Zakia Simmons

Experience

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  Arthur Anderson, LLP

  Dec 1995 - Nov 1999

  Audit and Business Advisory Experienced Senior Auditor

  • Served as key staff for financial, IT and integrated assurance engagements• Performed audit activities and conducted interviews in conjunction with detecting fraud, waste and abuse and adherence to compliance requirements; prepared and reviewed reports with senior management• Reviewed, documented, evaluated, and tested manual and automated computer controls and processes throughout the corporate IT environment, including server, application, middleware, and client-side• Assessed the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting• Created test scripts and templates, audited test samples and documented results and conclusions on the effectiveness of tested controls • Analyzed financial records related to complex investigations, using Excel, Access and other internal databases• Utilized corroborative inquiry, observation, examination of documentation and re-performance techniques in audit investigations • Wrote audit findings, recommendations, and other data of the draft and final audit report to address findings• Updated gap analysis, assessment of deficiencies and provided best practice guidelines Show less

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  Enron Wholesale Services

  Dec 1999 - Dec 2001

  • Verified deal representation in trading system for Physical Commodity deals for proper corporate level • Interacted with support/risk functions (credit, market risk, technology, legal, compliance, finance, operations) to ensure trading practices in compliance w/policies• Appropriately handled deviation, exceptions and prudentially escalated control breakdowns or improper accounting to senior management• Daily collaboration with offices in Houston, London and Calgary to ensure proper handoff of global workload between locations Show less

  • Risk Analytics Lead (Trading Floor) - Global Operations

    Aug 2001 - Dec 2001

  • Quality Performance & Customer Account Manager - Customer Issues Management

    Dec 1999 - Aug 2001
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  Enron Wholesale Services

  Mar 2002 - Oct 2003

  Senior Manager Bankruptcy Quality Control

  • Managed 12 analyst in the review and compilation of financial data (MTM, credit, AP, AR) for final settlement in bankruptcy proceedings • Coordinated with Commercial Leads and Legal team on documents and data requests

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  The Siegfried Group, LLP & Pricewaterhouse Coopers

  Jul 2004 - Jul 2006

  Experienced Audit & Business Development Associate

  • Analyzed financial statements to identify trends and anomalies in financial data; effectively resolved accounting issues• Identified and assessed risks of material misstatement of financial reports due to fraud• Evaluated the effectiveness of internal control policies concerning the preparation of financial statements and recommended areas of improvement• Assisted with the preparation of audit reports for review with management• Designed and implemented responses to material misstatements, tested appropriateness of journal entries while focusing at end of reporting period• Reviewed accounting estimates for bias and analyzed significant unusual transactions• Focused on key operational, accounting and financial reporting controls within the assigned areas and scope for SOX reviews• Detected operating deficiencies and proposed ways to remediate control failures• Participated in the implementation of new processes and corrective action plans to ensure SOX compliance Show less

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  Spectra Energy

  Jul 2006 - May 2015

  • Provided leadership for the US Operational Dashboard project team (15 members) that transformed monthly key performance indicator (KPI) reporting by developing and launching an innovative operational dashboard; enhanced end user experience (89%)• Developed, implemented, and maintained monthly performance scorecards (KPI) • US Operations Audit Program Workgroup Chair, providing leadership of the operational and compliance programs• Led monthly meetings with senior leadership to analyze audit findings and provided operational recommendations • Consolidated financial data and materials for key leadership meetings• Collaborated with Engineering and Construction department in reviewing and analyzing project spend throughout project life cycle• Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated them to other team members on assigned projects• Coordinated operational project meetings and decisions across 5 internal departments and teams• Tracked project performance and delegated project tasks; identified project gaps, communicated project updates and ensured that risks were communicated timely• Identified significant findings and risks, prepared authoritative recommendations and resolved a wide range of oversight issues• Prepared and assisted with implementation of risk mitigation and remediation plans• Conducted risk assessments, gap analysis, department interviews and audit walkthroughs Show less • Market research and analysis (expansion projects, M&A, divestitures, structuring, impairment analysis, inputs to capital budget forecast)• Consolidated comprehensive energy data, prepared written analysis, charts, presentations and reports to assist M&A team in developing capital investment strategies • Researched, consolidated data and prepared concise reports on company assets, competitor companies and emerging market trends• Coordination of project/transaction governance and approval process (guidance to and collaboration with commercial and functional teams, framing and refining final documents) Show less • Provided leadership for the day to day operations of the Revenue Billing department, with combined staff of 6-8 analysts; prioritized work load, onboarding and training of new accounting analysts• Responsible for recording revenue and reviewing A/R reports for pipeline customers• Collaborated with Contracts team in reviewing and highlighting contract elements for revenue recognition and billing milestones• Prepared standard and complex journal entries for project and (JV) contracts • Monthly forecasting of throughput revenue and prepared income projections for review with Accounting Manager• Collaborated with internal stakeholders to resolve issues related to revenue reporting, contracts, system implementations, billing inconsistencies and business continuity• Prepared revenue reports and work papers used to support SEC filings for 10-K and 10-Q • Responsible for revenue recognition accounting research, along with preparation of accounting white papers • Coordinated internal testing of key revenue SOX controls Show less

  • Project Manager - US Operations (Strategic Projects & Operations Management Systems)

    May 2009 - May 2015

  • Manager/Market Research - Strategic Development & Analysis

    Aug 2007 - May 2009

  • Senior Analyst (Billing and JV Projects) – Corporate Controller’s

    Jul 2006 - Aug 2007
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  The Harris Center

  Dec 2015 - now

  Accountant/Project Manager

  • Project Manager for initiative to develop and implement agency wide compliance policy and procedures for deposits and security of funds• Project Manager for detailed IT asset evaluation and reconciliation of fixed asset purchases of technology equipment (computers, laptops, printers, software) • Planning, scheduling and liaison with multiple agency departments to complete reviews, assessments and analysis of data and records• Analyzes data, records and information for input in reports, schedules and presentations for department and senior leadership• Responsible for detailed monitoring of assigned vendor accounts; prepares associated monthly vendor accruals• Determines root-cause of significant and unusual variances in actuals vs. budget, forecasts and prior periods• Prepares, records and supports complex monthly recurring and adjusting journal entries• Reconciles balance sheet and income statement accountsInformation Technology• Department technology training lead; responsibility for preparing and maintaining cyber-security training material for AP & Treasury personnel• Assist in administering user accounts, Exchange mailboxes, and security and distribution• Routine installation and maintenance of Windows and desktop software, service packs, patches, and anti- virus updates• Assist with managing asset inventory and deploying imaged desktops/laptops to end users• Assist with preparing training materials and conduct training on cyber-security best practices • Assist with special projects as required Show less