompany pricing. 3. Review and adopt corporate insurance coverage to ensure that Company has the appropriate levels of insurance at the lowest cost. 4. Review and implement employee benefit plans that provide competitive coverage at the lowest cost.

Human Resources

1. Manage international departmental personnel to make best use of their skills; select employees wisely and develop their capabilities; administer discipline fairly; and handle human resource matters in accordance with Company policies in order to drive individual and group performance. 2. Foster Company’s culture by fully supporting its brand identity, company values and high expectations. 3. Champion, organize and monitor clear channels of communication and coordination between functional counterparts throughout the Company (i.e., across entities and between personnel in sales, estimating, marketing, project management, engineering, finance, purchasing, operations and quality.)

QUALIFICATIONS .

Education – A Masters of Business Administration and/or a Bachelor of Science in Accounting .

Experience – Recent experience in Construction or Engineering Industry is a requirement for out of state candidates. – 10+ years of progressively challenging experience in an international accounting/finance environment. – Demonstrated successful financial management experience. –

Experience in Project Type businesses

dcd@fittsroberts.com

International Finance Manager, Wisconsin – 150K

~career path to CFO within 5 years due to retirement

~50% international travel, primarily Europe and Asia

~manage all financial and administrative activities outside of US including treasury, reporting, bonding, tax, banking, etc

Qualifications:

~at least 5 years of international experience (10 years desired), specifically dealing with foreign currency

~cost of completion or project type business experience desired

~proven project mgmt and negotiation skills

~history of advancement and career development

~cross functional exposure with board of directors, legal, shareholders, operations, etc