Deborah Ames

Experience

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  Chevron USA Production Company

  May 1989 - Sept 1999

  Accounting Analyst

  While at Chevron USA Production Company I was one of three principle members of an interdisciplinary team that developed new work processes, organizational alignment, and manpower recommendations for a group of 300 employees in anticipation of conversion to a new accounting system (SAP). I quickly learned the capabilities of the new system, studied existing standard operating procedures, held focus groups with stakeholders to understand concerns, and met with industry competitors utilizing SAP to fully understand efficiencies and challenges that Chevron would face. I mapped job functions from the old to the new organization, analyzed resources needed in the new organization, validated cost savings, and documented standard operating procedures for the new structure. I partnered with another oil & gas company for competitor benchmarking and to develop "best practices". I presented the recommendations with alignment alternatives to Chevron Production Company’s President’s staff and the proposal was accepted. The new organization’s streamlined work processes centralized clerical work which allowed the accountants to focus on key business, enjoyed high employee satisfaction and acceptance, and reduced overall payroll costs. After implementation of SAP, I developed tracking reports and synthesized results to give management visibility to metrics. I analyzed data to identify key issues and trends. I reviewed statistical data to identify root cause of prior period adjustments and implemented process changes to eliminate the need for future adjustments. Worked for Chevron for over 10 years, holding positions of increasing responsibility including royalty accounting, lease revenue accounting (oil, gas, and gas marketing), and audit & litigation support. Served as subject matter expert providing guidance to peers. Supervised two employees. Show less

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  21st Century Toys

  Jan 2008 - May 2008

  Accountant

  Reviewed royalty contracts and calculated quarterly royalty payments. Discovered prior period overpayments to 18 licensors resulting in $144,000 in royalty offsets. Analyzed 23 months of source data (factory purchase orders, accounts payable invoices, customer purchase orders, and customer invoices) in response to audit inquiry and created a Microsoft excel spreadsheet to clearly define products manufactured and sold. Recommended corrections to royalty reports and general ledger. Calculated year-end inventory values and updated Peachtree Accounting database to reflect accurate physical inventory and value Show less

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  Celera Corporation

  Dec 2008 - Jul 2009

  Senior Accountant

  Interpreted contracts for financial implications, calculated accruals, analyzed variances, queried /extracted SAP data and created complex Microsoft excel workbooks (using v-lookup and pivot tables) on a daily basis. Calculated a complicated high exposure quarterly revenue adjustment under tight deadlines. Accuracy and methodology verified by audit. Prepared financial statements and useful ad hoc reports for management. Identified faulty reasoning in a quarterly invoice saving Celera $190,000 for the first quarter of 2009 and set precedent for eliminating future over-charges. Analyzed royalty contracts, calculated and paid royalties. Identified unused 3rd party deductions and unused pricing options resulting in a reduction to Celera’s royalty burden by $400,000 per year. Show less

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  Celera, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics

  Mar 2010 - Nov 2015

  Senior Financial Analyst, Financial Planning and Analysis - Revenue and Royalties

  Solely responsible for all aspects of Royalty Accounting at Celera. Developed a database and systematic approach to ensure timely and accurate payment of up-front license fees, milestones, annual minimums, quarterly royalty payments and reporting obligations to licensors. In-depth knowledge of contractual obligations for complicated and varied Intellectual Property, Profit Sharing, Development & Supply, and Consulting Agreements. A valued resource to Business Development, Marketing, and Finance groups for input to new contracts, amendments and possible business scenarios. Determines if contractual requirements of new agreement / amendments are executable and suggests contract language and exhibits. Analyzes monthly / quarterly financial results, researches and explains any deviations from forecast and budget. Prepares monthly “close notes” to explain discrepancies to management. Responsible for quarterly calculation and settlement of complex, high exposure Distribution Agreement under tight deadlines. Analyzes and books revenue, free goods, adopted royalty licenses, and rebates. After Quest’s acquisition of Celera, a key player in establishing new signature authorization levels for Celera’s 450 employees in accordance with Quest’s Signature Authorization Matrix and in mapping / transitioning the authority levels from SAP to PeopleSoft. Remained a reliable and productive employee while continually looking for process improvements during a volatile time at Celera with multiple organizational changes, conflicting deadlines and changing priorities. Established a Revenue Recognition process improvement saving 9 hours per month. Calculates monthly accruals and reconciles accounts. Updates quarterly expense forecasts and annual budget. Essbase administrator. Called upon for special projects, on-site royalty audit liaison, SOX compliance, 10-K and 10-Q reporting, royalty receivable contract analysis, and lease contract obligations. Show less

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  Alameda Alliance for Health

  Jan 2016 - now

  Senior Financial Analyst