Lauren Bowden Thomas

Experience

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  Navistar Financial

  Jan 1998 - Jan 1999

  Assistant Finance Sales Representative
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  Columbus Fair Auto Auction

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2001

  Dealer Sales Representative
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  American Showa

  Mar 2001 - Apr 2004

  Sales Specialist
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  Bowden Motors, Inc.

  Apr 2004 - May 2018

  Managed all daily operations and business transactions including supervising sales staff; approving and processing deals to be sent to lenders, appraising trades; worked with vendors and service providers for reconditioning; and supervised detail department, mechanics, and sales personnel. Attended auctions, buying cars for dealership and monitoring mechanics during recondition process. Handled all financial and accounting matters such as completing payroll and tax reporting and preparing monthly and yearly financial statements. Manage dealership website; hired and trained employees; purchased equipment; negotiated pricing with vendors and body shops. Oversaw closing of business and properties including sale of parking lot and building to residents.* Effectively assumed mantle of leadership following death of owner, leading dealership into award winning success in male dominated industry. Resulted in achieving highest volume of sales for independent auto dealers in Logan County from 2014 until close of dealership in 2018; receiving Preferred Warranties’ Quality Dealer Award from 2014-2017; and earning nomination for Ohio Independent Auto Dealers’ Assn. Quality Dealer of the Year designation in 2017. * Increased sales, service work, shop profits, and backend penetration through improved hiring practices, replacing ineffective staff with higher producing employees, providing personal training, and improving employee employee-customer relations. Also, increased revenues by raising doc fees.* Utilized savvy negotiation tactics with vendors to save $100 per panel over competitors. Show less Managed all financial and operational functions daily. Held accounts payable and accounts receivable responsibilities ensuring car deals funded. Used QuickBooks in this responsibility as well as in producing all financial statements. Managed floor plan line of credit for cars and completed yearly reports to maintain credit line.Set up and administered QuickBooks for CPA firm use, prepared all payroll, completed all tax reporting, and produced monthly and yearly financial statements. Negotiated with vendors to ensure best prices to maintain lower costs.Oversaw sales staff and other employees, approving and processing deals to be sent to lenders, appraising trades. Promoted good customer service with both in-person and internet sales; maintained website, and purchased cars at auctions for sale and appraised trade-ins.* Saved on purchase of cars by switching car buying auctions, eliminating issue of dealers bringing cars from one auction to another. Show less

  • President

    Jun 2014 - May 2018

  • Treasurer

    Apr 2004 - Jun 2014
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  OhioHealth

  Jul 2019 - Dec 2019

  Service Excellence Ambassador

  Customer service/patient representative at Grant Medical Center and Grove City Methodist Hospital

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  ETC Auto Group LLC dba Funky's Automotive

  Nov 2019 - Oct 2023

  Accounting Controller

  Report directly to the Dealer Principal and oversee the daily accounting operations of the business. Maintain an adequate system of accounting records and a comprehensive set of controls and budgets designed to mitigate risk, ensure the accuracy of the company's reported financial results, and maximize profit. In addition, handle daily accounting operations to ensure efficient cash management, a smooth flow of all transactions, clean accounting records, and recording of all transactions in compliance with the dealership’s accounting processes and internal controls. Also tasked with developing periodic financial reports that comply with generally accepted accounting principles. Show less

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  RedBrick Financial Partners

  Feb 2024 - now

  Client Partner

  Lead assigned client relationships and act as the main point of contract to streamline communication.Learn client’s business and handle daily accounting process in the roles of bookkeeper, senior accountant and controller, producing financial reports and handling all accounting transactions, including payroll and invoicing depending on client.Handle “cleanup” accounting to correct books for new clients, and special projects for ongoing clients.Conducted forensic audit for new client upon request and discovered $200,000+ embezzlement. Took over accounting and invoicing duties for client upon employee termination. Show less