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The Scoop on FEWnet
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. . . . .
"Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings."
- Jane Austen
Live with intention. It's a quote that we often
hear, and just as often sigh, nod our heads, and say
'Yes! That's what I need to be doing.' Then busy
season comes (whether that refers to work, family
schedules or both), and we find ourselves living in
the minute versus enjoying the moment.
This month's Member Spotlight, Christina
Melloh, speaks of how much she enjoys taking an hour
a month to spend with her FEWnet small group.
Table Talk includes some interesting discussion
around how we ease our workload through both
contract and permanent hiring. Announcements
highlight the very popular Women on Boards
dinner, as well as a great opportunity to rediscover
our purpose and potential, and the possibilities
that come out of that knowledge. If you are looking
for help easing your workload, we encourage you to
check out our featured contract or perm
candidates.
Finally, we are excited to announce that Melissa
Mlakar has joined the Certes Financial Pros team
and will be taking over many of the
administrative tasks that keep our small groups
running smoothly, as well as the event planning that
goes into throwing our famous FEWnet parties. Dori
Estrella will continue to manage the overall growth
of our FEWnet community but Melissa will be the
primary point of contact for all of your FEWnet
needs. Please feel free to contact her at
mmlakar@certespros.com or 952.345.3437.
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FEWnet Member Spotlight
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. . . . .
C'est la vie (say lah VEE). An expression
used to play down some minor disappointment: "So we
lost a softball game by twenty-two runs. What can
you do; c'est la vie." From French, meaning "that's
life."
- The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third
Edition
Christina Melloh
Christina Melloh is Senior Corporate Counsel at St. Paul
Travelers, a Fortune 500 leader in insurance,
surety products, and risk management services. In
her current role, she is responsible for
international tax planning, reporting, and audits.
Her team also provides counsel for cross border
start ups, mergers and acquisitions, and
dispositions.
With a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Indiana
State University, a JD from the University of
Minnesota, and an MPA from the John F. Kennedy
School of Government at Harvard University, to say
that Christina is an accomplished scholar is an
understatement. She is also a passionate champion of
both libraries and transit, and an infectious
personality that truly embodies the spirited
optimism of one of her favorite mottos, "c'est la vie."
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Table Talk
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. . . . .
Read about hot topics from this month's FEWnet small
group discussions.
Rolling forecasts.
This month's FEWnet groups found a wide variability
around exactly how a rolling forecast approach is
being implemented. Some companies are using a
rolling four quarter or six quarter forecast, while
other companies finalize an annual plan, review it
on a monthly basis, and re-project the balance of
the year expected results (while sticking to a more
traditional calendar for planning the upcoming
year). Various approaches prompted questions, such
as: can we eliminate the annual operating plan by
having a more current and reliable forecast, as well
as if business cultures, bonuses, etc. are tied to
the plan, how do all these elements work together?
More to come on this topic...
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Perm Placement Network
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. . . . .
The Perm Placement Network by Certes connects
financial professionals with permanent positions in
the Twin Cities.
Hear about the jobs you want.
Maintain the confidentiality you
need.
Check out a sample list of perm jobs that we could
be working on today:
Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis
Work with the best in the world! Manage the
preparation of the division long-range plan,
quarterly reviews/forecasts, and annual business
plan. Prepare and review capital appropriation
requests, as well as reports, ad-hoc analysis, and
presentations for
Corporate. A team player with demonstrated
leadership skills, the ideal candidate will be a
solutions provider who is ready to drive business
growth in a fast paced industry. Salary starts at $75K
Tax Manager
Manage a team that is responsible for a variety of
income tax compliance and planning projects,
including preparing federal, state, and local income
tax returns; assisting in managing federal income
tax audits; proposing and implementing state income
tax savings opportunities; and performing tax due
diligence and integration functions on domestic
acquisitions. A great fit for a dynamic leader with
savvy communication skills and the desire to grow
with a global leader! Salary starts at $90K
Controller
A demonstrated visionary with superior decision
making skills, our client seeks a CPA to manage all
financial functions, credit and collections, accounts
payable, capital asset accounting, management
accounting, and internal and external financial
reporting and analysis. High impact players looking
to lead the financial success of a fast growing
company are encouraged to apply! Salary starts at
$100K + bonus potential
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Announcements
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. . . . .
Women on Boards
Women still only represent 13.6% of the membership
of Fortune 500 company boards, but new expectations
for board members of all organizations are creating
possibilities for women. Join leaders and active
board members Mary Jeffries, COO of Petters Group
Worldwide; Cyndi Lesher, President and CEO of Xcel
Energy Minnesota; and Sheila Riggs, President and
CEO of Delta Dental of Minnesota in an engaging
evening of conversation.
Sponsor: SHARP UpSwing
Tuesday, November 28
4:30 PM to 8:00 p.m.
Metropolitan Ballroom, 5418 Wayzata Blvd, Golden Valley
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. . . . .
Powerful Persuasion! -- Professional Development for
Women
Discover your purpose, possibility, and potential.
Learn how to lead with confidence and conviction,
communicate effectively, and move others to action -
all while advancing your professional profile. Lori
Giovannoni, nationally known speaker and author of
"The Law of Achievement," will headline the evening.
First 100 registrants will receive a free book!
Sponsor: Executive Women International -
Minneapolis, St. Paul & Rochester Chapters
Wednesday, November 15
Presentation 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Social Hour & Book
Signing at 6:00 p.m.
Dinner at 6:45 p.m.
The Grand Hotel, 615 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis
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Long-Term Contractors / Perm Candidates
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. . . . .
Featured Contractor #1
Technical skills: Account analysis, cost
accounting, fund accounting, physical inventory,
inventory costing, year-end close, and more!
Computer skills: Excel, PowerPoint, Crystal
Reports, Oracle General Ledger, JD Edwards,
PeopleSoft, and SAP.
Industry experience: Consulting,
manufacturing, warehouse, distribution, and
non-profit.
A hands-on CPA/MBA, this Certes Pro loves the
operations side of business and has strong process
improvement experience.
Bill rate: $64/hr.
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Featured Contractor #2
Technical skills: General ledger, month and
year-end close, audit, cash flow, financial
reporting, and financial statement preparation makes
for a great addition to any team!
Computer skills: Access, Oracle, Excel and
Excel Macros, Quicken, Lawson, Hyperion, and
PeopleSoft.
Industry experience: Manufacturing and
hospitality.
This Excel expert offers a strong blend of IT and
accounting experience with a passion for data
mining.
Bill rate: $86/hr.
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Featured Perm Candidate #1
Technical skills: General ledger, month and
year-end close, budgeting, cost accounting,
financial analysis, strategic planning, and more.
Computer skills: Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, Excel
Macros, Lotus Macros, and SAP.
Industry experience: Agribusiness, banking,
health care, wholesale, manufacturing, and retail.
An MBA with vast systems knowledge, this
professional brings a solid planning and analysis
background complimented by an impressive progression
in accounting roles.
Target compensation: $85,000.
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Featured Perm Candidate #2
Technical skills: Accounts payable and
receivable, payroll, computer conversions, system
installations, audit, business plans, commissions,
property reporting, fixed assets, and much more.
Computer skills: Oracle, Excel, Quicken, and
SAP.
Industry experience: Consulting, computers,
health care, and e-commerce.
A bright and personable CPA with broad, progressive
experience in finance, accounting, and systems.
Target compensation: $130,000.
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Call Certes at 952-345-4140 for more information
about our outstanding contractors and perm
candidates...or check us out at www.certespros.com!
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