Colleen Foisy
Summary
Experienced Certified Public Accountant with a 25-year track record in diverse organizations. Demonstrated leadership in achieving financial objectives through team management. Collaborated with executive leaders to develop effective business, financial, and growth strategies. Extensive background in not-for-profit work, including delivering board report presentations, auditing NPO financial statements for the U of C student law society, volunteering as a treasurer, participating in fundraising efforts, managing NPO filings, and handling budgeting and grant applications.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Controller/HR Manager
Expera Information Technology Inc.
08.2022 - Current
- Ensured timely financial statement preparation, allowing for better decision-making and strategic planning.
- Prepared detailed variance analyses on a monthly basis, enabling more effective tracking of actuals versus forecasted figures.
- Implemented cost-saving measures, identifying inefficiencies and reallocating resources to achieve optimal results.
- Optimized working capital management by reviewing inventory levels, payment terms, and cash conversion cycles.
- Completed year-end close processes through effective supervision financial functions and regular treasury transactions.
- Oversaw payroll functions, ensuring accuracy while maintaining strict confidentiality standards for sensitive employee information.
- Managed employee relations, investigating and resolving conflicts to maintain a positive work environment.
- Led decision-making and implementation of HR policies, procedures, programs and functions.
- Motivated employees through special events, incentive programs, and constructive feedback.
- Guided leaders and employees on company policies, programs, benefits and salary administration.
- Applied strong leadership talents and problem-solving skills to maintain team efficiency and organize workflows.
- Conducted performance evaluations for staff members, identifying areas of improvement and guiding professional development plans.
- Met accounting financial objectives by forecasting requirements, preparing annual budgets and scheduling expenditures.
- Served as primary liaison between finance department and external auditors during annual reviews.
- Resolved issues and inquiries from plan participants regarding health and welfare benefits and deductions through telephone, email, and in-person interactions.
- Assisted in the management of FMLA/LOA requests, ensuring timely processing and accurate tracking of leaves taken.
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
RSD Group
03.2021 - 08.2022
- Oversee month end process, review all reconciliations & journal entries
- Review timesheets, oversee payroll process & approve payroll
- Prepare monthly financial reports & analysis
- Prepare weekly cash flow reports & financial operations reporting
- Participate in management meetings & leadership meetings to provide financial information
- Develop & initiate new processes including automation of accounting system
- Prepare budgets & variance analysis
- Maintain payroll & accounting systems and controls
- Supervise year end process for 4 companies & liaison with external auditors
- Oversee all tax filings & payroll remittances to ensure on time filings and payment
- Supervise & train accounting staff
- Prepare ad hoc reports for the CFO & President as requested.
ACCOUNTING MANAGER
Grant Thornton LLP & MNP
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Review & prepare personal and corporate tax returns and other filings
- Review & prepare compilation engagements for corporations
- Prepare & review partnership statements for law firms
- Liaison with clients, identify issues & bring forth solutions
- Supervise and train accounting staff
- Mentor CPA students
- Respond to CRA pre-assessment correspondence
- Business development
- Oversee audit & review engagements
- Public speaking on accounting topics to new business owners.
ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR
SD Professional Corporation & TSPC
01.2015 - 01.2019
- Prepare personal and corporate tax returns and other filings
- Prepare partnership statements for professional clients
- Perform Trust audit for lawyer clients and prepare Accountant's Report for reporting to the Law Society of Alberta
- Perform trust, compilation, review and audit engagements for corporations
- Liaison with clients and bookkeepers
- Supervise and train admin/bookkeeping staff
- Respond to CRA pre-assessment correspondence.
ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR
Mastec Canada (formerly Big Country Energy Services Inc)
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Prepare monthly financial reporting package for US parent company
- Work closely with corporate reporting director
- Prepare monthly power point presentation on financial results for CFO
- Manage all fixed asset accounting
- Prepare debt schedules
- Review and sign all checks
- Prepare working papers and account reconciliations
- Run oracle reports
- Interview, hire, train and supervise staff
- Liaison with internal and external auditors
- Prepare revenue and expense accruals
- Prepare job costing reports
- Help implement SOX controls
- Assist with implementation and testing of system upgrade
- Review and approve payroll
- Gathering info and filling out of tax forms for tax firm
- Prepare insurance reports for annual insurance renewal.
CONTROLLER
Rice Bros Trucking
01.2009 - 01.2013
- Day to day accounting functions bank reconciliations, payroll, journal entries, enter sales invoices, collection calls for accounts receivable, enter accounts payable, prepare cherubs for payables, run payroll, setup new employees, filing GST and T4s
- Prepare monthly and annual financial statements for owners
- Identify and report to management profitable areas to plan for future growth
- Implemented new efficient accounting procedures and internal controls
- Tracking project costs, partnership investments and fixed asset tracking
- Liaison with external accountants, bank manager, finance companies, consultants and staff
- Provide technical support for entire company – set up new software programs, oversee large file transfers, setup of emails, networking computers, setup new printers, teach truckers how to use iPhones and resolve any miscellaneous computer issues.
