Artina L. Graves, MBA
Message: 708-318-4809 * Fax: 562-502-6682 * Business Cell: 312-206-3883 Email: artina.l.graves@gmail.com
Accounting, Audit and Financial Planning Reporting Analyst Professional
Financial Planning Analyst who worked in several different accounting/financial sectors including Engineering, Architect, Consulting, Manufacturing, Telecommunication, Computer Technology, Tax, Pharmaceutical Healthcare, Real Estate and Transportation. Documented, developed and implemented the finance policies/internal controls. Supervised finance personnel. Prepared and analyzed SOX/SEC filings preparation including 10Q on a quarterly and yearly basis. Some of the reports included NPV, IRR, ROI, balance sheet, Capital, O&M and variance analysis. I provided and implemented procedures in preparing and organizing the payroll/Taxes, budget, metrics, P&L and other financial reports/financial statement consolidation.
Area of Specialization includes: Corporate Financial Planning Analysis and Modeling * Corporate Budgeting and Forecasting * Corporate Internal Control/Regulatory Reporting * Business Objects/Accounting Systems/Debits/Credits * Operating, Payroll Account and Bank Reconciliation * General Ledger (GL) /Controllership * Multi-state Payroll and Payroll Taxes * Employees Benefits/HR Generalist/Compensation
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Finance Business Consultant Manager, Graves, Johnson & Associates, Chicago, IL 09/04 -Present
Auditing small business financials including, Cablecom, Aspiring Thoughts and Cosby Flagging Service to evaluate and recommend improvements including small business loans, grants and etc. Prepared and Analyzed Business, Budget, Financial Plan and Analysis for revenue and cost. Discussed investments including loans and partners associations. Analyzed current payroll distribution. Analysis of certain sales and client acquisition. Analysis of reproduction of financial information for small business purposes. Ad-hoc requests as needed. Financial Aid preparation for schooling. IT Support and Troubleshooting.
Software used: Google Suite, Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook
Consultant/Temporary
CNH Industrial – ICONMA – Project Resource Manager (Budget and Planning Analyst), Hybrid – Burr Ridge, IL 03/22 – 03/24 Accounting and Financial Analysis of annual - quarterly budget, forecast, month-end close activities, creation of month end results reporting, and investigating and assisting with accounts payable issues. SAP/PROMIS. WBS - Project Analysis for R&D, Production in the Engineering department on a monthly basis.
Northern Trust Bank – eTeam – Human Resource Partner Lead, Remote - Chicago, IL 11/21
Ecolab – Acro Service Corporation - Senior Financial Analyst, Remote - Joliet, IL 08/21
Lear - Prince Technology Solutions - Financial Analyst, Hammond, IN 01/20
SurePayroll - LanceSoft -Tax - Payroll Amendments, Glenview, IL 04/19 -07/19, Payroll Tax Analysis/transaction & Reconciliation using SPAPPS, Salesforce and BNA.
Cobra Electronics - SRI Technology -Cost Accountant, Chicago, IL 09/07 -11/07, Price Variance Analysis/transaction codes & Reconciliation using SAP.
RR Donnelly - Harmer Consultants -SR Financial Analyst, Chicago, IL 09/07
At home worker (Healthcare) - Medical Transcriber, Chicago, IL 2007
Pearson’s Education -Grader, Chicago, IL 03/07 -05/13
Manpower (IBM/Underwriters Laboratory) - Cost Financial Analyst III, Chicago, IL 10/05 -02/06, Cash Management. Support of the Corporate Process -forecast, analyze, report and modeling.
PepsiCo/Edward Don - Casey Accounting & Finance -Payroll/Staff Accountant, 07/06 & 10/06, Fixed Assets/Transaction codes, Write-offs and adjustments including adjusting entries in SAP for preparation.
AGI Media - Beacon Hill Staffing - Assistant Director of Finance, 05/06-06/06, Spend Cost Analysis.
Grant Thornton/Columbia College -Accountemps -Payroll/Financial Analyst 01/03-02/03 & 01/05-02/05
Navigant Consulting - Hudson Financial Group -Account Analyst - 09/05 -10/05, Project Account/Account analysis by compiling and reconciling Invoice and account data from each region to assess their financial status.
