Benchmark's Best: Amy Friesen, Accounts Payable Specialist

​Amy is a treasured part of the Accounting team with detailed precision and a great attitude. She is an Accounts Payable Specialist in our Accounting department. Her dedication to her work is evident and her laugh is contagious. She has been such an asset in our Accounting department, but you'll find her wearing a few other hats as well. Being a team player is a priority to Amy and she continues to conquer every challenge placed in front of her. Amy has only been at Benchmark for a couple of years but her positive impact in both Accounting and in the workplace make her Benchmark's Best for January. 

​What do you do in your job?
Amy's role in the Accounting department is Accounts Payable Specialist. Some of her responsibilities include managing all processes of accounts payable for Benchmark. She reviews, processes, and codes invoices, credit card statements, and check requests. In addition to being great with numbers, she is also great with people. Some of her responsibilities involve building relationships with our trusted partners and vendors and will review their statements. She assists in financial audits and conducts accounts payable monthly closing and account reconciliation. Amy's abilities extend beyond accounting into the warehouse. She enters, reviews, and maintains inventory adjustments/reconciliations, customer stock transfers, and customer warehouses.  She is an administrator for FedEx and UPS but also assists in inventory validation and correcting discrepancies. She even has experience working in Avalara doing sales and use tax reconciliation. She has been such a resource to Benchmark with a great her great attitude and devoted work.
How long has Amy worked for Benchmark?
Although it may seem like Amy has been with us for many years, she has only been at Benchmark for two years. She has gone above and beyond her position and excels in any area she has taken on. Despite only working at Benchmark for a couple of years her presence is a true necessity. Not only does she shine in her work but also in her bright positive attitude. She has been able to bring both success and joy to Benchmark.
Success Story
Accounting often has little contact with customers and vendors, but Amy does interact with these groups. Her interactions with vendors, and occasionally customers, stand out as being helpful and friendly. She extends this relationship-building into Benchmark. She is often sought out to assist in solving problems in and out of her department. Her problem-solving skills and determination for solutions often have her helping other departments tackle challenging obstacles. Even referred to colloquially as 'the investigator' she can dive into a problem, understand the needs, brainstorm solutions, and help that department overcome obstacles. Amy may have the title of Accounts Payable Specialist, but her skills extend beyond the average duties in this position. Her problem-solving skills have touched almost every department. Amy is a huge part of keeping Benchmark successful and efficient. Amy truly encompasses the spirit of Benchmark from her commitment to being a part of the Benchmark team to her drive to help wherever she can. Benchmark is proud to celebrate Amy's skills and generosity.
Hobbies outside of work?
Amy has a very full life with a teenage daughter in her senior year. Amy and her daughter have been navigating her senior year during these unprecedented times with much success. With college applications and graduation on the horizon, Amy has an exciting year ahead of her and her family. In addition to hanging out with her daughter, she loves sports! She enjoys watching both professional and collegiate football. Her team is the Georgia Bulldogs, Go Dawgs! She enjoys engaging in summer sports like swimming and softball.
Favorite Food?
When it comes to food Amy knows exactly what she wants. She is all about some Italian food. She loves almost any kind of Italian pasta dish. She also enjoys pizza. Her go-to pizza is the classic and timeless pepperoni pizza. She loves sharing pizza with her family.
 
What are you watching these days?
With Amy's problem-solving abilities it's no surprise that Amy likes investigation shows. She is currently hooked on the 2005 CBS fictional FBI criminal investigation show, Criminal Minds. With a mix of crime and psychology, Criminal Minds is engaging and dark television entertainment. With over a dozen seasons Amy can keep her Criminal Minds marathon going.