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Carol Sawatzky CPA, CA (ON)

CPA (MI, IL)


Tel 519-990-8889 Fax 519-948-9677 carolan_ca@hotmail.com

PERSONAL & CORPORATE ACCOUNTING & TAX Windsor & Essex County, ON | Metro Detroit, MI

December 2013 to the present

PERSONAL TAX SERVICES: Canadian personal tax returns from the simple to the complex. US commuter returns (1040NR), US 1040 for Canadian residents and related state/city returns. CORPORATE SERVICES - Canadian Small Business: Corporate tax, financial statements. Preparation and filing of T-slips (T4, T4A, T5 etc.). Financial projections for banks or business plans. As your controller-for-hire - yearend accounting services to minimize work required by your yearend accountant: review of your accounts and adjusting journal entries, preparation of working papers, preparation of financial statements and footnotes. CORPORATE SERVICES - Consulting Projects for US or Canadian Private Companies: Internal controls assessment and recommendations. Budgeting, forecasting, internal reporting, variance analysis. Other special corporate financial projects or reporting. ASSURANCE SERVICES - Consulting for US or Canadian Public Accountants: Assistance on any assurance-related project on a contract basis, from the simple to the complex. US GAAP or ASPE, or special frameworks. FREE initial consultations - call or text 519-990-8889 or email carolan_ca@hotmail.com FREE travel and pick-up and delivery of returns, financial statements or other reports within a specified area (Windsor, Essex County including Wheatley/Tilbury area, Metro Detroit).

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND Audit Senior Manager | Corporate Finance & Accounting | 1998-2013
Fifteen years of diversified experience with progressive responsibility in audit, internal controls, accounting under US GAAP, IAS/IFRS, Canadian GAAP and ASPE, budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, technical research, financial reporting and Canadian corporate and personal tax planning and tax returns. Eight of these years at supervisory or management level. Demonstrates extensive technical knowledge along with exceptional communication skills across all organizational levels, functions,
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Carol Sawatzky, CPA, CA

geographical areas and cultures, and a high level of energy and enthusiasm coupled with the desire and tenacity to consistently exceed expectations. Works independently, leading multiple teams to drive results and to drive process improvements, achieving greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Information Technology Skills


Extremely proficient in Excel and its use as a tool to resolve any analytical issue. Proficient in other Office applications, SAP, TaxPrep, Caseware and other audit software. Competent in Hyperion and Cognos. Very quick to learn new programs and applications.

Professional Skills
Personal Tax and Tax Planning Corporate Tax and Tax Planning Assurance and Corporate Consulting Skills:
Risk-Based Audits Design, Planning, Fieldwork and WrapUp Internal Controls Operating Effectiveness Project Budgeting and Fee Recommendation Technical Research Special Compliance Audits Detailed Gross Profit Analysis Internal Controls COSO Internal Controls Design Effectiveness Client Advisory US GAAP, IAS, Canadian GAAP, ASPE and Accounting Framework Conversion Consolidation of Financial Reporting and Disclosure Balance Sheet Account Reconciliations Month-End Close and Monthly Internal Reporting Actual Results Inventory Counts and Reconciliations Guidance, Development and Performance Review of Junior and Supervisory Staff

Financial Consulting:

Internal Controls Testing and Recommendations Project Overrun Analysis and Additional Billing External Financial Reporting and Disclosure Complex Accounting Areas and Transactions Budgeting, Forecast, Flash

Consolidation of Plant Budgets, Forecasts, Flash and Actual Results Ad Hoc Reports and Financial Modelling

Revenue and Expense Variance Analysis to Budget, Forecast and Prior Periods Automotive, Manufacturing, Tooling, Construction and Real Estate Development, NonProfit and Charities, Professional Services

