Accounting Job Posting

If youknow of some one that may be interested they should contact Nancy Blythe our Director of Human Resources or myself.

Dianna MillerWalton Communities, LLC
2181 Newmarket Parkway
Marietta, GA 30067
678 303-4133
678 303-4134 Fax


Walton Communities, LLC
JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Property Accountant

Reports to: Debbie Larsen, Controller

Job Location: Community Support Office - CSO

Job Grade: TBD

Job Summary:
Provide support services to the Controller by auditing/managing the integrity of the financial data generated at the properties. Ensure the timely reporting of financial information by managing critical accounting dates and training property staff on key accounting functions.

Reporting Relationship:
The Property Accountant reports to the Controller and will have regular interaction with the Property Managers.

Duties/Responsibilities:

I. Accounts Payable:
· Process for payment & file all invoices for all Properties
· Process Monthly Escrow Payments, utility transfers, miscellaneous deposits originated for the properties at CSO and record journal entries
· Process all Sinking Fund Payments from schedules monthly
· Receive all NSF Checks from the bank, record and report to the proper property for collection and processing.
· Prepare Cash Report weekly for all Properties.
· Prepare Owner Distribution Checks by end of each month.

II. Property Lease Audit/Aged Receivable Audits:
· Make sure all leases are received on move-ins for each Property from the weekly activity report.
· Audit all Leases to make sure that information has been accurately entered into Yardi. Audit would include verification of:
o Dates
o Security Deposits
o Washer/Dryer
o Storage
o Garages
o Pets, etc.
o Move-in prorations
· Audit the Aged Receivable Report weekly to ensure that prepayments are being applied to open charges and that we are receiving timely payments from our subsidies.
· Proactively provide training to property staff in problem areas identified during the audit process



III. Walton Communities/Owners Associations/Misc Partnerships:
· Process invoices for payment and file all checks
· Handle corporate VISA reconciliation
· Track intercompany receivables to ensure that Walton is property reimbursed
· Track predevelopment costs for new projects to ensure that Walton is reimbursed at closings
· Prepare annual budgets and bill appropriate parties

IV. Other Responsibilities:
· Bank Reconciliations
· Utility transfers for One Point
· Assist with updating Accounting Procedure Manuals
· Maintain General Liability/Workers Comp certificates for annual audit
· Prepare annual business license renewals
· Maintain property tax schedules to be used for potential appeals
· Other projects as assigned


Personal Competencies:

Education & Certifications:
· Accounting degree preferred
· 2 years minimum accounting experience

Experience:
· Proficient in Excel/Outlook required
Property Management experience a plus
Yardi experience a plus

Core Competencies:
Team Player
Detail Oriented
Deadline Driven
Takes Initiative
Oral and Written Communication

Job Posting for an Estimator

Georgia State University, located in Downtown Atlanta, GA is seeking a Construction Estimator (Vacancy #0600499) who will perform construction estimating work involved in large scale projects ranging from half a million and above. This position relies greatly on professionalism, both in the actual estimating and in the everyday dealing with clients, and outside contractors. Will accurately forecast the scope, cost and duration of construction projects, develop the cost information for the management and continuously monitor the projects and track actual costs relative to bid specifications as the project develops.Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in the field of Construction Management, Construction Science, Industrial Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field and 5 years experience in commercial/institutional construction estimating field. A combination of work experience, including training and education, may be substituted for degree. Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with hardline competitive public and private bids. Proficient in word processing and spreadsheet program. Must be able to coordinate several projects simultaneously and able to prioritize workload to meet deadlines. Must be familiar with project scheduling software package such as Microsoft Project or Suretrace(Primevara). Effective communication skills both verbally and in writing with superiors, colleagues, and contractors. Effective analytical and problem solving skills, attention to detail. $51,658.00 to $78,603.00If you meet these skills, please immediately go to https://jobs.gsu.edu and enter Vacancy #0600499, to apply.For an overview of the Benefits of working here at GSU, please feel free to click on the link below:http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwhre/benefits/index.htm

Many thanks to Sheronda Rankin for passing this along!

