Hello, I'm

Viswa Lingala

Experienced Audit & Accounting Professional  ·  Financial Planning & Analysis
Investment Analysis  ·  AI-Driven Workflows  ·  Data-Driven Decision Making

I help finance teams see the whole picture, from clean audits and accurate books to the forecasts and analysis leaders actually rely on. I put AI to work on the busywork so the team can spend its time on the decisions that matter.

Get in Touch See My Work
Viswa Lingala
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Viswa Lingala
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Viswa Lingala
Audit · Accounting · FP&A
About Me

Comfortable across audit, accounting,
and financial analysis.

I've spent the last four years moving between public accounting and private industry. I got my start in audit fieldwork at RSM US LLP, and today I run the accounting and finance function across several entities at Geffen Ventures, an investment firm. That mix taught me something simple: you don't have to trade accuracy for speed once you build the right systems around the work.

My days now cover a lot more than the books. I handle month-end close and partnership accounting, reconcile over $30M in monthly activity, and prepare 700+ K-1s, 1099s, and multi-state filings each year. I also spend real time on the analysis side, building forecasts, cash flow models, and investment reporting in Excel and Power BI that genuinely helps leadership decide what comes next. Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot are part of my daily routine, and I lean on them to take hours off reconciliations and reporting.

I'm working toward my CPA license right now, and I hold a Master's in Audit & Advisory Services from DePaul University. What I try to bring is the discipline of someone trained in audit alongside the practical instinct of someone who still has to close the books on time, every single month.

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MS, Audit & Advisory Services DePaul University (Kellstadt GSB)
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CPA Candidate (US) Working toward licensure
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Based in Chicago, IL Open to hybrid & in-office roles
What I Bring

Four strengths that show up in every role

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Planning & Analysis

I build the forecasts, cash flow models, and investment analysis that help leaders decide where the money should go, not just report on where it went.

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AI & Vibe Coding

I use ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot every day to automate reconciliations, draft reports, and catch odd numbers early. I also vibe code small tools and scripts that take the manual work off my plate.

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Audit-Trained Eye

More than fifteen financial statement audits at RSM US LLP gave me a feel for control gaps, thin documentation, and risk areas. I tend to catch the things that turn into problems later.

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Reporting That Gets Used

I turn messy data into Excel, Power BI, and SQL reporting that CFOs and investors actually open, with a clear read on cash flow, distributions, and performance.

Career

Work Experience

Current Role

Staff Accountant

Geffen Ventures  ·  Chicago, IL

April 2025 – Present

I look after the accounting and finance for a multi-entity investment firm, handling the monthly close, partnership accounting, and reporting for the CFO and leadership. I also spend a good part of my time on FP&A and investment analysis, and use AI to keep the work fast and accurate.

  • Run full-cycle accounting and month-end close across several entities, reconciling $30M+ in transactions each month in QuickBooks Online and Desktop.
  • Prepare and review 700+ Schedule K-1s, 1099s, and multi-state tax filings alongside our outside accountants, with a clean compliance record.
  • Work closely with the CFO on financial reporting, building the Excel and Power BI views that give leadership a real-time read on cash flow, distributions, and performance.
  • Lead FP&A and investment analysis, from forecasting and cash flow modeling to sizing up new opportunities for the partners.
  • Put AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot) to work automating reconciliations and report prep, which takes several hours off every close.
  • Oversee $50M+ in cash flow, distributions, and liabilities, along with payables, vendor relationships, and investor reporting.

Audit Associate

RSM US LLP  ·  Chicago, IL

Aug 2024 – Apr 2025

Worked on audit engagements across a range of industries at RSM US LLP, where I built my technical foundation in risk-based auditing, documentation, and working directly with clients.

  • Worked on 15+ financial statement audits across industries, testing cash, equity, insurance, and journal entries with CaseWare IDEA and DataSnipper.
  • Built 10+ custom audit programs for risk-based fieldwork, helping engagement teams move faster.
  • Cut errors by around 25% on tricky areas like management fees and real estate taxes through automation and analytical review.
  • Prepared workpapers and analytical reviews, writing up findings clearly for senior associates and managers.
  • Ran two full audit engagements on my own during busy season, handling the testing, documentation, and client communication from start to finish.

Article Assistant

CA Rupa Chakravarthy & Co  ·  Hyderabad, India

Feb 2022 – Oct 2022
  • Ran 30+ statutory and internal audits a year across industries, checking that clients stayed compliant with the applicable regulations.
  • Handled ROC filings and tax audits for 15+ clients, keeping the documentation accurate and submitted on time.
  • Ran budgeting, job costing, and variance analysis that fed directly into management decisions.

Article Assistant

CMA Polam Reddy & Co  ·  Hyderabad, India

May 2021 – Jan 2022
  • Helped bring operating costs down by 15% across 10+ projects through better inventory management and tax planning.
  • Supported $1M+ budget optimization and cleaner reporting using Tally ERP 9.
  • Pitched in on daily bookkeeping, reconciliations, and financial statement preparation.
Expertise

Skills & Tools

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Accounting & Tax

Full-Cycle Accounting Month-End Close General Ledger Account Reconciliations AP & AR Partnership Accounting K-1 & 1099 Compliance Multi-State Tax Financial Reporting GAAP Budgeting & Forecasting Variance Analysis
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FP&A & Analysis

Forecasting & Modeling Cash Flow Analysis Investment Analysis Financial Planning Scenario Planning KPI Reporting
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Audit & Assurance

Financial Statement Audits Risk-Based Testing Audit Program Design Workpaper Documentation Internal Controls Analytical Review
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Software & Data

QuickBooks Online & Desktop Advanced Excel Power Query & PivotTables Power BI SQL Tableau Alteryx Python CaseWare IDEA DataSnipper Tally ERP 9 ClearTax
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AI & Automation

ChatGPT Claude AI Microsoft Copilot Vibe Coding AI-Assisted Reporting Process Automation Prompt Engineering Data Analytics
Credentials

Education & Certifications

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Candidate

Certified Public Accountant (US)

CPA Candidate

Working through the U.S. CPA sections and on track toward becoming a licensed CPA.

Master of Science

Audit & Advisory Services

DePaul University, Kellstadt Graduate School of Business

📍 Chicago, IL  ·  August 2024

Advanced IT Auditing · Applied Statistics · Information Security Management · Data Mining · Audit Analytics

Post Graduate Certificate

International Accounting & Analytics

Indian Institute of Management (IIM)

📍 Indore, India  ·  2023

Business Analytics & Data Visualization · Forensic Accounting · Advanced Management Accounting · Internal Auditing

CMA Intermediate (Level II)

The Institute of Cost Accountants of India

📍 Kolkata, India  ·  2020

Business Laws & Ethics · Financial Accounting · Direct & Indirect Taxation · Cost Accounting

Bachelor of Commerce

Osmania University

📍 Hyderabad, India  ·  2019

Business Statistics · Macroeconomics · Microeconomics · Business Communication · Corporate Law

Let's Connect

Get in Touch

I'm always open to new opportunities, referrals, or just a good conversation about audit, accounting, and finance. My inbox is open, so feel free to reach out anytime.

✉ viswavydyanath@gmail.com
in LinkedIn ⬇ Resume
Viswa Lingala