The Boeing Company -Comforce -Accountant, 06/05-07/05, SEC Compilation.
The Wrigley Company - Northbridge Staffing -Staff Accountant, 06/05-06/05, Account Reconciliation & Analysis.
Illinois Tool Works/Moore Wallace - Daystar - Payroll Analyst/Accountant, 04/02-08/02, Payroll Processing, JE postings and analysis of GL.
Gage Foods/La Petite Academy - Blackman Kallick & Bartlestein -(Consultant) Accounting Assistant/Internal Auditing, 08/01- 04/02, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Billing and financial reports. Auditing to evaluate and recommend improvements for our vendors through calling and various report writing.
Revenue Cycle Financial Analyst – Lead, Cook County Health & Hospital Systems, Chicago, IL 11/15 -07/19
Financial Analysis for Planning of Inpatient, Outpatient and Observation controls on an ongoing basis. Insurance Verification and review, Bed Control, Admitting and Analysis of current financial input. Performs a variety of coordinated and fairly specialized tasks to provide logistic support to office, business or administrative operations. Working closely with supervisors to formulate effective and efficient responses to minor problems. Lead worker resource person demonstrating proficiency in the proper use of equipment and execution of new work methods and procedures. Responsible for following-up in an effective manner on unresolved business within the scope of the clerical services. Exercising advanced skills, selecting appropriate combination of methods from a wide variety of procedures, making simple adaptations and interpretations of limited number of substantive guides and manuals. Perform other duties as assigned.
Software used: Google Suite, Microsoft Office: Word, Excel and 365 online. Ceridian, E-care, Emdeon, OneSource Passport, Teletracking, Cerner Online, various internal internet software.
Part Time Associate (Volunteer), DHS, Chicago, IL 09/11 -04/15
Financial Planning, Accounting, HR, Operating, Receptionist and Administrative. Budget entry and review. Created Operating reports. Confirmation of all numbers and adjustments using Excel. Answer phones and transfer to appropriate Case Manager. Work with Case Managers as needed. (Inner Voice) Worked at Recruiting Agency: query and creating Financial, Budget, Analyst, Reporting, HR reports and confirmation of all numbers and adjustments using Word, Excel and Access. W2, I9 and Application Entry in operating system. Verification. (Civic Staffing) Filing, Data Entry, Copying information for each Case Manager. (Department of Human Services)
Software used: Google Suite, Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access database and various internal internet software such as Wanda.
Accounting, Business Math Tutor, City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago, IL 01/11 -03/11
Taught college students Math, Business, Finance, Economics, Accounting and some Computer Science.
Staff Accountant - Property Management, Family Rescue, Chicago, IL 08/09 -08/09
Training on Accounting Software FUNDEZ and Asset/Property Management.
Budget Analyst, Walgreens Co., Deerfield, IL 06/08 -11/08
Staging Process in Marketing Services and Research for new stores. Support, forecast, financial planning, analysis, reporting and modeling through internal software, Lawson and excel that may include v-lookups, pivots, graphs. Performs various accounting activities and as needed.
Software used: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook. Lotus Approach database, accounting software Lawson and various internal internet software such as Mobius, Filenet Payroll register, Project Tracking and Filemaker.