Basic Assessments available at Careerbuilder

These are very basic and may be helpful to some of you. More detailed assessments are frequently available, for a reasonable fee, through local colleges or technical schools.

http://www.careerpath.com/careerassessmentquiz/careertestingcenter.aspx

Internet Job Search Tips and Resume Review

Sorry for the late notice on this one, I just got it:
Tues, March 11th - Special Dual Workshop "Internet as a job search tool

Please pass our March 11 schedule, which includes a special dual workshop tolocal job seekers.Career Quest, the oldest active and most experienced job network in Atlantais staffed by heads of local businesses, division heads of majorcorporations and other self starters. We offer self-help workshops designedto provide job seekers with the basic tools to locate jobs and have an edgewhen applying for jobs. Time is also available for networking with other jobseekers. Direction and detailed descriptions of our workshops and Bios ofour facilitators are available on our web site:<http://www.st-ann.org/career_quest.php>

CURRENT SCHEDULE: (all sessions are on Tuesday evenings starting at 7:45PM, no one is allowed into the building until 7:30 PM)March 11, 2008 Internet as a job search tool, or advancedinterviewing including roll playingLed by: Barb Pisano and Phil VerstraeteBarb is top notch Project Manage well versed in all aspects of the internetand its use as a networking tool. Phil is the Southern Region Retail Sales Manager for Fitness Resource, oneof the world's largest dealers of high quality exercise equipment. He hasbeen in management for over twenty years, holding a variety of positionsincluding business owner. Phil's areas of expertise include staffmotivation and training, sales productivity and the hiring process. Phil is a published author in the fields of exercise, sales training and employeemotivation

One-on-one resume reviews are available every Tuesday with experienced Human Resource executives from major local companies. Our resume review and mentoring team is led by John Marotto, former VP of HR for the MarriottInternational hotel chain. St. Ann's is located on 4905 Roswell Road/ 120, (at the intersection ofBishop Lake and Roswell Rd./Rt.120) Marietta Ga. 30062. EVERYONE is welcome. There is no charge and dress is casual. Drive around the back ofthe Church and park near the swing set and enter the building through thedoor under the overhang; our room is on your right. Call 770-552-6400 ext.6104 for more information.

Scream Free Parenting Seminar

The seminar is being offered at our Church this Saturday for $10/adult. Looks excellent! There are support groups that meet for several weeks afterward. Childcare and refreshments are free.

Please contact North Atlanta Church of Christ for more information.

http://www.screamfree.com/media_events/calendar.php?op=viewevent&event_id=327

Get A Job - Video from Fox

If you cannot use the link, the video is posted with the Fox Network video section, entitled "Get a Job", How to beat unemployment as employers slash jobs by Michael Irwin with Careerbuilder:

Inexpensive Entertainment

Try this at home and see how it works!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayOCYhMh490

Mobilizing an Unplanned Job Search

From the Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120430513855303309.html?mod=CarJMain_middledeco

Mobilizing an Unplanned Job Search

First, don't panic. When you're faced with the prospect of an unexpected job search, you'll need to act deliberately -- not just fast.
By TODDI GUTNER Special to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Ramping up to land a new job quickly after a layoff, a downsizing, or company relocation takes thoughtful planning despite the urgency of the task. More professional and middle managers have been laid off since March 2007 than in the previous three years, according to Right Management, an outplacement and career transition consulting firm. "The trick to a successful transition is not to panic," says Doug Matthews, President and CEO of Right Management. "You don't want to hit the market in a chaotic fashion," he says.

Take stock of your finances. Identify and prioritize your bills and debt. An immediate need for cash flow may require you to take a temporary assignment. "It can give you a sense of productivity and give you some good experience," says Mr. Matthews who notes that the number of people taking temp work has risen 10% in the last two years.

Create a planned job search strategy. Despite the need to mobilize a quick job search "you don't want to send out a bunch of things into the marketplace without any thought behind it," says Mr. Matthews. Take some time to step back and create a thoughtful and measured approach to your job hunt. Be specific about the position you want and target the companies where you want to work.

If there is an onslaught of professionals in your field who are flooding the market, think creatively about where to apply for your next position -- consider a smaller company or another industry that may need your skills.

