DEBORAH R.

SCHULER
Chicago, Illinois 60640 Residence (773) 728-8827 Cell (847) 372-2518 drschuler@dschuler.com www.linkedin.com/in/drschuler

DETAIL ORIENTED FINANCIAL ANALYST WITH BUDGETING EXPERTISE

Extremely motivated financial professional with exceptional leadership skills and an extensive background in the analytical disciplines. Demonstrates abilities in strategic planning for technology management and corporate development. Highly proficient with a track record of successful upper level communications both within the company and with customer representatives. Excellent qualifications in budget preparation, variance analysis and other management accounting tools that positively impact a firms bottom line through contro l of revenue and expenses. Strategic Planning Audit Planning Corporate Development Accounts Receivable Technology Management Negotiations Financial Analysis and Reporting Budgets, Forecasts and Variances

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
THE WELLPOINT COMPANIES Chicago, Illinois
2004 2013 Financial Operations Analyst Recruited to provide reporting and analysis for the sales compensation and broker commissions team of a major health insurance company. Designed and maintained Access databases to facilitate the calculation of internal sales incentives and bonuses in accordance with the annual compensation plan and periodic sales contests. Developed ad hoc analysis and monthly reports for sales management utilizing system information originally downloaded for incentive calculations. Provided monthly accruals to Finance for entry in general ledger. Reconciled accruals to actual incentive expenditures.

ACCOUNTEMPS Chicago, Illinois

2003 2004 Professional Launched a series of temporary assignments to various clients furnishing payroll services, reconciling general ledgers, devising adjusting entries, closing month and year ends and generating supporting documentation for external auditors. Consistently and quickly developed familiarity with customer systems, minimizing costs associated with the learning curve and resulting in numerous call back requests for additional services.

NEWS AMERICA MARKETING Chicago, Illinois

1997 2003 Financial Analyst, Merchandising Services Division Recruited to provide centralized accounting and financial services at the headquarters of a nationwide advertising entity. Supervised one employee in the accrual, reconciling and closing of general ledger accounts, examination of revenue, audit of billable costs and finalization of customer invoices. Personally developed supporting schedules for the annual budget of $30 million and quarterly revisions for presentation to upper management. Routinely analyzed all financial phases of the division. Increased profit margins on several jobs from an average of 2% to 7% by allocating budgeted and actual expenses by field office and holding managers responsible for all charges to Merchandising Accounts. Cut receivables aging for the companys largest client, providing 75% of total reven ue, by developing an electronic billing procedure through the networking of the accounting system and the Internet. Spearheaded the creation of a weekly report used to determine invoices to be billed within the coming month that provided impetus to Client Services to generate invoices on a timely basis. Powerforce Financial Analyst Chicago, Illinois 1996 1997 Prepared month-end closing entries, bank reconciliations and client reports for a company that later became the Merchandising Services Division of News America Marketing. Provided program costs to Account Managers for client invoicing. Researched payroll questions for the companys field merchandisers, and tracked wage garnishments for dissemination to creditors. Received request from the Finance Director via the temporary agency to accept full-time employment with the organization after completing initial assignments and moving on to a new assignment.

ACCOUNTEMPS Chicago, Illinois

Professional

1995 1997 1995 1996

DEBORAH R. SCHULER
Chicago, Illinois 60640 Residence (773) 728-8827 Cell (847) 372-2518 drschuler@dschuler.com www.linkedin.com/in/drschuler

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CITY OF EVANSTON Evanston, Illinois

1985 1995 Collections Manager, Finance Department 1991 1995 Accepted promotion to supervise seven employees in the recording and collecting of all city receivables except taxes, a total of $50 million annually for the Chicago suburb of 72,000. Managed the Bureau of Licenses and Measures, provided staff support to the Taxicab Advisory Board, coordinated the Water Departments disconnect list, produced the Boot List for Parking Control Officers and represente d the city in court in relation to multiple-ticket cases. Key player on the committee that chose and monitored implementation of an automated parking ticket system, reducing time required to post 67% with dramatically increased accuracy. Successfully lobbied for the reduction of outstanding tickets required to boot a vehicle from 10 to five, positively impacting cash flow without the added expense of securing judgement. Designed and put into place a required taxi driver-training course making use of expertise from the Police Department and industry representatives that significantly reduced the number of citizen complaints. Staff Services Assistant/Budget Analyst, Police Department 1985 1991 Entered department as the first financial professional to hold the position, preparing purchase order, distributing purchases and coding and approving invoices. Prepared the annual request for appropriation from the City Council averaging $14 million, developed the operating budget and prepared Budget versus Actual and Variance reports for command staff. Maintained financial control systems and served as backup for biweekly payroll preparation. Led City in the use of desktop computers, providing personal equipment and creating financial and budget spreadsheets as well as systemizing the tracking of purchase orders and accounts payable. Effectively communicated financial information to non-financial professionals providing needed information and removing the accounting burden from the law enforcement officers.

EARLY CAREER HISTORY

Playskool Incorporated; Chicago, Illinois; Profit Planning Analyst (1979 1985) Coordinated department budget requests included in annual profit plans. Responsible for computerizing segments of the planning process and supervised the loading of the budget into the general ledger system. Prepared monthly analysis of variance between actual and planned expenses. Playskool Incorporated; Chicago, Illinois; Procedures Manual Analyst (1978 1979) Trade Wind Tours; Honolulu, Hawaii (1977-1978)

EDUCATION
Saint Marys University; San Antonio, Texas Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, Magna cum Laude North Park College; Chicago, Illinois Certificate in Computer Studies, GPA 4.0