Julie Searls
About Julie
An accomplished accounting and finance professional with 25+ years of proven leadership experience, Julie is experienced in strategic planning, project management, budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and analysis, executive committee and board reporting packages, and complex accounting system migrations.
Beginning her career providing business assurance services at Big Four firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, Julie subsequently held positions of increasing responsibility outside of public accounting, including finance manager, controller, director of finance, and vice president of accounting. She has worked in a broad range of industries, including a multistate publicly held diversified financial services company, a comprehensive real estate firm, a national retail data and analytics company, and one of the largest independent fund administration providers in the U.S.
With hands-on acquisition and consolidation experience, Julie is highly capable of managing large-scale system conversions and integrations, including creating accounting infrastructures, converting historical data, designing processes and procedures, implementing financial reporting, training users, and creating KPI dashboards. She is proficient in the month-end and year-end close processes, financial statement preparation, business unit and product line reporting, variance analysis, revenue recognition, audit preparation, compliance reporting, incentive compensation, employee benefit plans, payroll and expatriate activities.
Julie is comfortable communicating with internal stakeholders, including financial professionals, business line owners, management teams and senior leaders, as well as managing external audit, banking, insurance and governmental affairs relationships. She is adept at negotiations, drafting contracts, developing pricing structures, and creating short-to-long-range business plans. Julie also has a robust software skill set, including Great Plains, NetSuite, Paylocity, QuickBooks, Salesforce and SAP Concur.
Clients appreciate Julie’s ability to support and collaborate with their employees, executives and business partners. Utilizing her diverse experience and in-depth accounting and financial knowledge, she helps organizational leaders plan and make the best strategic decisions to achieve their goals.
Industry Experience
Advertising, Asset Management, Banking, Business Development, Construction, Consumer Products, Entertainment, Event Management, Financial Services, Information Technology, Investments/Investment Companies, Legal, Marketing, Media, Professional Services, Property Management, Real Estate, Research & Development, Sales, Service, Software, Sports Teams and Clubs, Start-up Companies, Telecommunications
Education
- Ohio University, Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting and Business Law, cum laude
On a Lighter Note
What was your first job?
My first job was at a small retailer with an extensive inventory. Among other things, I was a cashier and stocker. While there, I learned a lot about human nature and interpersonal relationships. I think the experiences – both positive and negative – helped me in all aspects of my life. I enjoyed the work so much that I worked in retail until I graduated from college.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Outside of spending time with my family, I enjoy reading. My goal in 2022 was to read 75 books, and I exceeded that goal by finishing 103 books for the year! Ideally, 25 percent of my list should be business-related books, but I still need to reach that goal.
Have you ever participated in a physically or mentally challenging activity?
Yes, I have run the Flying Pig Half-Marathon twice, training for the races after I had each of my children. I enjoyed the physical and mental challenge and the support from the running group I trained with to prepare for the race.