My official title is Staff Accountant, but Bob Glidden also calls me CIO: Chief Idea Officer.

I oversee the reconciliation of our bank accounts as well as tracking all our large purchases known as Fixed Assets, such as machinery and equipment, tooling, boats, vehicles, and buildings. However, I also work on multiple smaller daily tasks, such as employee expense reports and reports that are used to help track overall expenses as a company.

I worked at a publishing company in the accounting department before I had my son. After having my son, I took a year and a half off work between my husband leaving on deployment, moving to Kansas, and then to Maryland.

July 1st, 2019

 I went from the newest hire to now being one of the senior employees in the accounting department. We have had a lot of turnover, but I feel like our accounting team is stronger than ever. We might not be in the same location, but we all communicate well to keep the workflow a smooth process.

Another major change has been the ability to work remotely. It had to have prior approval from Human Resources, and it was not likely to be approved. So thank you, Covid!

One of the most challenging jobs I have been confronted with is fixed assets. I took over the task on short notice and was taught on the job. I have been handling fixed assets for 2.5 years, but I am still constantly learning and being challenged. Just as I think I have a good grasp on everything, something new appears. It keeps my job very interesting.

I transformed the expense report process. When I started the expense report process, every transaction was entered manually. At the time, we only had roughly 100 employees. I could not imagine doing that now with our employee numbers constantly rising.

Now expense reports are a more streamlined process. We use reports from the bank to format and assign the most accurate expense category based on the merchant information. These reports are then uploaded into NetSuite where each employee has access to complete their memos and make any changes to expense categories that are necessary.

Before the process was changed, creating expense reports took the entire month. Now we can create and send out expense reports within a week, allowing the employee more time to complete their expense reports with all required receipts and memos.

This allows our financial numbers to be more accurate because expense reports are being completed with correct information in a timely manner, instead of accruing for transactions.

I like that I am now able to work remotely. Being a military spouse, this was a huge relief when it was time for my husband to report to a new duty station in a different state. I am also able to work flexible hours instead of the traditional 8-5.

I also like that I can show that I am interested in a specific task and be allowed to cross-train. This has allowed me to gain a great deal of experience in the 3 years I have been with Seakeeper, as well as a promotion.

What I find most challenging about my role is also what makes me thoroughly enjoy it. Every day is different. I might be completing the same task, but no transaction is ever the same. It keeps me on my toes and my job interesting.

It’s also a challenge to be assigned larger tasks with a short deadline. I receive the task with a deadline and wonder if I will be able to manage it but ultimately survive and come out on the other side with a completed task. It challenges me in a good way.

Be willing to learn! We are constantly trying to improve processes, and without an open mind to learn, you will be holding yourself back as an employee.

Ask for something that you want, such as a job task. If you do not show interest, no one will ever know, and you will never be given the opportunity.

Bob Glidden has been there to answer all my questions, even when I answer them myself before he can. He has allowed me to realize that I am more capable than I thought. He is a great supervisor AND an amazing mentor.

It is not a typical motto, but I live by “It’s 9 pm, bedtime!”

I am a 90-year-old lady at heart and love to go to bed early and wake up early.

I love to read. This year, I have read 62 books. I usually am reading 2-3 books at a time.