Senior Accountant, American Science and Technology, Chicago, IL 04/07 -06/07
Prepared and posted all info for payroll, accounts payables and accounts receivables using QuickBooks. Payroll, bank, account and Accounting Software reconciliation, Payroll and Payroll Taxes (including wage garnishments, W2, 1099 and monthly taxes) Internal auditing of our accounting software including preparation of financial reports through internal software and excel that may include v-lookups, pivots, graphs and certain power point presentation. Cost modeling/total cost analysis for forecasting, financial planning, analysis and outlook purposes. Adjusting journal entries as needed. Alerts office manager of customers with past due accounts or payment issues. Responsible for obtaining signature approval on invoices that vary from purchase acquisition price. Maintained employee’s attendance throughout the company and other administrative records. Maintained inventory database and maintain electronics file cabinet for AP and purchase acquisitions. Recommends new ideas to improve efficiency that may include software Conversion or procedures. Discussion with CEO on advising, deliverables and procedures and actual expectations of their contract findings for each ongoing cost. Planning and timing of projects while working with the Manufacturing Construction team including Engineers, Architects and Project Managers. Cost controls, budgets, and financial statements/reports Filing and issuing Waiver of Liens; Insurance Claims; Subcontractor’s Insurance Certificates Review, prepare and assist with the renewal of multi-state, county and city license requirements Responsible for planning, implementation and control of outside CPA audits Maintaining lease agreements Accounting for and making payments to 401k program and responsible for accounting software and hardware system operations.
Software used: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook and QuickBooks.
Senior Financial Analyst, Accenture, Chicago, IL 11/03 -12/06
Large Consulting Firm
Support of the Corporate Process -forecasting, analysis, reporting and modeling. Corporate Financial Analysis of financial information for the “State of the Business” using operating statements, budgets and forecasts of the Resource area in Corporate on a semi-monthly basis for the Board/CEO area. Statistical analysis of actual data on a monthly and quarterly basis. Assisted with the current Financial Modeling of our Monthly Revenue Estimate. Financial modeling of forecast and budget. Assisted with the Global Project Reporting. Budgeted our employee’s expenditures. Assisted with 10Q SEC/SOX Reporting compilation. Prepared the Watch List on a monthly basis, which consists of the problem sales in our department and Prepared the Work in Capital on a quarterly basis. Consulted on various special projects or ad-hoc requests. Vedior NA & Pyramid Consulting -Reporting/Financial Analyst.
Software used: Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook, Lotus notes ADP, Global Financial Reporting, Financial Forecasting and Planning, Metric Reporting, Brio query Explorer, PRS, Artes, Cash Receipts, and accounting system conversion from the previous software’s to SAP.
Financial Accountant, Land Jet Transportation, Bellwood, IL 12/01 -08/03
Small Transportation/Logistics Firm
Performed all accounting functions and month end close process, including balancing general ledger, bank and account reconciliation, and journal entries. Prepared and posted all info for payroll, accounts payables and accounts receivables. Supervised up to three individuals. Audited to evaluate and recommend improvements by developing plans for various accounting and operational processes/issues (accounts payable, accounts receivable, and financial reports). Prepared and consolidated financial statements (including P&L and balance sheet). Analysis of current budget for forecasting of expected growth.
Software used: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, Outlook and Quicken.
Payment Processor, College Training Institute, Chicago, IL 06/02-08/02
Collection Agency
Processed payments for each individual collections and paid AP and Payroll functions including implementing the payroll system.
Software used: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook. Payment/payroll software in dbase/windows
Payroll Analyst, International Profit Association, Buffalo Grove, IL 01/02 -03/02
Large Business Management Consulting Firm
Performed all payroll accounting functions and month end close process, including balancing general ledger, stop payments, transmit payroll, reconciling accounts, commission sales and 401K Reports through ADP and our Microsoft office package. Reconciled general ledger accounts with bank statements. Gathered information for detailed commission processing. Query and created spreadsheet presentations based upon the assessed sales/rebates incentives daily.
Produced payroll weekly based upon the percentage of commission sales per week. Produced payroll for telemarketers based upon hourly and percentage of sales completion, daily for sales completion and weekly for actual payroll.
Analysis of current sales forecasting of expected growth.
Software used: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, ADP and Reportsmith.
Staff Accountant (Asst. Controller), Graf Air Freight Inc., Chicago, IL 09/01-12/01
Small Transportation / Logistics Firm
Performed all accounting functions and month end close process, including balancing general ledger, bank and account reconciliation, stop payments, transmit payroll and journal entries.
Software used: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook, ADP, Cougar Accounting Software.
