SHERYL FREEMAN

23824 SE 281^st Lane

Maple Valley, WA 98038

818-636-8666

freemansheryl@aol.com

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Detail-oriented, hands-on Telecommunications Margin Assurance & Carrier Relations Manager skilled in managing costs, contract compliance and volume discount plans for telecom expenses in both regulated and contract environments.  Experienced in auditing and validating carrier invoices against PO’s, tariffs and contracts. Successfully established proactive cost improvement measures including creating circuit inventories, root-cause billing error analysis and improvement of accrual processes. Able to interface effectively with multiple departments and all levels of management up to the CEO to ensure accurate costs, records and reporting at both micro and macro levels.

 

EXPERIENCE

 

T-Mobile, Bellevue, WA

Senior Analyst, Network Cost

July 2010 to Present

 

Spearheading reconciliation of T-Mobile/AT&T Broadband services contracts including all data analysis and contract calculations. Project includes reconciling contracted T-Mobile AT&T DS1 inventory of over 32,000 DS1’s and related billing at about 16,000 contracted T-Mobile cell sites, finding the associated CFA for all DS1’s, calculating backhaul credits on the associated DS3’s, and calculating contract price based on the number of DS1’s per active Site ID.  It also includes auditing the AT&T Ethernet billing for correct USOC’s and monthly contract credits and filing disputes for discrepancies.  I built an Access database with direct access to BillTrakPro server data and additional manually created tables to resolve Granite/billing discrepancies and facilitate contract calculations.  Granite data was pulled using Business Objects.  The Broadband services contract audits resulted in $60.5M in RSA credits over the last 3 years above and beyond monthly contract credits.  Other disputes recovered as a result of this contract audit included $33M in ETL charges and another $12M in invalid rate and improper crediting issues.  A byproduct of this audit was a data integrity project for our transport teams to either correct or disconnect over $450K MRC in stranded assets that I identified in Granite, our network inventory database. We transitioned to Razorsight from BillTrackPro in 2012. Between disputes and contract settlements, my efforts yielded another $60M in credits for T-Mobile through 2013.

 

I also train and mentor co-workers in MS Access query development and tariff interpretation which has greatly improved the productivity of the entire auditing team.  The total team disputes doubled every quarter in 2011 and disputes for the team in 2012 were more than doubled from 2010.  I maintain the Auditing Strategy Database and reporting. I help refine and implement the Auditing Calendar with monthly, quarterly and annual audits.  As I run across other billing issues during the Broadband Services Contract research, I file the larger disputes myself, create trouble tickets to fix inventory data issues and have handed off $10M in disputes to other auditors to file.

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Norlight, Inc., Overland Park, KS

Manager, Carrier Cost Control

March 2007 to June 2010

 

Provide guidelines, training and supervision for five analysts auditing $2.5M in carrier expenses per month for switched access and network facilities ordered under tariffs and contracts. Ensure data integrity and enhanced functionality of circuit & dispute databases.  Assist with contract, carrier relations and regulatory duties related to Line Costs for carrier/vendors including dispute negotiation and settlement and term discounts.  Manage integration of circuit inventories for Cinergy/Norlight merger. Provide Revenue Assurance support to product pricing analysts for new and re-termed customers. Spearheaded volume discount plan with AT&T including persuading AT&T to change the existing Ameritech tariff language so that we could subscribe to the DCP that would save $5M over five years in monthly recurring cost and elimination of term liabilities.

 

 

TelePacific Communications, Los Angeles, California

Director, Carrier Accounting & Assurance

October 2004 to November 2006

 

Provide guidelines, training and supervision for one manager and two analysts auditing $7.5M in carrier expenses per month for network facilities and collocations ordered under tariffs and contracts. Develop systems needed for process improvement in Line Cost, provisioning and network planning. Ensure data integrity and enhance functionality of Line Cost databases.  Handle contract, carrier relations and regulatory duties related to Line Costs for carrier/vendors including dispute negotiation and settlement.

 

·           Audit key accounts to keep abreast of issues and validate completed audits of line cost analysts.

·           Perform all audits on usage-based invoices including FGD, IXC & reciprocal compensation and new resale invoices after TRRO ruling.

·           Prepared monthly accruals, journal entries & footnotes for month-end close for all COGS accounts.

·           Provide counsel and analysis to Executive Team, Marketing, Regulatory, Legal & Finance on issues regarding settlements, disputes & regulatory challenges.

·           Provided cost analysis of the FCC’s TRRO ruling and its financial and operational consequences for TelePacific legacy costs and its impact on our impending Pac-West acquisition.

·           Research line cost issues for other departments within TelePacific and develop detailed cost information for cost of service studies and M&A activity.

