Valerie Griffiths

Experience

• 

  BKD CPAs & Advisors

  Sept 2005 - Jul 2007

  Auditor

  - Audited financial statement elements for material misstatements.- Performed yellow-book audits for compliance with government funding requirements.- Worked with client personnel to obtain a thorough understanding of client processes and proceduresand recommended improvements where possible.- Supervised, trained and reviewed the work of new staff accountants.- Prepared financial statements on behalf of clients.

• 

  Raytheon

  Jul 2007 - May 2024

  - Drive Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) compliance, enabled by a broad array of experience.- As CAS Compliance Team Lead, oversee, coordinate, and develop a diverse team at multiple levels of experience.- Effectively led participation in the multi-year Defense Contract Auditing Agency (DCAA) Accounting System audit.- Successfully lead reviews of multi-level policy and directive updates.- Created a new Incurred Cost Proposal (ICP) model for the Intermediate Home Office for 2020, leading walkthroughs and RFI responses with DCAA and DCMA to foster understanding of the new ICP.- Respond to numerous Requests for Information (RFIs) regarding the Disclosure Statements and the Accounting System audit and successfully liaise with DCAA and Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) to drive understanding.- Serve as primary POC for subsidiaries, partnering with them to drive CAS compliance. Show less - Forecasted indirect costs for inclusion in the rate model.- Led the onboarding, training and development of new employees and worked in close collaboration with colleagues to drive tangible business improvements. -Taught Finance Onboarding EVM class to new employees and delivered indirect rates classes to organizational employees.- Partnered with foreign subsidiaries to forecast costs, manage rates, produce tax forecasts, and support external audits.-Liaised with internal and external customers, including government accounting division, cost accounting function, DCMA and DCAA regarding rates and indirect costs, accruals, distributions, and assessments, and for monthly rate performance reviews and rate audits.-Developed robust work instructions for effective documentation of complex rate processes.Key Contributions# Reviewed and re-designed outdated Excel templates with improved formulas to drive efficiency and accuracy.# Succeeded in responding to complex, quick-turnaround research and analytical requests as required. Show less Supervised and developed a team of 3 Analysts to perform contractual Earned Value Management (EVM) over 3 contracts, with ownership for creating forecasts and analyzing financial metrics, including sales, earnings, profit, and cash in liaison with the program leadership team. - Interviewed, recruited, and selected job candidates, training and mentoring new employees, developing and leading EVM learning opportunities for Control Account Managers and program management team, and creating performance reports for the Finance Manager. - Analyzed and prepared formal Estimates at Complete (EACs) to drive program decisions. - Ensured effective utilization of financial analysis and Earned Value Management (EVM) to support program objectives.Key Contributions Spearheaded strategic process improvements to drive efficiency and improve quality of deliverables for the program, including reducing financial CDLR delivery cycle time by 20%.  Improved visibility and movement of financial information across the program and customer by working collaboratively with the program leadership team to overhaul the way financial information was communicated.  Succeeded in leading and coordinating several integrated baseline reviews with customer and leadership team. Show less - Served as Subject Matter Expert during business-critical engineering reorganizations and business consolidations by providing strategic insights across multiple business areas and liaising with cross-functional teams to drive achievement of business and financial requirements. - Provided leadership, mentoring and support to new employees and served as primary resource regarding engineering finance issues. - Analyzed and utilized weekly and monthly reports, including Earned Value Management (EVM) reports to provide strategic financial advice and recommendations to the Technical Director and Principal Investigators during IR&D projects with the aim of supporting executive decision making. - Provided support and financial guidance, researching issues and inquiries and recommending actions. Show less

  • Manager, Accounting & Controllership

    Mar 2021 - May 2024

  • Principle Financial Analyst, Indirect Rates

    Jun 2018 - Mar 2021

  • Program Finance Lead

    Oct 2015 - Jun 2018

  • Senior Program Financial Analyst

    Aug 2014 - Oct 2015

  • Senior Engineering Financial Analyst

    Apr 2009 - Aug 2014

  • Financial Analyst, Internal Controls

    Jul 2007 - Apr 2009
• 

  Collins Aerospace

  May 2024 - now

  Senior Manager, Accounting and Controllership