Payroll/Project Accountant, Greeley and Hansen LLP, Chicago, IL 10/99-09/01
Mid-size Engineering and Architect Firm
Payroll Processing and Job Cost Accounting including balancing general ledger, account reconciliation, journal entries, stop payments, transmit payroll, commission sales and 401K Reports through ADP and our Microsoft office package. Payroll, bank, account and ADP reconciliation. Created Payroll Manual. Multi-state Payroll. Payroll Taxes (including wage garnishments, W2, 1099 and year end taxes). Planning and timing of projects while working with the Construction Environmental team including Architects and Engineers and Project Managers. Cost controls, budgets, and invoice preparation. Conduct project reviews to evaluate the percentage of completion, probability of recovery for change orders and claims, and reasonableness of the estimate. Assisted with reviewing, analyzing, and preparing construction cost summaries and schedules. Filing and issuing Waiver of Liens. Review, prepare and assist with the renewal of multi-state, county and city license requirements. Responsible for implementation and control of outside CPA audits. Maintained lease agreements. Created and updated labor reports for projects. Provided weekly-unmatched time, cover letters and financial status reports for project managers. Assisted with external auditors review and compilation of financial documents and reports.
Software used: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook and Costpoint, Deltek E-timesheets, ADP, Reportsmith
Cashier, Dominick’s Finer Food, Chicago, IL 03/99-09/99
Grocery Store
Scanned food items. Applied transaction as cash, credit, debit, or link card. Counted cash/debit drawer.
Summer Internship General Accountant, Akzo Nobel, Inc., Chicago, IL 06/96-08/96
Large Chemical Company
Support of the accounting process; account reconciliation, journal entries, inventory and spreadsheet preparation.
Software used: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Teacher Assistant, Les Finch’s Learning Tree, Chicago, IL 06/95-08/95
Daycare Center
Provided Care for Students by assisting teacher in training and curriculum.
Student Worker -Financial Aid Office/English Language Institute/Donation Center, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 08/93-06/98
University
Support of the financial aid process including account reconciliation and entries, inventory and memo preparation. General filing and copying and office duties. Call center; calling each alumnus to ask for donation request for the school. Greeting new students and entering their information into the system.
Software used: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook. Financial Aid Software and other software in dbase.
Student Office Clerk, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL 08/91-06/93
High School
General filing, copying and office duties. Greeting students and entering their information into the system.
Software used: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook.
OTHER VOLUNTEER/ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCE
Chicago Public Schools -Substitute Teacher 09/02-12/02
H&R Block, Liberty Tax Service, Jackson Hewitt -Seasonal Tax Associate 12/01 -Present
Tax Associate, Tax Assistance Program/Ladders Up, 12/04 -Present.
Teacher's Assistant, Les Finch's Daycare Center, 09/91 - Present.
HMO Volunteer, Living Word Christian Center, 12/01 -Present.
General Volunteer, Department of Human Services, 07/13 -Present.
General Volunteer, Chicago Hopes, 01/10 -Present.
Member, National Black MBA Association Employment Network, 11/06 -Present
Member, LinkedIn, 08/07 -Present
Member, 220 Communications, 10/06 -Present
OTHER SOFTWARE
Tax Software: TaxAct, Turbo Tax, CompleteTax and EsmartTax, Familiar with Great Plains Dynamics, IBM AS/400 Ceridian, ORACLE, SAP, JD Edwards Peoplesoft, Hyperion Essbase, Accounting Reporting Software, Brio query, VM ledger and CFO Portal.
EDUCATION
Accounting - Master of Business Administration University of Phoenix, Chicago, IL, 2006
Economics - Bachelors DePaul University, Chicago, IL, 2001
Microsoft Office Excel Certificate ProProfs, Chicago, IL 2013
ADP Training Workshop Certificate ADP, Chicago, IL 2000
MyLearning Training: Accounting, GAAP, SAP, FASB Accenture, Chicago, IL 2004
Professional Career Development Certificate Jobs for Youth, Chicago, IL 1997
Annual Hospital Training Certifications Cook County Health & Hospital Systems, Chicago, IL 2015 - 2019
YouTube Training: Tableau, Workday Reporting, Beginner, 2020
Coursera Training: Google Suites, 2020