·           Monitor invoice data for least-cost routing issues and refer to Network Planning for correction.

·           Prepared monthly Line Cost reporting for Senior VP of Engineering and Operations. 

·           Developed reporting to track embedded base high-mileage customer circuits and installation of new customer circuits with mileage which highlighted both provisioning and hubbing errors so that internal processes and procedures could be corrected.

·           Created an MS Access circuit inventory for Pac-West customer acquisition based on billed circuits and Pac-West records for purchased private line facilities. 

·           Perform detailed audits on intercompany invoices related to the Pac-West acquisition and work with Pac-West transition team to resolve issues and secure settlement credits. 

·           Worked with Carrier representatives to facilitate migration of acquired services from Pac-West, including supersedure of circuits, creation of new BAN’s and migration cost abatement.

·           Represent TelePacific at select industry and regulatory meetings.

 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS at TelePacific:

 

·           Negotiated $550K CPUC mandated UNE backbilling from AT&T down to $250K.

·           Led Negotiations and analysis of $1.9M Embarq cross-connect dispute eventually winning 85% of dispute and provided budget projections for future cost increases due to settlement terms.

·           Researched UNE-P alternatives from AT&T, Verizon and Embarq needed because of the FCC’s final TRRO ruling in March 2005, obtained approvals necessary for Marketing to review those alternatives and provided revenue assurance analysis to support eventual choices.

·           Worked with IT & Engineering on project to disconnect non-revenue generating circuits.  Identified a potential of $60K per month in missed disconnects and realized $123K in one-time dispute savings.

·           In calendar year 2005 the average cost per revenue generating circuit was reduced from $235 to $207 on a base of over 20,000 T1’s with eventual savings of $560K per month due through identifying optimization opportunities and root cause analysis of high-cost customer circuits.

·           Prepared disputes for inter-company billing related to Pac-West customer acquisition, eventually winning over $500K in expense reduction.

·           Obtained financial approval for and implemented ACES Line Cost management solution.

 

 

 

Birch Telecom, Kansas City, Missouri

MARGIN ASSURANCE/LINE COST/ACCESS REVENUE MANAGER

June, 2000 to October 2004

 

Managed Line Cost Department that included special and switched access (voice grade through OC48), as well as interconnection (UNE/UNE-P) groups. Maintained the Master Circuit Inventory and developed systems and procedures needed for process improvement in Line Cost.

 

·           Searched for unbilled revenue opportunities and eliminated billing for stranded assets.

·           Prepared supporting documentation and negotiated settlements for billing disputes with access vendors and customers.

·           Served as first point of escalation for dealing with access vendors and access revenue customers. 

·           Identified root causes for recurring disputes.

·           Audited key accounts to keep abreast of issues and validated completed audits of line cost analysts.

·           Researched line cost issues for other departments within Birch and developed detailed cost information for cost of service studies.

·           Monitored invoices for least-cost routing issues and referred to Network Planning for correction.

·           Provided guidelines, training and supervision for seven line cost analysts auditing invoices for network facilities ordered under tariffs, ICA’s and contracts.

·           Handled customer care for Birch’s initial CABS Access Revenue Billings, serving as the first point of contact for customer inquiries and disputes and handling collections for major accounts.

 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS at Birch:

 

Dispute results stated below are actual cash savings by the Line Cost department without run rate.

 

2000: Disputed $5.4 million, won 95.5%, lost/settled 4% with .5% pending Oct 2004.

2001: Disputed $12.3 million, won 90%, lost/settled 9.5% with .5% pending Oct 2004.

2002: Disputed $14.2 million, won 74%, lost/settled 16% with 10% pending Oct 2004.

2003: Disputed $13.3 million, won 57%, lost/settled 22% with 21% pending Oct 2004.

2004: Disputed $4.1 million, won 33%, lost/settled 12% with 55% pending Oct 2004.

 

·           Created the first master circuit inventory for all Birch private line facilities, used by engineering and finance to validate the general ledger, eliminate excess capacity and optimize existing facilities.

·           Created & programmed Invoice tracking & auditing database in MS Access with queries, forms, reports, using macros and Visual Basic to improve Cost reporting, facilitate invoice processing and payment and help create monthly accruals.

·           Created an MS Access circuit inventory for the Ionex merger for all Ionex private line facilities.  Database was used by Birch engineering and finance to migrate the COGS GL coding and eliminate excess capacity between the merged companies. 

·           Managed the transition of the Ionex Line Cost payables from the Addison, TX to Kansas City.

·           Developed processes and reports for monthly network cost reporting for management.

·           Project Manager for the transition of NAC software from Service Bureau to an in-house server.

