Meet the Accounting Staff

Karen Huffman, CPA, Controller  §  480.350.8256
Karen is responsible for the overseeing of the Accounting Division for the City. Her responsibilities include: 

Manage, direct and supervise the activities of the Accounting Division
Support and provide technical assistance to Accounting personnel
Review and implement new Accounting Pronouncements
Supervise and coordinate the preparation of the City’s comprehensive annual financial report.
Prepare and analyze complex financial and administrative reports and make recommendations
Advise departments and divisions on accounting issues, policies, and procedures
Direct and assist in the development and maintenance of proper internal controls to ensure the safeguard of City assets

Natalie Winger, CPA, Senior Accountant  §  480.350.2926
Prepare and process the weekly Accounts Payable check run
Review and process General Ledger reclass forms
Process budget transfer requests for capital improvement projects
Prepare various monthly or quarterly reports on expenditures and revenues for both capital improvement and operating budgets
Supervise Accounts Payable staff
Provide assistance to City staff regarding accounting principles and procedures

Kathy Ferguson, Payroll Supervisor  §  480.350.8264
Supervise and process the citywide payroll
Process tax levies, child support orders and garnishments
Set up ASRS service purchase payroll deductions   
Prepare quarterly and annual payroll related tax reports including Form W-2
Research and prepare payroll-related reports for internal divisions and external agencies
Update and add HRMS PeopleSoft earnings codes, deduction codes and cost centers

Connie DeKemper, Cash Management Specialist  §  480.350.8972
Develop and implement a program to ensure City-wide compliance with established cash handling and cash collection procedures; schedule and perform departmental reviews for compliance with established procedures.
Provide guidance and support to various levels of management and staff with regards to cash handling. 
Provide training to departmental personnel in appropriate cash handling and cash collection techniques including petty cash and cashier functions.
Develop policies, procedures and internal controls for effective and efficient investment of temporarily idle City funds; review the investment portfolio and cash flow forecast on an ongoing basis to determine opportunities for increasing interest income by investing in authorized instruments.
Coordinate all banking functions as the bank liaison for the City.

Ann Cava, Financial Services Technician II+  §  480.350.8356
Reconcile Cash Concentration Account
Review Cash Receipts for proper Accounts and Cost Center before they are processed in the General Ledger
Retain Cash Receipts in accordance with the State record retention policy
Reconcile all Direct Deposits to Concentration Bank Account.  These include Deposit Tickets (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express), Lockbox Utilities, Checkfree Report, IVR Reports, IWR Reports and Surepay Transfers.  Process any “Charge Backs“ that result from using Credit Cards.
Reconcile Daily Cash Recaps and DDR's from all Direct Deposit made to Concentration Account by various Departments through out the City
Reconcile and record all Golf Course Direct Deposit
Reconcile and route all NSF Checks to proper Departments. Record to an NSF report and reconcile monthly.  Send NSF check for collection.  Using a journal entry reverse any Write-Offs for NSF.

Cecilia Miller, Financial Services Technician II+  §  480.350.8849
Accounts Payable vendors beginning with letters A through C
Process payments to vendors using the City's financial system
Verify payment information submitted by departments
Monitor purchases for compliance with laws and city's policies
Provide assistance to customers regarding accounts payable
Enter new vendor accounts into system
Process sub-systems for refunds for courts, housing and recreation departments
Reconcile Procurement Cards
Process General Ledger Reclass requests
Process Interactivity allocations
Process cash receipts

Ramona Zapien, Financial Services Technician II+  §  480.350.8357
Accounts Payable vendors beginning with letters D through O
Process payments to vendors using the City's financial system
Verify payment information submitted by departments
Monitor purchases for compliance with laws and city's policies
Provide assistance to customers regarding accounts payable
Enter new vendor accounts into system
Process sub-systems for refunds for courts, housing and recreation departments
Reconcile Procurement Cards
Process General Ledger Reclass requests
Process Interactivity allocations
Process cash receipts

Penny Brophy, Financial Services Technician II+  §  480.350.8502
Accounts Payable vendors beginning with letters P through Z
Process payments to vendors using the City's financial system
Verify payment information submitted by departments
Monitor purchases for compliance with laws and city's policies
Provide assistance to customers regarding accounts payable
Enter new vendor accounts into system
Process sub-systems for refunds for courts, housing and recreation departments
Reconcile Procurement Cards
Process General Ledger Reclass requests
Process Interactivity allocations
Process cash receipts

The Tempe Way

MISSION:
To make Tempe the best place to live, work and play.
VALUES:
People... Integrity... Respect... Openness... Creativity... Quality