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT/CONSULTANT
Brian Gervais Professional Corporation
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Prepare and file GST Returns & Payroll
- Use Profile to prepare T4 & T5 slips, personal tax returns
- Design, Develop and Train business processes for clients
- Reconcile Payroll accounts, GST and Tax accounts
- Used case wear to prepare year end entries, working papers and financial statements
- Work closely with clients, both small business and personal
- Prepare government letters in response to queries/audits.
OWNER/OPERATOR
The Stork's Closet
01.2005 - 01.2009
- Developed business processes and management reporting
- Full cycle accounting duties: Prepare financial statements, payroll, GST, corporate tax return, monitor cash flows, accounts payable & receivable, bank reconciliations
- Prepared budgets and financial forecasts
- Developed pricing strategies, designed and developed website
- Developed and implemented automated inventory tracking system, managed day to day operations
- Recruited, trained and supervised staff, prepared WCB reports & payroll.
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
The City of Calgary
01.2003 - 01.2004
- Prepare, consolidate, analyze and finalize budget programs
- Provide timely explanations of variances between actual results and forecasts/budgets; provide corrective action recommendations to management, where necessary
- Ensure accuracy, completeness of all budget components and compliance with guidelines
- Prepare Council Status Reports, monthly executive summaries and management reports
- Prepare year-end adjustments, periodic and annual financial statements and working papers
- Provide financial advice/services to assist management in decision making, effective cost controls and forecasting
- Collaborate with other business units and operations staff to interpret, apply and develop financial policies for internal controls to protect the assets of the business unit.
CONTROLLER
Tiverton Petroleum Limited
01.2002 - 01.2003
- Prepared management reports and attended board meetings
- Analyze budget variances monthly, review and analyze capital and operating expenditures
- Worked closely with auditors and answered queries
- Developed internal control system, recommend areas for improvement both financial and operational, and establish new accounting policies and procedures
- Full cycle accounting duties: Prepare financial statements, payroll, GST, corporate tax return, monitor cash flows, accounts payable & receivable, bank reconciliations, prepare cheques, Reviewing, coding and processing of payable invoices and Joint Venture Billings
- Hiring, supervising, and training accounting staff
- Verify and reconcile revenues, royalties and expenses to engineering and field reports.
ACCOUNTANT
British Petroleum (formerly Amoco)
01.1997 - 01.2000
- Work closely with land department to resolve contract issues with joint venture partners
- Pipeline & Storage Gas Balancing
- Government reporting
- Maintaining database queries to gather useful info and reports for team members
- Provide training and guidance for new employees
- Attend committee meetings and present information to supervisor
- Regulating workload, delegating work assignments, taking on extra work
- Assisted marketers with timely collection of payments
- Resolved customer volume and pricing disputes
- Advised credit department of late payers and helped administer payment plan
- Improved incoming payment process, information delay is reduced by 4 days
- Organized write-off report for management
- Provided monthly status reports and explanations to management
- Insured partners received payments, handled customer queries, resolved backlog issues
- Performed accounting tasks: preparing journal entries, clearing control accounts, issuing cheques
- Analyzed changes in expenses and revenue, explained variances to project managers
- Prepared monthly reports to management including variance explanations
- Initiated DOI project to ensure all expenses are billed to partners, recovered $780,000.
Education
CPA Accounting Designation -
CPA Alberta
Bachelor of Management - Accounting
University of Lethbridge
Skills
- Financial statements expertise
- Budget Preparation
- Internal control management
- Team Leadership
- Verbal and written communication
- Financial Management
- Decision-Making
- Positive Attitude
- Multitasking
- Problem-solving abilities
- Organizational Skills
- HR policies and procedures
Volunteering work experience
· ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGIATE: 2021 Parent Grad Committee: Chairperson
· CPA CANADA: Mentor to CPA students & panelist to assess final board presentations
· HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY: Not for Profit Organization: Treasurer
· EASTBROOK ELEMENTARY: Volunteer in classroom
· GRASSLANDS SOCCER ASSOCIATION: Coach
· BROOKS MINOR HOCKEY: Assist with fundraising & team support
· JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT: Mentor & Financial Advisor
· BP AMOCO SOCIAL CLUB: VP Administration & Membership Director
Timeline
Controller/HR Manager
Expera Information Technology Inc.
08.2022 - Current
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
RSD Group
03.2021 - 08.2022
ACCOUNTING MANAGER
Grant Thornton LLP & MNP
01.2019 - 01.2021
ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR
SD Professional Corporation & TSPC
01.2015 - 01.2019
ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR
Mastec Canada (formerly Big Country Energy Services Inc)
01.2013 - 01.2015
CONTROLLER
Rice Bros Trucking
01.2009 - 01.2013
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT/CONSULTANT
Brian Gervais Professional Corporation
01.2009 - 01.2010
OWNER/OPERATOR
The Stork's Closet
01.2005 - 01.2009
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
The City of Calgary
01.2003 - 01.2004
CONTROLLER
Tiverton Petroleum Limited
01.2002 - 01.2003
ACCOUNTANT
British Petroleum (formerly Amoco)
01.1997 - 01.2000
CPA Accounting Designation -
CPA Alberta
Bachelor of Management - Accounting
University of Lethbridge
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