Employee Spotlight: Stefanie Collins, Tablespoon's Staff Accountant

Meet Stefanie Collins! She's one of Tablespoon's Staff Accountants. April marked a year since joining the Tablespoon team! We are excited to celebrate this milestone with Stefanie and tell you more about her and why she loves working at Tablespoon.

Where are you from?

I currently live in the Central Arkansas area in Conway. It's about 20 miles north of Little Rock. I live here with my husband, son, and our dogs, and it's a quiet little suburb. And I love it.

What's your background?

I have worked in restaurants since I was 16, so that's nearly 20 years. I started as a hostess. I've worked in every front-of-house position that you could in a restaurant. Most recently, I was the manager at a pizza restaurant in Little Rock, working for the owners. I did a lot of the backend office work, and I needed to change out of the restaurant lifestyle to get a more predictable schedule and flexible work environment.

Tell me about your role.

I am a staff accountant, so I handle my clients' daily sales postings and bank reconciliations AP entry. I've also started learning more about close processes, which gives me a broader view of how everything ties together and what goes on behind the scenes. I have daily contact with each client, ensuring their cash deposits are lining up and everything is present. I also confirm that everything is coming through on their end on AP regarding support documents, invoices, and getting paid on time.

How has your restaurant experience helped your work with Tablespoon?

My restaurant experience does help my work with Tablespoon's clients. For example, if I'm going to email between 11 and 2, I know I won't get a response right away. It's helped a lot with the AP entry; for example, just having to code invoices and the cost of goods, I know what account that needs to go into. Another example would be sales postings and knowing where things need to be mapped. So, my experience in the restaurant has helped.

What do you love most about your time at Tablespoon?

I love working with Tablespoon's clients and learning about new clients, how they do their daily work, and how they handle specific issues. I also love seeing how the different processes at different restaurants.

In addition, the Tablespoon team has been so helpful. They've supported coming in from a restaurant setting and transitioning to a professional office setting. I don't hesitate to ask any questions; they are all kind and collaborative, answering any questions I have. The flexibility and more predictable schedule are also a plus, especially with having a small child.

What's your favorite restaurant?

I like to support local restaurants in Arkansas. I love Japanese food, but my favorite food right now is Korean barbecue. We have a place called Bulgogi Korean BBQ. We eat it at least once a week. It is so good. I don't have a favorite. I just really love restaurants and the ability not to cook every night!