Claire Cousins Cpa, Ca(sa)
About Claire Cousins Cpa, Ca(sa)
Claire Cousins is the Interim Director of Accounting at Insomnia Cookies, where she has worked since 2022. She has extensive experience in internal audit and financial controls, having held various managerial positions at companies such as Oldcastle, CommScope, and KPMG.
Work at Insomnia Cookies
Claire Cousins currently serves as the Interim Director of Accounting at Insomnia Cookies, a position she has held since 2022 in Charlotte. In this role, she manages a team of six accountants and oversees external consultants. She has successfully managed the transition and onboarding of a new VP of Accounting and has implemented process improvements and SOX controls that enhance operational efficiency. Additionally, she has reduced the monthly financial reporting days while improving the accuracy of financial numbers. Claire designs audit steps and manages internal and external audit requests, including audit methodology, and conducts user access reviews for key accounting software to ensure compliance and security.
Previous Experience in Accounting
Prior to her current role, Claire Cousins held several significant positions in accounting and auditing. She worked at Krispy Kreme as Senior Manager - Financial Controls and Compliance from 2021 to 2023. Before that, she was with CommScope as Senior Manager Internal Audit from 2018 to 2019 and Senior Manager, SOX Compliance from 2019 to 2021. Claire also served as Manager at KPMG US from 2012 to 2015 and as Senior Associate from 2011 to 2012. Her earlier experience includes roles at KPMG in the Cayman Islands and Greenwoods Chartered Accountants in Cape Town.
Education and Qualifications
Claire Cousins has a strong educational background in accounting and economics. She studied at Stellenbosch University, where she achieved a BAcc from 2002 to 2004. She then pursued a BComm Honours in Accounting at the University of Johannesburg in 2005. Claire continued her studies at the University of Cape Town, where she completed her Accounting studies and achieved CPD in 2007. Additionally, she studied Economics at the University of South Africa from 2009 to 2010, earning a BComm (Economics).
Audit and Compliance Expertise
Throughout her career, Claire Cousins has developed extensive expertise in audit and compliance. At Insomnia Cookies, she designs audit steps and manages both internal and external audit requests. Her experience includes implementing SOX controls and conducting user access reviews for key accounting software. Claire's previous roles at CommScope and KPMG have further solidified her skills in internal audit management and compliance oversight, contributing to her effectiveness in enhancing operational efficiency within organizations.