Lee-Ann Crooks
Castaways Beach,QLD
Summary
Consistently bringing a vibrant energy for clients and genuinely enjoying the interaction with and assistance to customers. I am dedicated and focused on achieving performance goals and I am comfortable working with high net worth individuals in social and business settings, having spent many years in the accounting and finance industry across Australia and Europe.
I have continued to meet the requirements for the professional Chartered Accountant's certification. Future study plans include the completion of a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning.
I am a dedicated mother of 3 school-aged children and a proud community member, having volunteered my professional skills among a number of not-for-profit organisations on the Sunshine Coast including Noosa Barbell Club and Peregian Beach Community Kindergarten. I also volunteer at my local surf club and bushcare group.
I am an organised and dependable candidate, successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Manager / Customer Service Manager
GymZOOnasium
01.2021 - 12.2023
- Communicated with customers and vendors positively with particular attention to problem resolution and customer retention.
- Used professional acumen, customer service skills and analytical nature to resolve customer concerns and promote loyalty.
- Leveraged data and analytics from customer databases to make business improvement and efficiency recommendations.
- Maintained professional demeanour by staying calm when addressing unhappy customers.
- Assisted business owners in overall cost efficiencies and targeted customer strategies.
- Managed end-to-end business for short periods whilst business owners remote and non-contactable.
Accountant and Business Owner
LKS Consulting, HSE Consulting, Greensquare PL
01.2013 - Current
- Developed and managed small family consulting businesses
- Assisted in creating workplace health and safety audit risk management systems.
- All aspects of accounting, book-keeping, compliance reporting, tax obligations and ad-hoc customer support across the businesses
- Balanced motherhood and business.
- Enhanced working knowledge of small business accounting and ATO reporting requirements.
- Completed tax forms in compliance with legal regulations (BAS lodgement, Trust accounting and tax lodgements)
- Analysed financial data to assist in budget creation and forecasting.
- Developed and implemented procedures to improve accounting efficiency.
- Developed monthly, quarterly and annual profit and loss statements and balance sheets.
- Created, maintained and updated manuals, procedures, specifications and other documents for client deliverables.
- Edited and proof-read workplace health and safety technical documents for accuracy and consistency.
- Organised material to research and complete writing tasks.
- Followed established auditing processes.
- Communicated with audit staff to obtain necessary information for audits.
Manager, Financial Assurance
PricewaterhouseCoopers
10.2005 - 03.2012
- Progressed from undergraduate program to Accountant, Senior Accountant, and Manager within the Financial Services service line of Audit and Assurance.
- Awarded the prestigious Financial Services Leadership Apprenticeship in 2006
- Initiated new projects - assisted onboarding of lateral recruits including experienced-hires training and hosting networking functions; assisted in forming a highly specialist superannuation sub-team.
- Professional secondments to PwC Papua New Guinea, PwC The Netherlands, PwC Perth, and PwC Brisbane.
- Developed expertise and reputation for specialist knowledge in Superannuation funds (particularly compliance audits).
- Consistently delivered on multiple projects within client-driven timeframes, managing teams of 2-15 junior auditors and reporting to several audit partners simultaneously.
- Technical work - assessed client controls and control frameworks, performed audit procedures on financial information arising from complex data systems and also spreadsheets, assisted in preparation of detailed audit findings and recommendations for client management teams and executive leadership; prepared working papers, reports and supporting documentation for audit findings.
- Involved in reviewing of board papers and minutes, and attending board meetings to deliver audit findings with audit partner.
- Created technical content and delivered training for junior auditors.
- Verified accuracy, compliance and completeness of team auditing work.
- Liaised between clients and internal audit staff to address concerns with procedures, scheduling or results in a timely and respectful manner.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance through regular team meetings.
- Took initiative in gathering information and solving problems independently within highly structured corporate environments.
- Formed excellent rapport with internal executive assistants, internal technical experts, and support staff across the firm.
- Assisted in annual employee performance reviews for juniors on my teams.
Project Accountant
Hewlett Packard Australia
01.2004 - 10.2005
- Managed the timing, job cost forecasts, cash flow and staff resources on a project basis for large Information Systems clients, reporting directly to the Executive Project Manager.
- Daily communications by phone, email and in-person meetings with project managers.
- Worked with SAP accounting and project management software and other, in-house software.
- Reported and assessed project profitability to leadership team members timely and accurately.
- Contributed to the improved efficiency and accuracy of manual spreadsheets used in management reporting by incorporating robust financial modelling principals.
Group Accountant
Standard Bank of South Africa
10.2002 - 12.2003
- Daily gathering, checking and preparation of group reporting data for consolidation of branch and subsidiary financial information at the Global Headquarters.
- Liasing daily by phone with >10 counterparts in Africa, Europe and Asia; managing relationships with cultural barriers; embracing language challenges and creatively problem solving for the gathering of the required data in a timely way.
- Improved the process for data collection, financial analysis and financial modeling by incoporating financial modelling fundamentals and automating the reconciliations.
- Leveraged finance knowledge to strengthen controls and improve transparency of my role.
Assistant Accountant
Industrial Bank of Japan (now Mizuho Financial Group)
02.1999 - 03.2001
- Direct report to the Financial Controller of a small wholesale bank.
- Daily completion of manual AUD and foreign currency bank reconciliations with international and domestic banks
- Accounts payable processing, including timely investigations and resolutions of discrepancies
- Daily regulatory reporting to ASIC on bank transaction statistics
- Assisting in the GST implementation during 2000 for the bank's accounts payable software including rigorous testing and dual software application.
- Reconciled company accounts for credit cards and employee expenses.
- Assisted employees with filling out expense reports and claims.
- Established a strong work ethic, gained valuable exposure to senior banking executives in Sydney, whilst studying part time Bachelor Degree in Commerce (Accounting).
Education
Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning -
Kaplan Professional
Chartered Accountant - Graduate Diploma - Accounting
Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia And New Zealand
Sydney, NSW06.2010
B. Commerce (Accounting) -
Monash University
Melbourne, VIC02.2006
Higher School Certificate -
Springwood High School
Blue Mountains, NSW09.1998
Skills
- Bookkeeping and Reconciliation
- International Accounting Standards
- Financial Controls and Process Improvements
- Financial Reporting and Budget Preparation
- Financial Data Analysis
- Microsoft Word and Excel
- Customer Service and Relationships
- Written and Verbal Communication
- Attention to Detail
- Financial Auditing
- Financial Modelling
Timeline
Business Manager / Customer Service Manager
GymZOOnasium
01.2021 - 12.2023
Accountant and Business Owner
LKS Consulting, HSE Consulting, Greensquare PL
01.2013 - Current
Manager, Financial Assurance
PricewaterhouseCoopers
10.2005 - 03.2012
Project Accountant
Hewlett Packard Australia
01.2004 - 10.2005
Group Accountant
Standard Bank of South Africa
10.2002 - 12.2003
Assistant Accountant
Industrial Bank of Japan (now Mizuho Financial Group)
02.1999 - 03.2001
Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning -
Kaplan Professional
Chartered Accountant - Graduate Diploma - Accounting
Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia And New Zealand
B. Commerce (Accounting) -
Monash University
Higher School Certificate -
Springwood High School
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