·           Served as the point person for collection of the AT&T CABS account, re-rating their invoices as required by contract and collecting over $2 million in the first 6 months of CABS FGD Billings. 

·           Created an access database engine to re-rate 5 months of CABS FGD invoices (27 BAN’s) to AT&T contract rates to expedite collection of another $2 Million in revenue.

 

 

ICG Communications, Englewood, Colorado

COST ANALYST III, LINE COST

July, 1999 to June, 2000

 

Approved and audited Facility and Switched Access CABS invoices. Primary vendors were GTE, US West and independent LEC’s in Colorado. 

 

·           Filed disputes for billing errors and negotiated settlements with vendors.

·           Prepared monthly accruals for access costs.

·           Trained new employees in use of online systems, circuit design and auditing procedures.

 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS at ICG:

 

·           Created an automated program in MS ACCESS to create dispute memos and track disputes.

·           Personally initiated and closed $1.5 million in disputes in ICG’s favor between July 1999 and June 2000 and billing corrections that reduced monthly recurring costs in excess of $100,000 per month.

·           Cleaned up the existing circuit databases in 11 markets, resulting in reduced time completing audits and accruals as well as improving data accuracy and identification of circuits to appropriate GL accounts.

·           Notified Network planning and provisioning to correct inefficiently ordered circuits for a cost reduction of approximately $62,000 per month.

 

Sprint Long Distance, Kansas City, Missouri

PROCESS ANALYST, ACCESS VERIFICATION

February 1996 to July 1999

Approved and audited Facility, Switched Access and Sprint data invoices with signing authority to $100,000.  Primary responsibilities included TCG, GTE, GTE/Contel, AT&T, GTETI, International accounts and independent switched accounts.  Audits included verifying tariffed rates, BIP’s and mileages from online tariffs and interpreting tariff verbiage. 

 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS at Sprint LD:

 

·           Created automated process for the monthly true up for GTE BMAN billing. 

·           Negotiated billing claims and settlements with vendors, with emphasis on GTE.

·           Participated in Interdepartmental and Intercompany pricing plan proposals, BMAN proposals and SONET billing issues meetings.

·           Wrote test cases for Y2K compliance project and tested Y2K compliance as a SME.

·           Participated in Vendor Service Evaluations, Bonus Plan Creation and Data Warehouse Teams. 

 

Consolidated Communications, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri

TELECOMMUNICATIONS COST ANALYST

May, 1995 to February, 1996

·         Audited Invoices for Tariffed rates, PIU's, BIP's, MOU's, mileages, and dates of service.

·         Filed claims for billing discrepancies and negotiated settlements with vendors.

·         Approved and audited special and switched access invoices from LEC, IXC and RBOC vendors.

 

Independent Telecommunications Network (Illuminet/Verisign)

Overland Park, Kansas 

FACILITIES BILLING ANALYST

November, 1992 to April, 1995

·         Approved and validated special access invoices and tracked facilities costs for SS7 backbone network. Prepared monthly accruals for new and disconnected facilities.

·         Developed average link cost analysis and monthly expense summaries. 

·         Filed disputes for billing errors with vendors and negotiated settlements. 

·         Created computerized system to track line costs at the circuit, customer and GL account level in Excel. 

 

EDUCATION & INDUSTRY TRAINING

 

Barnsdall High School, Barnsdall, OK, Valedictorian, Student Council President, 4.0 GPA

University of Tulsa, 60 credit hours toward Accounting major, National Merit Scholarship

Tulsa Junior College, 9 credit hours, Accounting, Marketing & Business Law, 4.0 GPA

 

Sprint University of Excellence:

              Access Overview (telecommunications); MS ACCESS: Modules 1 & 2; Basic FOCUS; ISPF/TSO;

                            Joiner: Fundamentals of Fourth Generation Management; Negotiating to Yes

Zenger Miller through CCI:

              Continuous Quality Improvement

              Front Line Leadership: The Basic Principles; Giving Constructive Feedback; Recognizing Positive Results, Getting Your Ideas Across, Getting Good Information from Others, Dealing With Emotional Behavior, Building a Constructive Relationship with Your Manager, Confronting issues with Your Manager & Peers, Building A Collaborative Relationship with Your Peers, Winning Support from Others

U S West: Local Transport Restructure Workshop

Executrain:

              Excel 2000 Advanced Worksheet & Database

              MS Access Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced

              Beginning & Int. FoxPro 2.5

              Intro to Visual Basic             

NECA (National Exchange Carrier Association):

                            Tariff Training, Local Transport Restructure Training, Special Access Training, ASR & Misc. Charges Training

 

Expert in MS Excel & MS Access.  Proficient in Business Objects, MS Word & Outlook.  Limited training in Visual Basic.

 

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