Melissa Cornwell

Government finance professional with 12+ years managing public-sector budgets, payroll, grants, and fiscal reporting across county, school, fire, and health agencies. Led a 20-person finance and customer-care team, oversaw multi-million-dollar portfolios, and ensured compliance with GASB, BARS, and GAAP standards. Holds an MPA and advanced proficiency in SAP, Munis, and Oracle ERP.

Accounting Assistant IV - Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office - Olympia, WA

(2023-11)

• Reconcile monthly ledgers and expenditure reports for a county prosecuting attorney office, ensuring accuracy and compliance with state and local fiscal rules.
• Process accounts payable, payroll, and vendor payments on a recurring monthly and biweekly cadence while maintaining complete documentation for audit trails.
• Apply GASB, BARS, and GAAP standards to daily record keeping and financial reporting, supporting transparency in public fund stewardship.

Director of Finance - Harbors Home Health & Hospice - Hoquiam, WA

(2021-10 - 2022-06)

• Directed all accounting, payroll, budgeting, and financial reporting operations for a health services organization with multi-million-dollar annual revenue.
• Built monthly financial reports and variance analyses used by executive leadership to guide operational decisions and cost-control initiatives.
• Oversaw cash flow, general ledger reconciliations, and compliance with healthcare and nonprofit reporting requirements.
• Supervised finance staff, standardizing close processes and improving the timeliness of month-end reporting.

Accounting Manager - Grays Harbor County Treasurer - Montesano, WA

(2016-11 - 2021-05)

• Managed fiscal operations for county, school, and fire district funds, overseeing multi-million-dollar public portfolios and daily cash positioning.
• Led a team of 20+ finance and customer-service staff, providing training and workflow oversight that improved accuracy and service delivery.
• Reconciled complex ledgers and produced monthly, quarterly, and annual reports on revenue, expenditures, and fund balances for elected officials and department heads.
• Administered state and federal grant claims, tracking expenditures and revenue recognition to ensure timely reimbursement and audit readiness.
• Partnered with county departments to identify spending trends, resolve discrepancies, and strengthen internal controls around public funds.

Adjunct Faculty - Business Program - Grays Harbor College - Stafford Creek Corrections Center - Aberdeen, WA

(2016-11 - 2021-01)

• Designed and delivered Business Ethics & Law coursework for incarcerated students, adapting instruction to diverse learning needs within a correctional institution.
• Mentored 10 incarcerated individuals in accounting processes supporting Correctional Industries Furniture Factory operations.

Master of Public Administration - University of Phoenix - Online (2013-01)

Bachelor of Science - Business Management - University of Phoenix - Online (2011-01)