Ciára Breen, MBA

👩‍💼Helping online entrepreneurs scale their online businesses to 8-to-9 figures 📈 What I work on at Business Better Built: 🧠 Revenue intelligence & financial architecture — designing order-level, cohort-aware systems that reflect how online businesses actually sell, deliver, and collect 🏗️ Finance systems & data overhauls — rebuilding accounting, billing, payment, and reporting infrastructure from the ground up 👥 Finance team design & leadership — defining roles, responsibilities, and hiring plans across accounting, FP&A, and financial operations 💸 Cash flow, forecasting & modeling — strategic planning to support hiring, spend, and sustainable scale ⚠️ Risk, refunds & chargeback strategy — structuring controls, processes, and metrics to protect revenue and processor relationships Get these right — and growth becomes something you can support, sustain, and scale from seven figures into eight and beyond.🚀📈 Niche industries: High Ticket Sales e-Learning, Digital Products, SAAS, and Ecommerce

* Lead all accounting and financial operations for a fast-scaling, multi-million-dollar software and online education startup, overseeing general ledger accuracy, monthly close, and financial reporting. * Proactively provided C-suite and senior leadership with financial insights for more informative decision-making, as well as advised departmental improvements and strategic initiatives for continuous improvement in operations and profitability. * Spearhead accounting systems optimization, leading implementation and integration of Bill.com, Brex, and evaluating ERP solutions like NetSuite and Intacct for long-term scalability. * Championed all aspects of general ledger maintenance, financial reporting, cash flow management, expense management, AP/AR oversight, credit card program administration, and payroll processing for 180+ employees. * Led month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closes, including journal entries, reconciliations, variance analysis, and regular expense reviews to ensure accuracy and timeliness of financials. * Partner with the VP of Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis to support strategic decision-making and financial planning. * Drive process improvements and internal control enhancements, including development of SOPs, policy documentation, and automation initiatives. * Maintain and develop new relationships with vendors and merchant processors/BNPL service providers. * Assist and collaborate with external CPA’s and financial advisors to ensure tax compliance with local, state, and federal reporting requirements. * Lead and support various technical accounting projects, including US GAAP accrual conversion, ASC 606 revenue recognition, QofE preparation, and restatement of financials in collaboration with external CPA firms. * Collaborate with Human Resources, Operations, IT, Sales, Engineering, and other departments to ensure effective communication and seamless operations.

• Directed all Accounting related activities and departmental efforts for client service, including the month-end close process and financial statement preparation for all Accounting clients. • Lead and supervised the Accounting department and its team members - 15+ staff members including Senior Accountant, Supervisors, and Accounting Associate staff. Majority of staff resided in the Philippines. • Served as an active voice on the ECOM CPA Leadership team, collaborating on efforts to resolve company issues, guide strategy, and drive forward company priorities. • Developed and oversaw all accounting processes, including workflows and automations, reviewing account reconciliations, and ensuring accuracy. • Championed operational efficiencies and process improvements within the department, such as revamping the Monthly Close Checklist, strategic restructure of client pricing and client onboarding, and various Accounting policy SOPs. • Assisted Accounting staff with issue resolution and provided constructive feedback as needed, with an emphasis on teaching, mentoring and training. • Set monthly/quarterly performance goals for the department, drove actions toward milestones and monitored the status of all metrics. • Served as the Client Manager for various (7+) Plus and Premium service-level clients, in addition to running department operations. • Analyzed, reviewed and prepared Financial Statements for clients, utilizing Xero and QBO tools, with an emphasis on providing critical financial insights for more informed decision-making. • Timely addressed client inquiries, and offered Accounting Advisory services as needed. • Performed clean-up diagnostics and pricing quotes on various prospective clients. • Oversaw the onboarding of all new Accounting/bookkeeping clients. • Performed staff performance reviews on a monthly/quarterly basis, professionally delivering praise and constructive criticism where due.

