Accounting and Finance

Accountant

Meets/Exceeds Expectations

Coordinates a high volume of financial data

Excels in a very diverse accounting environment

Answers accounting procedural questions with authority

Interprets the significance behind the numbers

Excels at researching and analyzing financial data

Thoroughly prepares accounting reports and summaries

Completes monthly and quarterly reports on time and error free

Summarizes financial data and tracks trends accurately

Processes a high volume of invoices for payment

Effectively audits his own work

Demonstrates a keen eye for numerical detail

Accurately logs monthly journal entries into the mainframe system

Substantiates financial transactions with clear documentation

Thoroughly reconciles financial discrepancies and variances

Brings significant financial issues to management’s immediate attention

Demonstrates broad mastery of appropriate accounting functions

Accurately tracks P&L statements, balance sheets, and other key metrics

Needs Improvement

Fails to maintain accurate financial records and files

Lacks knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles

Shows resistance when asked to customize ad hoc financial reports

Does not consistently follow internal controls

Fails to gain necessary signature approvals for budget variances

Does not consistently complete database backups at appropriate intervals

Fails to research and resolve accounting discrepancies

Fails to approve invoices in a timely manner

Requires ongoing confirmation of repetitive transactional tasks

Exercises little discretion in interpreting financial data

Has failed to maintain confidential financial information

Lacks the necessary software skills to perform at an acceptable level

Auditor

Meets/Exceeds Expectations

Ensures asset protection

Develops and monitors internal control policies and procedures

Documents any shortcomings in the internal financial control system

Skillfully audits internal compliance issues

Thoroughly examines and documents operating practices

Composes audit questionnaires for data security and disaster recovery

Has jumped at the opportunity to receive Sarbanes-Oxley compliance training

Excels at flowcharting business processes and related internal controls

Drives plans for process improvement

Communicates audit findings in a timely manner

Has developed and performed relevant test audits

Readily identifies mitigating and compensating types of controls

Needs Improvement

Fails to consistently perform follow-up audits

Fails to evaluate the status of agreed-upon recommendations

Does not plan and complete audits within established time frames

Lacks the ability to step back from details and see the “big picture”

Does not consistently document and evaluate audit results

Shows a general unwillingness to travel

Bookkeeper

Meets/Exceeds Expectations

Orchestrates a high volume of financial transactions

Accurately performs data entry of overdraft and reconciliation responses

Does an excellent job maintaining the general ledger

Reconciles entries and transfers subsidiary account summaries as needed

Ensures timely processing of payroll

Accurately processes, tracks, and manages payments and commissions

Accesses, prints, and distributes custodian bank statements

Excels in a high-volume accounting environment

Demonstrates proficiency with spreadsheets and accounting software

Accurately prepares reconciliations, internal wire movements, and client reports

Masters diverse bookkeeping functions

Effectively manages all facets of inventory, sales tax, and bank reconciliation

Needs Improvement

Has not demonstrated sufficient expertise with financial software

Tends to neglect the mail sorting and distribution part of her job

Has difficulty balancing A/P, A/R, payroll, and cash management duties

Often falls behind in general ledger analysis and financial statement preparation

Does not demonstrate a solid understanding of bookkeeping principles

Fails to display acceptable customer service when interacting with creditors

Controller

Meets/Exceeds Expectations

Maximizes return on financial assets

Approves budgets and initiates corrective action as required

Directs the preparation of financial data

Effectively evaluates internal controls

Ensures compliance with company guidelines

Regularly compares actual results to forecasts

Readily accounts for variances

Regularly prepares financial schedules for inclusion in supplemental reports

Supplies accurate information for use in income projections

Ensures that computer systems are in sync with the general ledger

Effectively tracks amortization costs versus expected lifetime revenues

Coordinates communication between financial reporting and operational finance

Reviews the assumptions and computations used for the scenario reserve

Needs Improvement

Fails to check calculations for overall reasonableness

Fails to interpret financial data accurately

Does not initiate corrective actions on a timely basis

Does not consistently achieve budget objectives

Is slow to advise management on needed actions

Has fallen behind in his understanding of new legislation

Puts forward overly optimistic income projections

Has not yet established appropriate disclosure controls and procedures

Has failed to share significant data with corporate auditors

Credit and Collections Manager

Meets/Exceeds Expectations

Duly protects our organization’s assets

Attentively reviews and supervises collection activities

Verifies the financial status of credit applicants

Actively approves credit

Skillfully negotiates payment plans with delinquent accounts

Collects all accounts receivable open items to improve cash flow

Regularly processes waivers and lien releases

Recommends approval or rejection of credit

Readily reviews credit applications for prospective customers

Establishes credit limits in accordance with company policies

Accurately maintains credit history, bankruptcy, and bad debt write-off files

Promptly researches credit histories of existing and potential customers

Effectively persuades customers to pay amounts due on credit accounts

Duly notifies customers of delinquent accounts

Solicits payment or negotiates extensions of credit, as necessary

Needs Improvement

Is slow to post payments to customers’ accounts

Does not accurately communicate credit limits and credit problems

Fails to document improved cash flow metrics and billing refinements

Does not process the placement of credit holds or requirements for prepayments

Fails to block order placements from customers with credit problems

Financial Analyst

Meets/Exceeds Expectations

Effectively forecasts business trends

Coordinates all aspects of budgeting, financial valuations, and reporting

Collects and monitors competitive performance data against forecasts

Assists in business planning and acquisitions modeling

Identifies opportunities for product expansion

Skillfully prepares division’s fiscal year budget

Effectively analyzes past operating budgets and variances

Projects future expenditures accurately

Aggressively monitors and adjusts departmental expenditures

Develops future cost-control guidelines

Develops computer applications to maximize user convenience

Addresses accounting irregularities and potential conflicts of interest

Assesses the potential financial impact of contractual obligations

Needs Improvement

Has difficulty presenting detailed financial information in layman’s terms

Fails to summarize economic information and trends

Misses opportunities to monitor overhead expenses through effective cost analysis

Fails to identify and account for budget variances

Shies away from internal-audit and sales-planning areas of responsibility