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Contact Information

Garrett R. Harding, CPA, CMA
128 Parker Street, #3A
Acton, MA 01720
(Home) 978-264-9872 (Cell) 978-837-2585
g*a*r*r*e*t*t@garrettharding.com (remove asterisks)

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Summary

Extensive experience in accounting system development, implementation and operation; internal control enhancement; information technology; project management and academia. Strong financial analysis, reconciliation and reporting skills. Exceptional working knowledge of spreadsheets and databases. Excellent communicator, strategic thinker, sound business judgment and strong presentation skills.

Professional credentials include: Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, MBA with a concentration in MIS, and BS in Accountancy. ^ TOP

Technical Knowledge

Accounting Software: QuickBooks, Accountant Inc., Peachtree Insight Accounting (formerly Insight Expert Accounting Series from Layered, Inc.), NetBooks (formerly Peachtree Accounting for Macintosh and atOnce!), Insight OneWrite, Great Plains, TOLAS (VAX), and RealWorld (Unix).
Tax Software: Lacerte Tax, Intuit TurboTax, H&R Block In–house Tax Software (2006)
Operating Systems: Macintosh OS X, Windows, VAX VMS, and UNIX
Hardware: Macintosh, IBM PC and compatibles, VAX 11/750, and PLEXUS P/35.
Applications: MS Office, Outlook, Entourage, MS Access, FileMaker Pro, iPhoto, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Sound Studio
Web: XHTML, Web site design, Blogging, Podcasting, Web Hosting Services
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Professional Experience

Kaplow & Kaplow CPAs, P.C., Waltham, MA (2006 to Present)
Senior Accountant  
Perform audits, reviews, compilations and prepare associated tax returns.  
  • Responsible for the firm's single 401(k) audit of it's largest client.
 
   
H&R BLOCK, Acton, MA (2006)
Tax Professional  
Prepared tax returns  
  • Prepared over 60 tax returns in 2006.
  • Prepared state returns for MA, FL, GA, ME, NY, CA, WV.
 
   
RESEARCH FOR BETTER TEACHING, INC., Acton, MA (2004 – 2005)
Director of Administrative Services  
Provide accounting, IT, contracting and internal operations management and support.
  • Member of Leadership Team.
  • Member of Long Range Planning Group.
  • Designed a custom contract database in FileMaker Pro.
 
   
BAY FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES, Waltham, MA (2002)
Financial Advisor  
Provided financial planning services including planning and forecasting for retirement, children's educational needs, home purchases and insurance needs.  
  • Developed customized financial plans using NaviPlan.
  • Acquired Series 6 and 63 licenses and life and health insurance licenses.
 
   
THOMSON FINANCIAL, TF OPERATIONS, Boston, MA (1995 – 2001)
Manager of Business Systems Initiatives (2000 – 2001)  
Provided project management and operational analysis services.  
  • Directed project team that analyzed, developed and implemented a custom designed database in MS Access. System implemented on time and resulted in tighter control of changes to production systems.
  • Conducted an Operational Availability study resulting in 19 recommendations to improve reporting consistency and accuracy, and to transition from service level agreements to service level objectives
  • Facilitated analysis of IT policy and procedures by InteQ, an outside vendor, resulting in the implementation of HP Open View.
 
Business Manager (1998 – 2000)  
Significantly expanded Contract Management and Change Management functions.  
  • Implemented a change management system resulting in significantly improved change control policies and formal communication to the business units.
  • Investigated and analyzed improperly designated database licenses. Analysis used by the Chief Technology Officer in negotiations mitigating Thomson's licensing liabilities.
  • Formulated IT initiatives and calculated ROI in response to an external audit of the Data Center. Initiatives justified the implementation of Veritas Netbackup and Veritas Open Event Manager, and improved resource allocations.
  • Prepared annual $1,800,000 maintenance budget comprised of 17 vendors, 480 computer systems, broken down by business unit and application group.
  • Authored a comparison of major providers of Sun repair services resulting in the selection and negotiation of Sun Services as the new service provider.
 
