Dominican University of California – San Rafael, CA

BA Degree in Strategic Management

Capella University – Minneapolis, MN

BS Degree in Business Administration

Mendocino College – Ukiah, CA

AS Degrees in Accounting
AS Business Administration
AS Small Business Management
Certificate in Accounting

Western Living Concepts, Arcata, CA, 2007 to 2008

Financial Controller

Manage day-to-day financial functions for assisted living management and development company. Make sure the accounting procedures align with generally accepted accounting principles. Establish and implement short- and long-range financial goals. Track cash flow, process accounts payable and payroll, reconcile bank / loan statements, and compile financial statements. Maintain effective working relationships with bank representatives. Participate in executive-level strategic management meetings, making critical recommendations on expansion and financial timing issues. Brief exposure to Yardi  & American Contractor while providing assistance to sister companies. Served as intercompany “go to” person for accounting and human resources related issues. Maintained numerous positive business relationships, in house as well as with vendors, government agents and others.

Key Contributions:

·       Facilitated completion of previously attempted conversion from QuickBooks to Solomon software, correcting the setup of numerous modules, including taxes and payroll, which were causing numerous inconsistencies in the overall accounting functions.

·       Identified more than $500,000 in assets that had been inadvertently written off; added assets to balance sheet and notified tax accountant of changes.

·       Discovered and corrected $100,000 in overstated expense and liabilities, resulting in increased net income and owner equity.

Tena Chase worked for Ford Street Project from 4/1/04-8/29/07. I was Tena's direct supervisor. I am the Fiscal Director and she was my assistant. Tena is very bright and has a very comprehensive knowledge of accounting. She is a very fast learner and a hard worker. She has very high integrity and is knowledgeable of acceptable accounting procedures. She is very good a streamlining procedures to help use work time more productively. She is very computer literate and has a real mastery of Microsoft Word and Excel. I would highly recommend Tena for any position that she feels she is qualified to fill. ~ October 30, 2008
— Prilla Goforth, Ukiah, CA

Ford Street Project, Inc., Ukiah, CA, 2004 to 2007

Fiscal Assistant

Rendered professional accounting services to a non-profit (501(c)3) organization that provides shelter, housing, substance abuse treatment, and employment services the homeless, addicted, and disabled throughout Mendocino County. Employed a strong understanding of accounting systems, polices, and procedures to examine, verify, process, and maintain accounts / accounting data. Processed biweekly payroll, including taxes, garnishments, and benefits plan deposits. Handled government payroll inquiries and filed state reporting forms for newly hired employees. HUD reports for FESG grant, county HUD contracts & HUD financed properties (monthly, quarterly and annual reconciliation.)  Served as “go to” person for various issues and guidance. Established and maintained positive business relationships with co-workers, clients, vendors and others.

Key Contributions:

·       Recommended and set up credit card processing; created Web site to establish organization’s online presence.

·       Served as driving force in obtaining increase in employee benefits. Set up Section 125 plan, changed insurance carriers resulting in a reduction of cost, decrease in administrative time, and a refund of several thousand dollars.

·       Streamlined payroll, billing and accounts payable functions, requiring less time and making information more accessible.

·       Restructured system for tracking vacation and sick leave accruals and monies owed to the organization for rent payments; reconciled general ledger accounts and instituted processes to create a more efficient audit trail.

·       Initiated changes in the setup of ACCPAC, ensuring related postings were made within the same time frame, as recommended by auditors following the previous year’s audit.

AM&D, Inc., Willits, CA, 2000 to 2001

Payroll / Fixed Asset Clerk

Administered payroll activities for a provider of interactive retail point of purchase display systems. Compiled data and entered information into ADP payroll processing system. Processed expense checks using SBT Pro. Reconciled zero balance accounts in conjunction with a main checking and investment account. Collaborated with auditors in carrying out audit activities. Calculated and paid commissions to sales force. Processed expense reimbursements. Track fixed assets and depreciation using FAS. Served as departmental “go to” person. Established and maintained effective interdepartmental / intercompany working relationships.

Key Contributions:

·       Learned new ADP payroll system in less than one day prior to taking over responsibilities and processing payroll for the first time without a hitch.

·       Streamlined numerous systems within the Accounting Department, simplifying processes and eliminating redundancy.

·       Implemented more efficient processes for employee purchases and COD checks, which eliminated extra steps for Purchasing, Accounting, and Receiving Departments.

·       Served as departmental “go-to” person

It is a pleasure to recommend Mrs. Tena L. (Wallace) Chase to you.

I have known Mrs. Chase since the Spring Semester of 1997, when I hired her as a Word Processing tutor upon the recommendation of her instructor, Teresa (Terri) Robertson. Mrs. Chase was also a student in the Tutoring Methods course I taught. Mrs. Chase continued working under my supervision for approximately one year, during which time her tutoring duties expanded to include Payroll Tax Accounting, Business Mathematics, Managerial Accounting, Word for Windows (Mac and PC), and WordPerfect (Mac and PC).

Mrs. Chase was an excellent tutor and an outstanding student. She was effective in explaining complicated material to other students in ways they could understand. She was even successful in assisting an English language learner with the Payroll Tax Accounting course.

Mrs. Chase is a fast learner with good people skills. She is a self-starter who works well with minimal supervision. She would be an excellent choice as an employee in any business.

Please give your highest consideration to Mrs. Tena L. Chase. ~ November 5, 2001 — Lynda B. Meyers, Ukiah, CA

Mendocino College, Ukiah, CA  1999 - 2000

P/T Instructional Aide

Business Office Technology Lab – SEASONAL 

Mendocino College, Ukiah, CA  1997

Tutor

Recommended by and Instructor.  Tutored Word, WordPerfect, Excel, Business Math, Payroll Tax & Records, Managerial Accounting, Weather & Climate
 

Wallace Business Services, Ukiah, CA  1992 - 1997

Full Charge Bookkeeper

Provide full charge bookkeeping and consulting services to business owners. Registered tax preparer.

World Restoration Services, Ukiah, CA  1984 - 1994

Accountant / Office Manager

Rarely missed a day in ten years. During the time I worked for the company went through three different forms of ownership (Proprietorship; Proprietorship & Partnership; Corporation.)   The initial services provided were carpet, upholstery & drapery cleaning.  The partnership formed out of the need to be able to provide additional services to the customers and to do insurance work – added services water and smoke damage restoration.  As the company grew the proprietorship and partnership merged to form a corporation; services and retail were added – general & flooring contracting, floor covering showroom was opened, deal was made to sell flooring seconds.

Key Contributions:

·       Completed conversion from DacEasy Accounting to QuickBooks

·       Designed and implemented a system for tracking inventory (integration with current accounting system)

·       Designed and implemented a system for billing insurance companies (using Lotus 123)

·       All accounting and reporting duties (including payroll) – work with outside CPA as needed.

·       Supervised office of two, supervised other workers (work crews up to twenty) as needed.

·       Troubleshooting and recommendations as needed.