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Carol Sawatzky, CPA, CA

Professional Experience
COLLINS BARROW LEAMINGTON Leamington, ON September 2012 to August 2013 Audit Principal Execute, supervise and review audit, review and compilation engagements for clients of up to $100 million in revenues. Recommend improvements to internal controls based on audit findings. Adapt audit design for better efficiency and compliance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards. Guide and develop staff. Recommend tax strategy, complete/review corporate and personal tax returns. DELOITTE & TOUCHE Windsor, ON September 2010 to June 2012 Audit & Advisory Senior Manager Manage small business client base representing revenues to the firm of over $400 thousand annually, including ad hoc business and tax needs, and annual audit, review, and compilation engagements for companies of up to $100 million in revenues. Assess engagement risk; review and adapt budget and recommend fee; design general audit approach; review detailed audit design, planning, internal controls assessment and testing, substantive fieldwork, wrap-up and financial statement reporting and disclosures; guide, develop and review performance of supervisory staff; recommend improvements to internal controls based on audit findings. Analyze budget overruns to determine, recommend and negotiate additional fees. Negotiate collection of aged receivables. Analyze highly complex transactions around amalgamations and tax planning in complex corporate groups to ensure appropriate accounting and financial statement consolidation. Plan and execute tax strategy for simpler corporate groups, review corporate and personal tax returns including T4/T5 summaries. Research and analyze differences between Canadian GAAP and ASPE, and advise clients accordingly with respect to accounting framework conversion. Liaise between clients and firm subject matter experts as required. Promoted from manager. GORDON B. LEE, C.A. Windsor, ON September 2009 to June 2010 Chartered Accountant Plan and execute special compliance assurance engagements, including those to support the firms assurance report on government forms for non-profit housing, and that to support litigation regarding the competence or lack thereof of condominium clients property manager. Research all issues around appropriate standards, reporting, and client letters related to the latter engagement. Plan, execute, supervise and review audit, review and compilation engagements, mostly for condominiums and other non-profit housing corporations. Complete corporate and personal tax returns. Research US personal tax issues on an ad hoc basis. PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS Detroit, MI September 2006 to July 2009 Audit Manager Manage audit engagements for private companies, including those reported on foreign exchanges, of up to $5 billion in revenues. Clients include those in the Japanese Business Network. Assess engagement risk; review and adapt budget and recommend fee; design general audit approach; review/implement or perform detailed audit design, planning, internal controls assessment and testing, substantive fieldwork, wrap-up and financial statement reporting and disclosures; guide, develop and review performance of staff; recommend improvements to internal controls based on audit findings. Analyze budget overruns to determine, recommend and negotiate additional fees. Analyze highly complex accounting areas such as goodwill, long-term contract WIP and UBCR, IBNR medical, defined benefit pension and employee benefit plans, stock options, and standard
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Carol Sawatzky, CPA, CA