Determine your market worth. Conduct research with several executive recruiters, career coaches and others in similar positions to the one you're seeking to determine what salary and benefits you can request. If you happen to be in an industry that is in general contraction, make a checklist of your skills and identify those that are transferable to other industries that are in a growth mode.

Practice your pitch. No matter how quickly you need to land a job, make sure you take at least 72 hours to process your emotional reaction to job loss. You don't want to jump in immediately, but rather practice your pitch until it is devoid of as much anxiety and negative emotion as possible. Try it on friends or family, then a trusted colleague or mentor. A successful job search is partly about how you present yourself. "You've got to be out there telling people about yourself," says John A. Challenge, president of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas.

Polish and post your resume. A resume is your window and calling card to the world of work. Make sure it highlights the position you want, your key accomplishments and measurable results of those accomplishments. Post your resume on the Internet at general and industry specific job boards as well as social networking sites like LinkedIn. Make sure it gets in the hands of executive recruiters as well. "You don't want to leave any stone unturned," says Mr. Challenger.

Network, network, network. An estimated 42% of people found their job through a networking contact, according to a Right Management survey. To that end, make a list of contacts from your college or university and former companies, to charities and volunteer organizations. Reach out and tell them what kind of position you would like, but "never ask anyone for a job," says Mr. Matthews. "Instead ask them for information and referrals." Find a contact who can introduce you to a decision maker at companies where you want to work. And take heart, nearly two-thirds of the 21,000 professionals that Right Management serves annually end up finding a job within 90 days.

MORE 90 DAYS

• 90 Days: Planning a Move to Your Second Job
• 90 Days: Finesse a Flexible Work Schedule
• 90 Days: You're the New Boss, Now What?
• 90 Days: What to Do After a Layoff
• 90 Days: Make the Most of a Promotion

Faith Based Encouragement

The North Atlanta Church of Christ, located in Dunwoody, has a job search support group that is open to all and meets at 10:30 every third Sunday in a theatre area attached to the church building. The support group this coming week will be addressing "Networking" and I would love to see some of you there!! http://www.nacofc.org/index.shtml

In addition to the support group, which meets again next Sunday, March 16. I have attached some links to sermons that might be of particular interest depending on the issues with which you may be struggling.

One of these "Oh the places you go" is taught by Major Boglin (Major L. Boglin, Ph.D, LMFT Executive Director Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
and addresses how God takes us through difficult situations to learn and develop our character. It is one of my favorites when I decide that life, at any given time, is just too darn hard: http://69.15.236.170/past_sermons/2007_10_07/2007_10_07.htm then select "Oh, the places you'll go".

Today's sermon was another good one for those of us rebuilding and I will post the link once I have it. Hope you all have a lovely day and a terrific week.

Department of Labor

This is a link to their page on surviving a layoff:

http://www.dol.state.ga.us/js/survive_layoff.htm

There are resources available through the DOL but you will have to take the initiative to find them and use them. Dealing with our government is not for the faint hearted, keep the poster below in mind!!

Resume writing

I do not have any personal experience with this group but several people have asked for potential resources. In addition to this group, there is information pertaining to DBM in the archived older posts, links to those are posted at the bottom of the page.

http://bridgecareermanagement.com/

I have no idea what the fees may be. If you use this group, please let me know whether you have a positive experience so I will know how to advise others.

Work at home

Information from Clark Howard:

http://clarkhoward.com/topics/workathome_help.html

Evaluating an Offer

Don't turn down the new job before asking these questions

http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/business_resources/hr_careers/business_advice/at_work/2008/03/03/column305.html

Atlanta Business Chronicle

This is an excerpt from a 2007 posting in the Atlanta Business Chronicle:

18) John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods Inc.
Revenue -- $753 million, down 4.3%
After experiencing a 4.19 percent increase in revenue in 2005, John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods Inc. had a 4.27 percent decrease in its 2006 revenue, dropping from $787 million in 2005 to $753 million. The company fell from No. 13 to No. 18 on Atlanta Business Chronicle's Atlanta's Top 100 Private Companies list.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2007/10/15/focus3.html?page=3

John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods employed somewhere around 1100 to 1200 employees when I was originally hired with the company in 2004. I wonder what the head count is at present. My best guess is that between the multiple layoffs and natural (probably at a recently escalated pace) attrition there has probably been an approximate 50% cut in employment.

