Raul Curiel
Portage
Summary
Highly motivated and self-directed Accounting/Finance Professional looking for a Finance/Accounting Manager role. With 15 years’ experience in financial statement reporting, cash flow management, liquidity, variance analysis, capital planning, trend analysis, month-end close, acquisitions, financial analysis, financial budgeting and forecasting.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Accounting Manager
Redwood Logistics
Chicago, IL
08.2025 - Current
- Assisted in monthly closing activities by processing journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, variance analysis, and reviewing financial statements for accurate reporting.
- Supported general ledger activities and performed balance sheet account analyses to identify risks, resolve discrepancies, and enhance internal controls during close processes.
- Collaborated with operations finance and leadership teams to clarify monthly results, examine budget-to-actual variances, and suggest actionable improvements.
- Coordinated accounting workflows and prioritized close deliverables while aiding in process enhancements for efficiency, documentation, and audit preparation.
- Prepared and reviewed schedules, reconciliations, and documentation for management reports, audits, and period-end financial close requirements.
- Monitored payroll-related accounting entries and capital expenditure activities, confirming proper coding, accruals, reconciliations, and compliance with financial reporting standards.
Treasury & Financial Consultant
Health Care Service Corporation
Chicago, IL
04.2022 - 08.2025
- Assisted in creating short-term cash forecasts to aid liquidity planning, borrowing decisions, and daily cash management activities.
- Compiled and assessed quarterly balance sheet, cash flow, and profit & loss forecasts for parent company and subsidiaries.
- Supported strategic financial planning through enhanced collaboration with finance teams, leading to improved decision-making and alignment with organizational objectives.
- Delivered financial forecasts for balance sheet, cash flow, and profit & loss to the board, improving decision-making processes within six months.
- Developed financial models for the Cigna acquisition, including balance sheet, cash flow, and profit & loss components.
- Created a capital and risk-based planning model that enhanced forecasting accuracy significantly through data-driven insights.
- Conducted variance analysis of forecasts against plans.
Financial Analyst
Guaranteed Rate
Chicago, IL
01.2021 - 04.2022
- Analyze financial statements including P&L and Balance sheet for company and its subsidiaries.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to optimize budgets, resulting in improved resource allocation.
- Create monthly financial reports for executive/Board of Directors.
- Build Financial Models and analyze data providing recommendations to management.
- Conducted detailed financial analysis to identify and evaluate changes in operations, trends and potential areas of improvement.
- Enhanced forecasting accuracy through the development of sophisticated financial models and tools.
Accounting Manager
Guaranteed Rate
Chicago, IL
01.2019 - 12.2020
- Generated monthly and quarterly financial statements for executive review.
- Optimized cash flow management through careful analysis of accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory levels, and working capital requirements.
- Streamlined month-end closing procedures resulting in reduced processing time without compromising accuracy or completeness of the reports generated.
- Managed journal entries, collection efforts, reconciliations, and payroll processing.
- Led a team of accounting professionals in achieving department goals while fostering a positive work environment.
Group Accountant
Sensient Technologies
Hoffman Estates, IL
02.2017 - 01.2019
- Reduced month-end closing time with efficient organization and prioritization of tasks.
- Post journal entries to General Ledger accounts to ensure accuracy of financials.
- Prepare account/cash reconciliations for 30+ accounts in a timely matter to be reviewed by management.
- Balance Sheet and General Ledger account analysis to account for discrepancies in assets, liabilities, expenses, and revenue.
- Improved budget forecasting accuracy with detailed variance analysis between actual and budgeted figures.
Associate Manager of Accounting Shared Services
Walgreens
Danville, IL
06.2015 - 02.2017
- Collaborated closely with senior management on strategic planning efforts, aligning departmental goals with overarching company objectives.
- Directed accounts payable team in the design and implementation of AP process flow.
- Lead audits to ensure compliance with contracts, terms, and regulations.
- Optimized workflow processes to reduce bottlenecks and increase overall effectiveness.
- Delivered comprehensive reports on key performance indicators, driving data-driven decision making among leadership teams.
Staff Accountant
United Service Companies
Chicago, IL
02.2011 - 05.2015
- Monitored accounts receivable, accounts payable and other account balances to track transactions, avoid discrepancies and maintain accuracy.
- Monitored cash flow closely to ensure sufficient funds were available for operational needs.
- Created journal entry schedules to improve efficiency, support, and documentation of accounting processes.
- Reduced month-end closing time by optimizing reconciliation procedures and improving communication among team members.
- Maintained general ledger accuracy through regular account reconciliations, journal entry adjustments, and transaction reviews.
Education
Master’s in Accountancy -
Purdue University
12-2014
Bachelor of Science in Accounting - undefined
Purdue University
12-2008
Skills
- Improved efficiency by integrating BlackLine, Essbase, and HFM into workflows
- Achieved enhanced data management with JD Edwards and Microsoft Dynamics
- Increased accuracy in data analysis through expert use of Microsoft Excel and Oracle
- Boosted reporting effectiveness with innovative visualizations in Tableau and NetSuite
- Elevated data insights and streamlined processes with Power Query
Accomplishments
Forecasting Accuracy
- Improved forecasting accuracy by 20% within 3 months with data-driven insights
Closing Time Reduction
- Reduced month-end close time by 30% through streamlining processes and efficiency improvements
Strategic Decision Impact
- Enhanced decision-making processes of board within 6 months by presenting financial forecasts
Capital Expenditure Management
- Managed $50 million in capital expenditures ensuring proper coding and financial alignment
Timeline
Accounting Manager
Redwood Logistics
08.2025 - Current
Treasury & Financial Consultant
Health Care Service Corporation
04.2022 - 08.2025
Financial Analyst
Guaranteed Rate
01.2021 - 04.2022
Accounting Manager
Guaranteed Rate
01.2019 - 12.2020
Group Accountant
Sensient Technologies
02.2017 - 01.2019
Associate Manager of Accounting Shared Services
Walgreens
06.2015 - 02.2017
Staff Accountant
United Service Companies
02.2011 - 05.2015
Bachelor of Science in Accounting - undefined
Purdue University
Master’s in Accountancy -
Purdue University