Operations Analyst (1995 – 1997)  
Facilitated problem resolution for First Call, MMD and Intelligence Data business units. Performed special projects:  
  • Audited Data Center procedure checklists resulting in over 50 changes to the operator logs and 14 recommendations on how to improve Data Center operations.
  • Developed MS Access reports to measure, analyze and manage Field Service labor.
  • Created a MS Access database to track and export SMTP user names and manage user aliases.
  • Designed Help Desk reports in MS Access resulting in the reporting and managing of Help Desk calls.
 
   
HARDING ASSOCIATES, Acton, MA full–time (1989 – 1995)
Principal Consultant part–time (1996 – 2006)
Established consulting practice providing computer and accounting expertise.  
  • Provided controllership services for over 1 year for 2 clients.
  • Installed accounting systems for all types of businesses including hardware developer/manufacturer, construction, publishing, software developer, and service providers.
  • Developed a job costing system with FileMaker Pro.
  • Created a commitment and expense tracking system with FileMaker Pro for a university library.
  • Constructed and operated a budget reporting system in Lotus for a forms distributorship.
  • Programmed over 25 reports using Report Writer, a dBase report generator.
  • Cultivated a customer base of 30 clients.
 

Controllership services included processing AR, AP, and IC transactions; developing accounting procedures; performing collection services; performing monthly closings; preparing monthly financial statements; reconciling of cash accounts, developing numerous supporting schedules; reconciling all balance sheet accounts; analyzing budget variances; hiring and training accounting staff and interfacing with auditors.

A standard accounting implementation would involve: performing a needs analysis, formulating and supervising the system conversion, training client staff, writing end user procedures, and providing timely technical support.

 
LAYERED, INC., Boston, MA (1988 – 1989)
Product Manager  
Product evangelist for a Macintosh software publisher of award winning accounting applications. Provided product management, product marketing, and product design services.  
  • Brought atOnce! and Insight Expert Payroll to market.
  • Contributed to the business plan by composing company wide and departmental strategies, rewriting various sections to tie to a central theme, and developing key charts.
  • Wrote functional specifications for the Insight A/R module upgrade and a proposed Bank Reconciliation module.
  • Generated detailed analyses of competing products.
  • Composed numerous marketing pieces including the Layered Selling Guide, columnar feature comparisons, strength and weakness presentations, and standard paragraph descriptions for various product listings.
  • Evangelized and technically supported all accounting products to all Layered departments, vendors, press, dealers, consultants, and end users.
  • Orchestrated mailing promotions including composing copy, designing layout, and coordinating operations.
  • Trained new technical support representatives on a continuous basis.
  • Demonstrated products at trade shows.
 

Responsibilities on the atOnce! project included being liaison to the outside developer; resolving functional issues identified during programming; negotiating with the outside developer and other outside parties; and preparing an evaluation of the proposed PR tax update service.

Insight Expert Payroll responsibilities included writing an addendum to the original functional spec, resolving all functional issues that arose during programming, performing a detailed study of tax regulations in various tax jurisdictions, developing copy and layout of the P/R tax update service brochure and registration card, and creating the P/R demonstration data.

 
CORPORATE SOFTWARE, INC., Canton, MA (1984 – 1987)
Manager of Management Information Systems (1986 – 1987)  
Manager of Accounting of Data Processing (1984 – 1986)  
Key player in the development of the operations segment of a distributor of DOS and Macintosh software to Fortune 1000 corporations. Reported to the Treasurer/VP of Operations. Monthly sales grew from $60,000 to $3,800,000.  
  • Assisted in the installation of a PLEXUS P/35 supermicro using UNIX and the RealWorld accounting application.
  • Recommended and supervised software modifications to RealWorld.
  • Engaged in selection and implementation of a VAX 11/750 using VAX/VMS and the TOLAS accounting package.
  • Participated in the selection of a VAX 8530 system.
 