If I am anywhere close there are a lot of us out here to help each other. I hope that you have and will continue to do so.

Wieland Falls Short on Pledge for Emory Ethics Center

John and Sue Wieland fall short on pledge to Emory
http://www.emorywheel.com/detail.php?n=25244


John and Sue original pledge to Emory University:
http://news.emory.edu/Releases/EthicsCenter1174483385.html

Careerbuilder

In addition to posting job openings Careerbuilder has additional information for job seekers. This is a link to their information on resumes and other job search information.

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Resources/CareerResources.aspx?sc_cmp2=JS_Nav_AdvRes

Job Opening

I have a friend on the southside, McDonough area, who is looking for an all around office person to assist with travel reservations, reconciling invoices, processing payments, dispatching trucks and a wide assortment of office responsibilities. The high end of the salary range is probably 35k. If this sounds like a position that would be of interest to you please contact me and I will be happy to forward your resume.

Very Basic FLSA Information

This is an excerpt from a government website that covers the "Administrative" Exemption for classifying employees as exempt from overtime pay. Micromanagement to such an extent that employees hold the title of "manager" but are not, in fact, allowed to function as such can destroy the administrative exemption.

Information below is an excerpt from:

http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/opinion/FLSA/2005/2005_12_16_54_FLSA.htm

As for the administrative exemption under 29 C.F.R. § 541.200(a), “[t]he term ‘employee employed in a bona fide administrative capacity’ shall mean any employee: (1) Compensated on a salary or fee basis at a rate of not less than $455 per week…; (2) Whose primary duty is the performance of office or non-manual work directly related to the management or general business operations of the employer or the employer’s customers; and (3) Whose primary duty includes the exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance.”

“The phrase ‘directly related to management or general business operations’ refers to the type of work performed by the employee. To meet this requirement, an employee must perform work directly related to assisting with the running or servicing of the business, as distinguished, for example, from working on a manufacturing production line or selling a product in a retail or service establishment.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.201(a). “Work directly related to management or general business operations includes, but is not limited to, work in functional areas such as tax; finance; accounting; budgeting; auditing; insurance; quality control; purchasing; procurement; advertising; marketing; research; safety and health; personnel management; human resources; employee benefits; labor relations; public relations; government relations; computer network, internet and database administration; legal and regulatory compliance; and similar activities.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.201(b). Additionally, “[a]n employee may qualify for the administrative exemption if the employee’s primary duty is the performance of work directly related to the management or general business operations of the employer’s customers. Thus, for example, employees acting as advisers or consultants to their employer’s clients or customers (as tax experts or financial consultants, for example) may be exempt.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.201(c).

“To qualify for the administrative exemption, an employee’s primary duty must include the exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance. In general, the exercise of discretion and independent judgment involves the comparison and the evaluation of possible courses of conduct, and acting or making a decision after the various possibilities have been considered. The term ‘matters of significance’ refers to the level of importance or consequence of the work performed.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.202(a).

“The phrase ‘discretion and independent judgment’ must be applied in the light of all the facts involved in the particular employment situation in which the question arises. Factors to consider when determining whether an employee exercises discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance include, but are not limited to:
1. whether the employee has authority to formulate, affect, interpret, or implement management policies or operating practices;
2. whether the employee carries out major assignments in conducting the operations of the business;
3. whether the employee performs work that affects business operations to a substantial degree, even if the employee’s assignments are related to operation of a particular segment of the business;
4. whether the employee has authority to commit the employer in matters that have significant financial impact;
5. whether the employee has authority to waive or deviate from established policies and procedures without prior approval;
6. whether the employee has authority to negotiate and bind the company on significant matters;
7. whether the employee provides consultation or expert advice to management;
8. whether the employee is involved in planning long- or short-term business objectives;
9. whether the employee investigates and resolves matters of significance on behalf of management;
10. whether the employee represents the company in handling complaints, arbitrating disputes or resolving grievances.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.202(b).

