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Julius BongCPA

Experience

From the close to the boardroom.

Accounting management, then controllership, then FP&A, then finance analytics and AI — each role building on the discipline of the one before.

  1. Space Needle & Chihuly Garden and Glass

    Seattle, WA

    Two of Seattle's best-known attractions, operated together — ticketing, food & beverage, retail, and events.

    1. June 2026Present

      Finance Manager, Finance Analytics & AI

      Leads finance analytics and the application of AI across planning, reporting, and accounting — building the platforms and models that connect the general ledger to the operating data that explains it.

      • Finance analytics
      • AI & automation
      • Revenue strategy
      • Systems transformation
    2. June 2021May 2026

      Financial Planning & Analysis Manager

      Led FP&A — budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning — and partnered with senior leadership on strategic direction and board-level reporting. Oversaw capital expenditure planning, budgeting, and reporting.

      Selected accomplishments

      • Led the organization-wide conversion to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, coordinating cross-functional teams to keep operations running through implementation.
      • Designed and built a new centralized budgeting platform that replaced spreadsheet submissions with department workflows, historical actuals, and capital requests in one place.
      • Designed and built an executive analytics portal connecting the general ledger with attendance, labor, pricing, retail, and food & beverage information.
      • Built a ticketing revenue model linking price, product mix, bundled products, and attendance to the revenue plan.
      • Developed attendance forecasting — including weather- and holiday-driven models — to support pricing and planning decisions.
      • Implemented automated daily revenue journal entries from ticketing and point-of-sale data into Business Central, with reconciliation and human review built in.
      • Enhanced the budgeting and planning process with new forecasting models and performance-tracking tools that improved accuracy and strategic alignment.
      • Spearheaded a paperless accounts payable initiative, streamlining workflows across departments.
      • Built and maintained complex financial models; delivered monthly and ad-hoc performance reporting using Power BI and Tableau.
      • Guided and mentored a small team, ensuring accuracy and development in core financial activities.
      • FP&A
      • Systems transformation
      • Board reporting
      • Capital planning
    3. April 2017May 2021

      Assistant Controller

      Managed a team of 5–8 across accounting operations and internal controls: month-end close, journal entry approval, tax accruals, financial reporting, payroll, AP/AR, corporate expenses, and fixed assets.

      Selected accomplishments

      • Directed the month-end close, journal entry approvals, tax accruals, and financial reporting.
      • Led annual audits and inventory reviews, working with external auditors and consultants on regulatory compliance and best practice.
      • Directed internal controls and compliance projects with cross-departmental teams to streamline accounting operations and improve reporting accuracy.
      • Held monthly financial performance reviews with department heads, advising on financial management and process improvement.
      • Administered the company retirement plan and ensured payroll compliance.
      • Accounting leadership
      • Internal controls
      • Audit
      • Process improvement
  2. Car Toys, Inc. / Wireless Advocates

    Seattle, WA

    1. December 2013March 2017

      Senior Accountant

      Month-end close, financial statement analysis, and financial reporting; CAPEX forecasting, reporting, and depreciation schedules.

      Selected accomplishments

      • Designed financial models and dashboards in Excel, Tableau, and Power BI for leadership across business units.
      • Advised on best practices and change management as part of enterprise system migration projects.
      • Led sales and use tax (SALT) compliance and audits, and maintained tax data in point-of-sale systems.
      • Supported audit preparation and budget planning as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders.
      • Financial reporting
      • Analytics
      • Systems migration
  3. Restaurants Unlimited, Inc.

    Seattle, WA

    1. March 2013December 2013

      Senior Accountant

      Financial support for restaurant general managers across 48 locations; CAPEX tracking, depreciation, and fixed-asset schedules.

      Selected accomplishments

      • Managed CAPEX tracking, depreciation, and fixed-asset schedules.
      • Maintained health, liquor, and building licensing compliance across 13 states.
      • Assisted with annual audits and income tax filings.
      • Fixed assets
      • Compliance
      • Multi-unit accounting
  4. T Customs Broker, Inc.

    Los Angeles, CA

    1. January 2005February 2013

      Accounting Manager

      Led accounting department operations, including payroll, HR functions, cash flow, and budget variance analysis.

      Selected accomplishments

      • Built the department's training and standard operating procedures, and mentored accounting staff.
      • Led IT and process-improvement initiatives with leadership: paperless workflows, PCI compliance, and intranet development.
      • Maintained server infrastructure, desktop support, and disaster recovery systems.
      • Accounting leadership
      • Process improvement
      • IT
  5. Information Technology

    Earlier IT roles designing and enhancing business applications, writing user documentation, maintaining networks and backups, and supporting accounting teams with data mining and ad-hoc reporting.

Contact

Modernizing finance without loosening what makes it right?

I welcome conversations with finance leaders, executive recruiters, and organizations working on accounting, FP&A, and finance transformation.