Created the MIS department and supervised a 7 person staff. Responsible for all DP functions including scheduling and running reports, trouble shooting problems, designing reports, and performing system backups.

Developed the accounting department to a staff of 8. Responsible for all daily accounting functions including the execution of Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and General Ledger; the preparation of various work papers; calculation of sales commissions; and preparation of payroll, payroll tax returns and W-2's.

 
W.R. GRACE & CO., Organic Chemical Div., Lexington, MA (1981 – 1984)
Staff Accountant, Nitroparaffins business unit (1982 – 1984)  
Staff Accountant, DAXAD/glycine plant construction project (1981 – 1982)  
Accumulated, analyzed and reported the construction costs on two projects, a $55 million nitroparaffins plant and a $30 million DAXAD/glycine plant, both located in Deer Park, TX.  

Liaison to the engineering firm, construction firm and outside vendors. Responsibilities for the Nitroparaffins business unit included closing the books and preparing monthly financial statements, year-end work papers, and tax work papers.

 
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Academic Work Experience


Bentley College, Watham, MA (1988 – 1992)
Instructor, Day (full–time 1990 – 1991)  
Instructor, Evening (adjunct part–time 1988 – 1992)  
Accounting Information Systems — undergraduate level, juniors and seniors
Principals of Management Accounting — undergraduate level, sophomores
 
  • Developed lecture notes, hand outs and exams.
 
   
Framingham State College (1987 and 1989)
Visiting Lecturer, Evening (adjunct part–time)  
Accounting I — undergraduate level  
  • Accounting I, undergraduate level. Developed course syllabus, lecture notes, handouts and exams.
 
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Miscellaneous Work Experience and Education


Sit 'N Bull Pub, Maynard, MA (2003 – 2006) Bartender
Provide full bartending, barback and wait staff service. Fully trained and have worked all shifts including weekend days and nights.  
   
Essex County Club, Manchester–by–the–Sea, MA (2003 – 2005) Bartender
Provided full bartending, barback and wait staff service. Fully trained and have worked most shifts including weekend days and nights.  
   
Vencenzo's, Concord, MA (2003) Bartender
Provided full bartending, barback and wait staff service.  
   
Professional Bartender's School of New England, (2003)  
   
Massachusetts Life and Health Insurance license, (2002)  
   
Series 6 and Series 63 securities licenses, (2002)  
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Credentials and Awards


Certified Public Accountant (2006)

Certified Management Accountant (1986)

Speaker of the Year, Massachusetts Route 128 Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants, (2001)

Most Valuable Member, Massachusetts Route 128 Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants, (1996) ^ TOP

Community Work


Massachusetts Route 128 Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants BMAC — Boston Macintosh User Group, Boston, MA Rosestone Village Condominium Association, Inc., Board of Directors ^ TOP

Web Publications


Harding's Blog, One Man's Commentary on Current Events, Politics, Life and Macintosh Patriotcast, A periodic podcast of One Man's Commentary on Current Events, Politics, Life and Macintosh
www.garrettharding.com (2006)

www.cpa.garrettharding.com (2006)

www.patriotcast.com (2005) ^ TOP

Presentations


Blogs and Podcasts — What They Mean to You Massachusetts Route 128 Chapter of the IMA (2006)
A Poor Man's Update on Social Security Massachusetts Route 128 Chapter of the IMA (2005)
How to Create a Podcast BMAC — Boston Macintosh User Group, Boston, MA (2005)
Creating Your Own Blog BMAC — Boston Macintosh User Group, Boston, MA (2005)
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Education


Babson College, Wellesley, MA Master of Business Administration, (1985)
Concentration in Management Information Systems
   
Bentley College, Waltham, MA Bachelor of Science, Accountancy, Honors, (1981)
  Dean's List 3 semesters
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Comments

Constructive comments regarding the website content or design are always welcomed. Drop an email to Gary****2006@garrettharding.com (exclude the '****').