costing and application of overhead to ensure appropriate accounting. Design group audits allocate materiality among components, determine of level of assurance to be obtained from components, design group instructions. Report to group auditors according to instructions received. Research and analyze differences between US GAAP and IAS to ensure correct accounting adjustments and reporting to group auditor. Promoted from senior associate. TEKSID ALUMINUM Southfield, MI September 2005 to August 2006 Tier One Aluminum Engine Casting; Revenues Around $900 million Accounting Operations Manager For the Americas region: liaise between corporate controller and plant controllers for matters related to internal financial reporting; review and consolidate budget, monthly forecast and flash; consolidate actual monthly results and analyze variances from standards; calculate adjusted EBITDA for debt covenant purposes. Develop monthly reporting models. Ad hoc reports as requested. Sensitivity analysis for the sell price versus the cost of aluminum, given the pricing formulae of various customers that all differ, and that utilize several different exchanges and benchmark types (e.g., spot, monthly average, prior monthly average, prior six months average, etc.). PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE Southfield, MI July 2001 to July 2005 Tier One / Tier Two Sales Distributor of Audio-Video Equipment and Components; Revenues Around $11.5 billion Senior Financial Analyst April 2003 to July 2005 Budget revenues and expenses for the division, working with business unit managers and accounting supervisors. Forecast for the division each month to report pre-close to North American headquarters in Secaucus. Consolidate monthly results of the divisions two remote manufacturing sites and the remote sales site to meet the three-day close requirement. Guide the remote controllers in accounting and reporting matters and map the manufacturing accounts to the Southfield divisions chart of accounts. Report monthly flash and results to Secaucus for the consolidated division, report monthly results to automotive headquarters in Tokyo and compile monthly internal management reporting package. Analyze revenue and expense variances from budget, forecast, and prior periods by profit center (customer), discussing with business unit managers to ascertain and correct root causes. SEC reporting for the division to Secaucus for consolidation. Develop monthly reporting models (e.g. profit and loss statements by product line and by vendor) and ad hoc reports as required. Develop conversion table and conversion tool to facilitate import interface between local accounting system (SAP) and reporting program to Tokyo (WING). Develop criteria to perform cost/benefit analyses of available wireless plans, assess results and recommend the best plan. Accounting Supervisor July 2001 to April 2003 Review or prepare: gross profit analyses by profit center, by product group and by part, comparing to budget or price authorization, and correcting incorrect sell prices or costs; account analyses; physical inventory reconciliations; closing and other journal entries and SAP adjustments, and support for these (including inventory-in-transit accrual); reconciliations of trade payables; profit and loss statements by profit center. Provide guidance to two reports for complex issues related to the foregoing. Ensure month-end close process of no more than three days for the profit centers under my responsibility. Budget costs for the profit centers under my responsibility. Troubleshoot problem areas in inventory, e.g. develop cycle count procedures for physical inventory at third-party warehouses, reconcile trade payables to supplier statement, and clear balance sheet accounts of items greater than three months old. Common to Both Positions Reconcile book to taxable income through Schedule M for the division and report to Secaucus Tax Department. Liaise between internal and external auditors and accounting staff. Accrue certain variable costs.
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Carol Sawatzky, CPA, CA

BDO SEIDMAN Troy, MI January 2001 to July 2001 Audit Senior Associate Execute, supervise and review audit engagements, mostly for non-profits and charities. Guide and develop staff. DELOITTE & TOUCHE Windsor, ON September 1998 to January 2001 Audit Senior Associate Plan, execute, supervise and review audit, review and compilation engagements and corporate and personal tax returns. Recommend improvements to internal controls based on audit findings. Guide, develop and review performance of staff. Recommend tax strategy. Hired full-time after internship May to August 1997.

Certification and Education


CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT in March 2001, passing UFE in 1999 with score of 290. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT in January 2000 (State of Illinois, reciprocity with Michigan 2008, active in both states). BACHELOR OF COMMERCE University of Windsor September 1994 to April 1998 Specializing in accounting. Average in the A to A+ range (12.32 out of 13) equating to GPA of 3.79 out of 4. Achievements: Intermediate Accounting teaching assistant January 1997 to April 1998. Participation in the International Business Policy Competition April 1998 held annually in San Jose; University of Windsor team took 2nd place. Governor Generals Silver Medal, June 1998, for highest standing among fellow graduates from University of Windsor. Board of Governors Medal, all four years, highest standing in the Faculty of Business Administration. Deans List, all four years. Bill Harvie Endowment Fund Scholarship, 1994-5, renewed next three years. H.A. Scarff Memorial Prize, 1994-5, highest standing in Accounting, Year 1. Ruza Robote Award, 1994-5, highest standing of full-time undergraduates.

Community Involvement
Southwestern Ontario Gleaners Produce salvage and distribution to the hungry in Leamington, ON Director and Chair, Finance Policy Committee, June 2013 to present. Committee member, August 2012 to June 2013. Essex-Kent Mennonite Historical Association Director and Website Committee member, September 2011 to present. Grant coordinator, June 2012 to present. Mennonite Economic Development Association, Leamington Chapter Member, August 2012 to present. Hiatus House Womens shelter in Windsor, ON Volunteer intern, May to July 1996, identify potential corporations that support community services, contact potential corporate donors to determine grant process, write/compile grant proposals.

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