Department Profile

Spring 2000
Volume 107 - No. 1

Department Profile

Accounting Department more than just number crunchers

The Accounting Department, from left: Jennifer Berndt, Harry Volpe and Jeffrey Vujevich

While accountants are typically thought to be boring number crunchers who sit all day mulling over facts and figures, the members of the BLE accounting department are a trio of accounting professionals whose efforts keep the BLE financially sound.

The three members of the department, Harry Volpe, Jeffrey Vujevich and Jennifer Berndt, provide their services to the entire organization which includes the union, the building association, the PAC fund and the Franklin P. Greene Educational Loan Fund.

The accounting department supports other BLE departments that provide more direct service to members. With efficient and competent service, the accounting department helps the BLE translate dues payments into the highest level of service possible and enables the assets of the organization to work efficiently toward the members' benefit.

The department serves the BLE with a complete range of accounting support. The employees are involved in everything from day to day processing to higher level functions such as providing technical expertise and planning. Some of the more routine operations they perform include invoicing, depositing revenues, paying suppliers and processing payroll. Beyond merely executing transactions, they create and maintain the financial record keeping system that the organization relies on for essential information. They also function to protect the organization's assets by employing and reviewing control procedures.

The accounting department is responsible for a wide variety of reporting. They issue financial reports within the organization that provide the union's management with information critical to running the BLE. They must also satisfy many of the reporting requirements imposed by the governmental entities such as the Internal Revenue Service, Revenue Canada and the Department of Labor.

The BLE Constitution also sets forth some reporting requirements that the accounting department must meet. Among other things, they produce the annual financial statements that must be audited by an outside party and sent to the subordinate units of the BLE each year.

Perhaps the most important function that these three people fulfill is providing knowledge to the BLE management that contributes to decision making and planning for the union. Like most businesses, the union cannot excel in its mission without a foundation of good financial information.

The accounting department was busier than usual earlier this year helping with the BLE's campaign on the UP. The department gave essential behind the scenes support by ensuring that all those involved in the massive mobilization operation were reimbursed for their efforts as quickly as possible.

Each member of the department contributes his or her talents to the operation with the special skills and training they have to offer.

Harry Volpe is the head of the Accounting Department and the BLE's General Auditor. Volpe directs the department's operations and assists the union's management by providing technical advice, analysis and planning. He prepares the union's financial reports and assists the executive committee with banking and investment decisions.

"I thoroughly enjoy working for this organization because our efforts benefit a large membership body," said Volpe. "It is personally more rewarding than working in an industry where only a select group of owners benefit from operations."

Volpe has been with the BLE since August 1988. Prior to that he served as Chief Financial Officer for a company that designed, built and managed nursing homes. He gained his first exposure to the transportation industry as he worked his way up to the position of controller for a regional airline. Volpe is a graduate of Cleveland State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Staff accountant Jeffrey Vujevich has been with the BLE since April 1995. Much of his work is detail driven, analytical and diverse in nature. He tracks insurance payments and the participant census for the union's health insurance program. He also works on bank and investment account reconciliations as well as a broad assortment of government and other reports. While many are routine, they are all important in keeping the organization in compliance. In addition, he works with the building manager by doing the analytical work needed for rent escalations and leases. Account collections are also his responsibility.

"This variety of work is what makes the job interesting," said Vujevich. "I like the different duties. It keeps monotony minimal."

Jeff also graduated from Cleveland State University.

Jennifer Berndt handles the bookkeeping and payroll activities for the BLE. She issues payments to the union and building association members as well as PAC fund checks. She also operates the payroll for the union's entities and makes daily banking deposit. Most important, she must keep track of all this activity. It is a big job and her day is filled from beginning to end.

"The people who work at the BLE love their jobs, but I don't know of any that could afford to work without being paid," said Berndt.

Berndt has worked for the BLE since 1998. Prior to coming to the BLE, she worked for the American Train Dispatchers union for almost four years. She is a native of the Cleveland area.

These three dynamic accounting professionals make sure your dues money keeps working for you with their hard work and dedication.

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