Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Languages
Timeline
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Judith Marie Russell, MBA

Toronto,ON

Summary

Motivated financial professional, highly skilled in the preparation of financial reports, budgets, monitoring of cash disbursements, forecasts, GL account reconciliations, inter-company transaction, fixed assets, tax reporting, preparing for government, internal and external audits. Progressive 10 years Finance and Accounting experience, which includes Plant Controller, Project Management Finance Analyst roles and have MS Office Suite proficiency (Advance Excel, Word, Power Point and MS Access, SAP). Worked in Retail, CPG, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and the Music Industries. Talented financial leader well-versed in accounting principles and regulations. Motivated to keep company financial operations compliant, accurate and cost-effective. Ready to bring 10+ years of experience and take on challenging new role.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience

Work History

Plant Controller

Mondelez International
05.2022 - 08.2023
  • Responsible for the weekly and monthly Key Performance Indicators as it relates to Waste Management, Direct Labour and Overhead costs and root causes of variances
  • Monthly and periodic reconciliation of Expenses for outsourced Facilities Management
  • Oversee the duties of the Facilities Coordinator and Accounts Payable process with respect to this Cost Center
  • Coordinating with External Subcontractors to ensure expenses are within budget
  • Mentor to Facilities Clerk to ensure accuracy of in scope and out of scope accruals
  • Prepare month end journal entries as it relates to Utilities, Write-offs, Open PO’s, Fixed Costs in collaboration with Centralized and Global Finance Team in (US, Mexico), utilizing SAP Reports
  • Plant Coordinator for month end Goods Received process to ensure for timely cut-off of inventory receipts
  • Develop Tracker for Beautification/Plant Renovation Project in collaboration with Plant Business Development Leader to ensure Spend within Budget confines
  • Plant Lean Six Sigma Coordinator for Productivity Governance Team consisting of Plant leadership and senior management, including engineers, to track and conduct follow-ups of Savings Projects ($2M)
  • Subject Matter Expert (SME) in supporting Project managers in data entry and Cost Savings Analysis in Volt Productivity interface platform.

Senior Financial Analyst

Belmont Meat Products/Leadbetter Foods Inc
08.2021 - 01.2022
  • Responsible for the weekly, monthly, and quarterly sales analysis using Sales and Cost Margin variance analysis
  • Reporting on sales trends and KPI’s to the Vice President of Sales and Marketing; Group Controller and Manager of Sales and Finance
  • Responsible for the improvement in the automation of pricing of inventory at Leadbetter Inc
  • Project leader in the improvement and collection of accounts receivable at the Leadbetter Foods Inc, internally coordinating, customer service representatives, Shipping department representatives and Accounts receivable analyst in the successful reduction of the Aging A/R
  • Project leader in the implementation of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) at Belmont Foods, integral team member IT and working closely with external contractor, involving testing of electronic orders
  • Coordination of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to efficiently manage supply chain, and the accounts payable processing using the Bank interface system.

Senior Financial Accountant

Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency
01.2018 - 01.2020
  • Responsible for analysis of deposits and revenue as it relates to licenses for both Mechanical and Online Music
  • Provide coaching of accounts receivable/collections team
  • Redefined accounts payable processes to ensure vendors are paid on a timely basis
  • Finance lead on Pay as you Press project, presenting to project team financial information for successful implementation
  • Month-end processing of CMRRA financials including, monthly Bank Reconciliation for CMRRA (inclusive of Royalties (CAD and USD bank account and Domestic account), Prepaid Schedules; the uploading of reports from AS400 as the Cash book interface for both USD and CAD Royalties
  • Preparation of the financials of CMRRA-Socan Inc (Joint partnership), on Quick Books
  • Preparation and analysis of Deposits for Mechanical licenses (Pay-As -You -Press, Broadcast Mechanical licenses), and Online Music licensing for CMRRA
  • Ensuring correct tax rate applied and calculation of commission monthly and responsible for the preparation of service invoices
  • Accounts Payable Administrator-Reviewed purchase orders for purchase request on a weekly basis
  • Ensure best practices are adhered to reconcile with purchase requisition and signed off by the authorized signatory and ensure payment on a timely basis
  • Developed Interpersonal skills as the finance lead on Pay as you Press project, to collaborate with Royalties and operations team to successfully implement process of online payments.

