JOANNA SCOTT
Portland
Summary
Versatile professional with expertise in accounting and legal administration, proficient in managing accounts payable/receivable, payroll processing, and case documentation. Demonstrated ability to streamline operations and maintain accuracy in financial reporting while supporting legal teams with document management and compliance. Committed to enhancing organizational effectiveness through strategic support.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Accounting Assistant II/Bookkeeper
Specialty Heating & Cooling
11.2022 - Current
- Managed full-cycle accounts payable and receivable functions to ensure financial accuracy.
- Maintained general ledger through accurate recurring and adjusting journal entries to ensure financial integrity.
- Prepared cash flow projections and conducted bank and credit card reconciliations.
- Completed month-end close processes, delivering comprehensive financial reports and P&L statements for management review.
- Processed payroll through Paycom, ensuring timely and accurate commission and incentive-based payments.
- Managed vendor relations, ensuring timely invoice payments and resolving billing discrepancies to strengthen partnerships.
Office Assistant/Legal Assistant
Richardson Wright LLP
Portland
01.2020 - 04.2022
- Prepared trial binders and managed the complete case documentation lifecycle, assisting attorneys with case files and legal briefs for court proceedings.
- Spearheaded electronic document filing via court e-filing systems and managed attorney time entries using PcLaw and ProLaw Elite.
- Coordinated critical legal calendars by scheduling depositions, mediations, and arbitrations, tracking all strict court deadlines to ensure 100% compliance.
- Provided high-level support to senior attorneys by managing complex meeting schedules, arranging client consultations, and handling sensitive professional correspondence.
- Served as the primary point of contact for clients, managing incoming calls, addressing legal inquiries, and routing communications to appropriate personnel with strict confidentiality.
- Streamlined daily office operations, including vendor management for equipment maintenance, mail/package logistics, and office supply inventory control.
- Supported office bookkeeping functions by managing invoicing workflows, tracking attorney hours, and processing expense reports
Legal Assistant
Hart Wagner LLP
Portland
01.2017 - 12.2019
- Conducted legal research to support case strategies, compiled witness lists and evidence for trial preparation, and assisted with comprehensive deposition logistics.
- Drafted, reviewed, and proofread high-quality legal documents, including contracts, pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery requests, and formal correspondence for attorneys and clients.
- Filed pleadings and legal paperwork with court clerks under strict deadlines, ensuring 100% compliance with established court rules and electronic procedures.
- Spearheaded the transition of physical documentation into secure electronic databases, organized digital document management systems, and meticulously redacted confidential information on a case-by-case basis.
- Managed attorney billable time entries, tracked case-related expenses, compiled financial records, and coordinated directly with the accounting department to streamline billing workflows.
- Served as the primary liaison between attorneys, outside counsel, and clients to gather case updates, while simultaneously managing complex calendars, scheduling legal proceedings, and arranging out-of-town travel.
Administrative Assistant II
Scott/Hookland LLP
Tigard
12.2006 - 12.2016
- Prepared legal correspondence, drafted engagement letters and closing documents, and executed electronic filings (e-filing) for court proceedings and client meetings.
- Developed, organized, and maintained secure physical and electronic filing systems for confidential client records, while oversight-managing closed files, liens, judgments, and legal archiving/destruction processes.
- Administered onboarding workflows by conducting critical conflict checks and performing detailed corporate research to support attorney case preparation.
- Optimized daily office automation by managing multi-line phone triage, maintaining vendor relationships, servicing office equipment, and tracking supply inventory to guarantee seamless operations.
- Supported the firm's billing pipeline by meticulously tracking case-related expenses and preparing invoices for management and attorney review.
- Coordinated internal and external communications between clients and counsel, while managing complex scheduling for workshops, conferences, and meetings—inclusive of room reservations, catering, and technical setup.
Education
Associates of Science - Accounting
Western Business College
Portland, OR10-1994
Skills
- Full-Cycle Accounts Payable (AP) & Accounts Receivable (AR) General Ledger (GL) Maintenance Revenue Recognition & Billing Workflows Intercompany Accounting GAAP Compliance Month-End Close Processes Balance Sheet Integrity
- Bank & Credit Card Reconciliations Cash Flow Integrity Collections Management Report Reconciliation Discrepancy Research & Audit Resolution Financial Reporting & Analysis
- Payroll Operations Management Multi-Tiered Commission Calculations Incentive-Based Payroll Administration
- Legal Case Management Lifecycle E-Filing Systems & Portals Comprehensive Trial Preparation Evidence Compilation Legal Research & Document Drafting
- Financial Software Platforms (QuickBooks) Advanced Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word) Strategic Office Organization Cross-Functional Interpersonal Communication Critical Problem Resolution
Timeline
Accounting Assistant II/Bookkeeper
Specialty Heating & Cooling
11.2022 - Current
Office Assistant/Legal Assistant
Richardson Wright LLP
01.2020 - 04.2022
Legal Assistant
Hart Wagner LLP
01.2017 - 12.2019
Administrative Assistant II
Scott/Hookland LLP
12.2006 - 12.2016
Associates of Science - Accounting
Western Business College