Federal courts generally find that employees who meet at least two or three of these factors mentioned above are exercising discretion and independent judgment, although a case-by-case analysis is required. See 69 Fed. Reg. at 22,143.

“The exercise of discretion and independent judgment must be more than the use of skill in applying well-established techniques, procedures or specific standards described in manuals or other sources.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.202(e). As the court noted in Clark v. J.M. Benson, 789 F.2d 282, 287 (4th Cir. 1986), it is not sufficient that an employee makes decisions regarding “when and where to do different tasks, as well as the manner in which to perform them.” Nor is it sufficient that an employee may make limited decisions within clearly “prescribed parameters.” Dalheim v. KDFW-TV, 706 F.Supp. 493, 509 (N.D.Tex. 1988), aff’d, 918 F.2d 1220 (5th Cir. 1990) Rather, there must be true discretion and independent judgment exercised on matters of significance or consequence related to the management or general business operations of the employer or the employer’s customers.

COMMUNITY

When I began this blog I envisioned a clearinghouse for information. I believed we could share networking opportunities, information on good recruiters, job opportunities, support groups and general information, like Tracy Lee Yates sharing the fact that job search expenses are tax deductible and providing internet resources for research.

When it became obvious that people were using the site as a source of information but not submitting information to post, I asked a former company member what I could do to make the site more interactive. The response was that people were embarrassed to be among those who had been laid off.

I am so sorry if any of you are internalizing responsibility for an industry that is experiencing difficulty on a nationwide basis. You must be quite powerful indeed if this nationwide situation is all your fault :). And let's face it, with each round of layoffs we approach the majority not the minority of Wieland employees!

This blog was created to be an interactive forum for former and current company members to share information. If you find someone who does an excellent job writing resumes let us know. If you find a recruiter who you would highly recommend, let us know. If you have information you would like for me to post, and wish to remain anonymous, you may email it to me under my profile information and I will post it for you.

I know that people are accessing the blog for information (and no, I can't identify individuals, but I can see the number of page hits), hope you find it helpful and know that it can be even more helpful if you are willing to share information with others in the same situation.

"Helping yourself and helping others is not mutually exclusive :). Success in life comes as we do something that is counter-intuitive to our nature. It is natural to take care of yourself, think of yourself and focus on your needs. Little children only think of themselves and how they can get what they want. As they grow older, they learn they are not the center of the universe and have to get along with others.

The amazing thing is that the way to get what we want is to do the exact opposite of what comes naturally. It is natural to think of yourself. Hey, after all we all live in our own heads and see the world from our own perspective.

The delightful paradox of life is that we gain more by giving to others more. Zig Ziglar said, "You can get anything you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want." The Zig man was right on target with that!
http://www.bizjournals.com/extraedge/consultants/succeeding_today/2008/02/04/column503.html

This article on social networking has some interesting information for job seekers: http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/social-networks

Specifically:
Social networks were first researched in the
late 1940s. With the advent of the Internet, online communities and social networking websites, their significance has only increased. Any review hoping to be meaningful must begin with the normative contributions of the sociologist Mark Granovetter and the mathematician Linton C. Freeman who both wrote
influential articles well before the Internet was popularized.

Granovetter (1973) argued that within a social network, weak
ties are more powerful than strong ties. He explained that this was
because information was far more likely to be “diffused” through weaker ties. He concluded that weak ties are “indispensable to individuals’ opportunities and to their incorporation into communities while strong ties breed local cohesion.”

Granovetter’s doctoral thesis demonstrated that most people
landed jobs thanks to their weak ties and not their strong ones. It was the people that they did not know well, the ones with whom they did not have shared histories and did not see on a regular basis who were of most help. This is because people with strong ties generally share the same pieces of information and resources. Therefore they are of less help to one another.

If don't believe one piece of information or one contact can matter, then please take a look at this social networking diagram:

75 to 80% of all job seekers find a job through people they know