Financial Analyst/Asst. Controller

Paramount Pallet Company
01.2016 - 01.2018
  • Responsible for preparation and analysis for profit and loss accounts of 7 depots nationwide with revenue of $40M (engaged in Monthly management review)
  • Responsible for Payroll Reconciliation project and instituted improvements in accounting department to enhance validation of accounting processes
  • Lead monthly account reconciliations
  • Coaching accounting staff
  • Executed role of Controller within finance and planning department at Paramount Pallet on temporary basis
  • Performed monthly close and general ledger accounting for 7 depots nationwide and involved with monthly management review of the consolidated P&L with the depot managers
  • Investigate variances of actual from budget on month over month basis for CEO
  • Spearheaded bank Reconciliation project and improved operational efficiency by reducing bank reconciliation process of clearing cheques by 85% in both Canadian and US$ currency
  • Project coordinator for payroll reconciliation project to improve upon validation and accuracy
  • Collaborated with finance team and operational/ depot mangers to assist in preparation of operational budget and capital asset budget
  • Prepared cash flow reports monthly as a measurement of Key Performances Indicator (KPI), for management
  • Acting as mentor to finance department, with one direct report
  • Verified purchase orders/requisition to ensure integrity of purchases and examined and authorized payment of invoices not limited to Payroll garnishments, Payroll benefits, Workers Compensation remittances and monthly bill payments to stakeholders.

Financial Analyst

Unified Purchasing Group of Canada
01.2012 - 01.2016
  • Responsible for financial processes for three companies (UPGC, Artistic Minds International (AMI) and YUM! Restaurants Call Centers) including th analysis of month-end financial statements: Balance Sheets, Cash Flow Statements, General Ledger (G/L) account reconciliations, budgeting, forecasting, in addition to Profit and Loss (P&L) variance analysis reports
  • Responsible for Cost Price Variances analysis and explanations
  • Responsible for the preparation of interim and annual audit lead schedules
  • Prepared and analyzed the UPGC, Print Division and Call Center balance sheet reconciliation and booked the relevant intercompany transactions monthly, to ensure the integrity of the monthly and annual financials
  • Analyzed and presented data to senior management levels in making in the preparation of the Taco Bell Annual Operating Budget with spend of over $2M in collaboration with the Procurement and Supply Chain Division
  • Analyzed and managed the Cost Price Variances applying complex analysis techniques that catalyzed the recovery of over $40,000 year to date of cross docking charges not according to the contract
  • Managed the analysis of over $500K in cost savings of the three brands for board executives
  • Project lead for the Print Division system development, managing the administration of Meta system, ensuring proper and new codes are aligned in the sub-systems and users are trained
  • Prepared audit lead schedules and demonstrated leadership skills as Team Lead and coordinator for interim and yearly financial audits
  • Resulting in the timely completion of audit schedules
  • Developed relationship with tax authorities as coordinator for tax audits resulting in reasonable assurance regarding the operations, tax compliance and obligations.

Education

MBA - Finance

University of Manchester
Manchester, UK

Project Management -

Humber College

Bachelor of Business Administration & Accounting -

University of Technology

CPA designation studies -

01.2024

Skills

  • Month-end Accounting
  • Journal Entries & Financial reporting in both IFRS & US GAAP
  • Business Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting
  • KPI performance reporting, Financial variances analysis & reporting
  • Revenue & Operations Costs Analysis, Internal Controls & Procedures
  • P&L, Balance Sheet & GL reconciliations
  • Large master data analysis and communication of data insights
  • Fixed & Leasing Assets Accounting
  • Advance MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook & PowerPoint)
  • Power BI Quickbooks Tableau SAP Oracle ACCPAC Great Plains

Accomplishments

  • Plant Controller at Mondelez – responsible for month-end closing, plant labour & headcount analysis, journal entries, financial reporting & variance analysis, KPI reporting and month-end review with senior operations management. Cost Saving Projects included waste and operations costs reductions. Line and product analysis.
  • Belmont Meats – Senior Financial Analyst- Responsible for the weekly, monthly, and quarterly sales analysis using Sales and Cost Margin variance analysis. Reporting on sales trends and KPI’s to the Vice President of Sales and Marketing; Group Controller and Manager of Sales and Finance
  • Paramount Pallet-Manufacturing environment, responsible for 7 depots financials, USD and AUS intercompany reporting, Fixed Asset reporting, AR and AP sub-ledger closing, cash flow reporting, payroll reconciliation.
  • Unified Purchasing Group. Financial Analyst - Managed the analysis of over $500K in cost savings of the three brands to create visibility and the positive impact on the business units cost structure.

Languages

English
Full Professional

Timeline

Plant Controller

Mondelez International
05.2022 - 08.2023

Senior Financial Analyst

Belmont Meat Products/Leadbetter Foods Inc
08.2021 - 01.2022

Senior Financial Accountant

Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency
01.2018 - 01.2020

Financial Analyst/Asst. Controller

Paramount Pallet Company
01.2016 - 01.2018

Financial Analyst

Unified Purchasing Group of Canada
01.2012 - 01.2016

MBA - Finance

University of Manchester

Project Management -

Humber College

Bachelor of Business Administration & Accounting -

University of Technology

CPA designation studies -

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Judith Marie Russell, MBA