Meet Emily Fischer, Accountant

How long have you been with S-NET?

I joined S-NET on July 13, 2020.

What is your educational background?

I received my Bachelor of Arts degree at Augustana College, double majoring in Accounting and Finance with a minor in Music.

What compelled you to choose this career path?

I chose accounting because I am a strategic thinker and love problem solving. I enjoy maintaining various business processes within the accounting cycle, especially for a growing company such as S-NET! Accounting also gives me the opportunity to work with a team, independently, or with clients which creates a fun, dynamic work environment.

Tell us a little about your career history.

I previously worked for Johnson Lambert as an Audit Associate for Insurance and Non-Profit financial audits nation-wide. The basic responsibilities involved analyzing the financial condition of a company as well as identifying key control issues and emerging risks. It was a fascinating line of work.

What are your primary responsibilities at S-NET?

My primary responsibilities include accounts payable and receivable, bank reconciliations, assisting in commission statements, expense reports, responding to customer billing calls and tickets, and other business administrative responsibilities. I work closely with my awesome Finance Team including Director of Finance, Kim Zacharkiewicz, and Michael Vicas, our Billing Manager.

How often do you work with S-NET clients?

I interact with customers daily by phone and email. I enjoy making connections with customers, helping them with their billing challenges and hearing that sigh of relief when their issue is resolved. In the process, I usually learn something new as well!

What do you enjoy most about your work?

The most rewarding aspect of my job is developing my skills and finding ways to improve my daily workflows with the Finance Team. I also enjoy the friendly, open work environment. There is truly a sense of family at S-NET that makes coming in to work pleasant. Our office is also full of up-beat, hard-working people.

What have been some of your favorite projects so far?

One of my favorite projects has been creating a new credit card reconciliation process. The project has significantly improved the categorizing of business purchases in their appropriate accounts in QuickBooks. I’ve also enjoyed assisting in launching our new accounts payable platform, Bill.com.

How has S-NET helped you grow as a professional?

Working in Accounting at S-NET has given me more hands-on experience in the accounting cycle. Each day is a learning experience that has allowed me to expand my accounting skillsets and expertise.

What exciting projects are you most looking forward to?

I am most looking forward to the streamlining and improvement of our internal processes, which has been an effort in my team since I have started. The recent switch over to Rev.io as our company’s customer payment processor is already saving us a significant amount of time in the month-end bank reconciliation process.

How do you like to spend your free time?

After a long day of work, I like to unwind by getting outside and running. I also love playing my violin. My current practice piece is Bach’s Chaconne.

Tell us a little more about that.

I’ve studied violin since age 3 through the Suzuki Method with my twin sister. About 13 years ago we formed a group called Violin Twinz, performing classical duets and our original arrangements of mainstream and classic rock covers. We have performed at the House of Blues in Chicago, outdoor festivals such as Art & Soul on the Fox, weddings, restaurants, and private events. I am also a violinist for an Indi-rock group called Yes Factory, out of Rockford, IL. Before the pandemic began, we were the opening act for a Cheap Trick concert. We are currently producing a record that will be coming out hopefully by the end of 2021 or 2022.

Are there any exciting plans you are looking forward to?

I am excited to get back to performing with my music groups again on the weekends and also attend CSO and Ravinia concerts once events begin opening up!