Sarah Sommer

About Sarah Sommer

Top-performing CPA with a growth mindset and over 10 years of experience in the corporate accounting space navigating major changes at mid- to large-sized corporations. I embrace process improvements, technology implementations and strong accounting functions. I\'m known for organization, confidence, professionalism and results. As a leader, I strive to listen, understand, set the example and communicate vision. While the accounting close cycle is core to my experience, I\'ve expanded my skillset to include external reporting, technical accounting, acquisitions and systems.

Experience

1. Director of Accounting

   illumifin

   Jul 2025 — Present · US

   As the Director of Accounting, I oversee accounting close activities, consolidations, external audit requirements, and financial reporting for the Company. In this role, I lead realignment and optimization strategies impacting people, processes, and systems. This includes strategic initiatives across the broader accounting organization, technical expertise and controls, process efficiencies, new technologies, documentation, role transitions, and major projects. I manage a team of staff and senior accountants and collaborate with a global workforce. In my first six months, I leveraged my network to make key introductions for improved compliance, cost-saving strategies, and new systems. Using my technical expertise, I found an opportunity to reduce future spend on external consulting. I\'ve written numerous policies, evaluated and negotiated new tools, implemented personnel and process change initiatives, built critical reporting files, evaluated new accounting standards, begun new system implementations, and established goals for the upcoming year. I also added first-time processes and reviewed hundreds of monthly journals and reconciliations for the team.

Education

• Northwestern University

  Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, Accounting

  2014

• Manhattan School of Music

  Master of Music, Orchestral Clarinet Performance

• Northwestern University

  Bachelor of Music, Clarinet Performance, Minor in Arts Administration

Skills

• Budgets
• Finance
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Excel
• Powerpoint
• Performing Arts
• Public Speaking
• Financial Reporting
• Financial Accounting
• Clarinet
• Handle Confidential Information
• Event Planning
• Management
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Powerpoint
• Teamwork
• Nonprofits
• Proofreading
• Accounting
• Saxophone
• Music