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.

Comfortable across audit, accounting, and financial analysis.

Viswa Lingala
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I've spent the last four years moving between public accounting and private industry. I started out in audit fieldwork at RSM US LLP, and these days I run the accounting and finance function across several entities at Geffen Ventures, an investment firm. Somewhere along the way I stopped seeing accuracy and speed as a trade-off. With the right systems around the work, you really can have both.

My work goes well beyond the books now. I own the monthly close and partnership accounting, reconcile more than $30M in activity each month, and prepare 700+ K-1s, 1099s, and multi-state filings a year. Just as much of my time goes into the analysis side: building forecasts, cash flow models, and investment reporting in Excel and Power BI that genuinely helps leadership decide what comes next. I use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot to clear the busywork, but I don't lean on them for the judgment. The thinking stays mine; the tools just free up more time to do it.

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

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MS, Audit & Advisory Services DePaul University (Kellstadt GSB)
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CPA in Progress

Four strengths that show up in every role

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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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Financial 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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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.

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AI & Vibe Coding

I use ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot to automate reconciliations, draft reports, and catch odd numbers early, and I vibe code small tools that take the manual work off my plate. Handy, but never a substitute for the judgment.

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.

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

Education & Certifications

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In Progress

Certified Public Accountant (US)

Progressing toward licensure

Actively working through the U.S. CPA exam sections and progressing 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

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.