At Cannon & Cannon, Inc. (CCI), behind-the-scenes excellence in contracts and accounting is crucial to delivering every engineering project on time and on budget. Meghan Moore, Contracts & Accounting Administrator, shares her journey into this vital role, how she collaborates across teams to keep projects running smoothly, and what makes CCI’s supportive, family-like culture so special after eighteen years with the company.
What are some of the key day-to-day responsibilities you handle in your role as Contracts & Accounting Administrator?
Basically, I handle anything project, billing, and accounting system related. I help project managers use our accounting system, Vantagepoint, to manage their projects more efficiently. I facilitate and assist in project setup in the accounting system and all project billing. I maintain and make design changes in our accounting system, and I also help our CFO, Mickey, with anything accounting related that is needed.
How did you initially get started in your career, and what led you specifically to your role at CCI?
I actually originally applied for a receptionist position at CCI after graduating from the University of Tennessee with a degree in business administration concentrating in information management. The lead accountant at CCI at the time, called me and said that she had a different position in mind for me because of my background in database management if I was willing to interview for it. I ended up assisting her in accounting, project, and database related tasks that eventually grew in to what I do today.
How do you collaborate with other teams across the company, and what does that teamwork look like in action?
I collaborate with every team and project manager at CCI. From the start of a project to the end, my team and I work with managers to help the project run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. From setting up the project correctly in the system, charging and approving project expenses, invoicing every month, collecting payments, and giving the PM’s project information through reporting to help them better manage their projects. Our goal is to make the business side of engineering projects run as smoothly as possible.
How do you stay organized when managing multiple contracts and accounting tasks simultaneously?
I am a very organized person in general, but I have worked hard to continuously improve the processes that we use in project management and billing to keep everything organized and efficient. Our accounting system is fairly flexible, so we utilize user defined fields and grids to organize and retain information needed for all projects, vendors, and clients. I also use several reports and spreadsheets to keep billing on track. As we have grown, we have had to make sure that we have a process for everything and keep those processes followed consistently.
What has been one of your most rewarding moments working at CCI so far?
I think the most rewarding thing I have done in my position at CCI is seeing our project management and project accounting processes grow into what they are today. I have been able to contribute to converting to new accounting software, designing it to meet our needs as we grow, creating new processes to accommodate that growth, and helping our project managers improve their management skills. I really enjoy being able to help others do their job better or more easily.
What stands out to you about CCI’s company culture and values?
I have been at CCI for eighteen years, and the people are what make it the best company to work for. We are family. We have so much fun and take care of one another. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 when I was 34 years old. Everyone at CCI supported me through multiple surgeries and chemotherapy. They even made an empty office into “Meghan’s Nap Room” with a chair and cot, so I could keep working during treatments but also be able to rest if needed. I will always be grateful for that support.
What advice would you give someone interested in a similar career path?
I would say to keep an open mind and try things when given the opportunity. I was not expecting or really wanting to go into any kind of accounting work after college. But after starting at CCI, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I actually liked it a lot, and it fell right in line with my database/information systems education. There are so many different paths in business and often internal opportunities you can take on. Be open to trying something different or championing an enhancement or new business process that will benefit those you work with.