• Worked directly with client senior management teams (VP, CEO, Controller, etc.) to manage and facilitate multiple accounting/finance related projects and tasks. • Planned, managed, and executed the month-end closing procedures for multiple clients. • Prepared monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements. • Performed weekly/monthly expense reviews and reconciliations for balance sheet accounts. • Monitored General Ledger activity for all client accounts. • Reviewed and monitored invoicing and Accounts Payable activity. • Performed research and investigation to resolve differences and issues within GL accounts, i.e. account analysis and clean-up • Played an integral part in driving process improvement and leading continuous improvement of processes and systems. • Played an integral project management role in the onboarding of new clients. • Collaborated with staff to project manage and execute various ERP system implementations and clean-up efforts for clients (both Sage Intacct & Netsuite). • Maintained and nurtured client relationships through cordial interactions and with integrity. • Performed financial analysis for client analytics, where applicable. • Collaborated on special projects and other duties as needed. • Lead and supervised other staff accountants (1-2).

• Collaborated with client senior management teams throughout various phases of acquisition transactions (M&A) and other regulatory projects such as conversion to US GAAP ASC 606 Revenue Recognition standards, Internal Controls, etc. • Performed cutoff procedures and test-work for various M&A transactions and provided regulatory guidance and assistance over purchase price components, ensuring accuracy and due diligence for all purchase accounting matters. • Championed clients with their financial reporting needs, such as development of disclosures, consolidation of financial statements, and other regulatory financial needs, ensuring compliance with US GAAP standards. • Assessed the effectiveness of client internal controls over financial reporting and developed control remediation solutions. • Performed extensive research on guidelines and regulations for various US GAAP accounting topics for purposes of developing internal training materials for the firm; including topics such as Internal Controls, ASC 606 Revenue Recognition, Business Combinations, etc. • Conducted training sessions for colleagues & clients on various US GAAP topics, in efforts to help train and inform our people. • Took initiative to help in various ad-hoc projects to create internal development materials for the company, such as the HR Performance Evaluation templates and forms, Welcome Package and onboarding checklists, etc. • Assisted the CEO in the development of client proposals and SOWs for potential clients, as well as in monitoring and analyzing the sales pipeline (of potential clients) for the company.

• Industry specialization: Asset Management • Performed quality audits in accordance with applicable professional standards, regulations and firm policies for clients such as New York Life Investment Management, Penn Series Funds, SEI Investments, Tiedemann Trust Company, Wells Fargo Institutional Investments, etc. • Collaborated with various engagement teams, small and large, to perform and complete audits in a timely and efficient manner. • Met established milestones for accelerating audit work through effective project management. • Examined wide range of documentation, and collect financial and qualitative data to analyze trends. • Responsible for the assurance and completion of various test work areas. • Conducted substantive testing and procedures over client-prepared financial data, documentation and reports for accuracy and compliance. • Documented audit test-work and findings. • Methodically reviewed audit support and related financial documents (bank reconciliations, audit confirmations, activity schedules etc.) and assemble financial statements. • Used professional skepticism and investigative mind to assess risk factors. • Interacted and communicated effectively with team members, up-line, and the client on a daily basis. • Organized, planned and completed tasks based on priority, (as well as urgency, convenience, and time efficiency.) • Provided real-time monitoring of progress on assigned areas and tasks with respect to expectations set throughout the engagement. • Performed self-review of all completed tasks prior to submitting work to be reviewed. • Brought a positive, optimistic and energetic attitude and down-to-earth mentality to the office daily.

* Responsible for the welfare of 25 residents. * Coordinated social events and programs to build community. * Managed the budget allotted to my assigned building & floor of residents. * Enforced and upheld policies; Managed incident reports, room transfers, and maintenance requests. * Advised students in academic, personal, and career concerns.

* Interned during the winter Audit session, at the height of busy-season. * Exposure to various industries such as retail, asset management and consumer goods. * Managed PBC request lists, and reviewed, tested and documented support provided by clients. * Performed substantive test-work for various audit areas such as Cash confirmations, Income, Expenses, Unaccrued Liabilities, Prepaids, etc.

* Input financial data into systems such as SAP and Oracle. * Conducted variance & trend analysis. * Assisted in the implementation of certain operational efficiencies for the Finance department. * Reconciled financial accounts and ensured compliance with company financial policies. * Collaborated with 12 other Finance interns to research and develop a strategic solution for a case study project that highlighted a specific company issue - i.e. current gaps in company culture that ultimately weighed down operational efficiency and as result total sales.

* Administrative Assistant for a well-known regional Accounting firm in the Greater Philadelphia area. * Interned part-time for 8 months while going to university full-time. * First professional experience that exposed me to the Accounting industry.

Achieved both my BS in Accounting and my MBA within the total of 4 years, amidst 3 internships in-between.