Our People
At CSB, our employees are our most valuable assets. So, from time to time we’d like to take the opportunity to highlight some the great work they do by featuring a particular department and its staff.
Accounting
You usually won’t see the Accounting team when you visit the bank, but we are here working hard behind the scenes. We gather all the banks activities for the day and ensure the transactions were processed correctly. We then generate reports and financial statements for all the different departments, which they use to help run the bank in the most effective and efficient way possible. You may talk to us from time to time if you have a particular question about ACH or wire transactions.
Primary functions performed by the Accounting Team:
- Process Incoming/Outgoing wires with the Federal Reserve
- Review ACH/Check transactions when there are problems with the accounts
- Reconcile General Ledger Accounts and Bank Statements
- Process Accounts Payable for all our vendors
- Generate reports and financial statements
- File quarterly reports with the FDIC
The Accounting team may not be visible but we are always working closely with the retail and lending staff at Claremont Savings Bank. We’re here for you.
Lynn Smith
AVP Controller
3 years of service
What is your favorite thing about working at CSB?
I have been amazed at how much CSB does to take care of their customers and staff. The philosophy of good customer service permeates every meeting and everyone’s thoughts every day. From top to bottom, the staff doesn’t just say it; they believe it, honor it and live it. I find this very impressive. CSB also works hard at making the environment for the staff very happy and healthy. They offer a myriad of benefits, trainings, wellness programs and fun activities which make coming to work every day so enjoyable. I feel blessed to be part of the CSB family.
Which of your skills do you find the most helpful in doing your job?
I feel my analytical skills and interpersonal skills help me the most in doing my job. My analytical skills are important for identifying trends, problems, and anomalies that hide within the numbers. My interpersonal skills help as I need to work with each department within the bank to identify and then provide them with the information they need to run their departments in the most effective and efficient ways. As each person/department is so unique, it can be a challenge to find a common understanding. I really enjoy working with such an intelligent but diverse group of people.
Do you have any hobbies?
Outside of work, I spend most of my time with my husband, my 10-year-old son, and my 12-year-old daughter. Much of my free time is spent cheering for my kids while they play softball, baseball, soccer, chess and ice skate. I love it! As a family, we enjoy skiing, fishing, Frisbee, golf, reading and the Red Sox. I have recently learned how to quilt and am anxious to start my next project!
Sheila Britton
Account Specialist
9 1/2 years of service
What is your favorite thing about working at CSB?
My favorite thing about working at Claremont Savings Bank is working with my fellow employees; we work as a team and are ready to assist each other whenever needed. I also appreciate that the Bank encourages and supports us in furthering our education. One way they do this is by providing all employees web-based trainings that cover such things as the Bank’s products and services, compliance and regulation requirements, and security procedures, to name a few. I also enjoy that the Bank organizes numerous activities for their employees, such as barbeques, scavenger hunts, and other games and events throughout the year.
Which of your skills do you find the most helpful in doing your job?
In my job as an Account Specialist, it is my responsibility for the day-to-day data entry to vendor accounts and to pay the Bank’s bills. This position requires attention to detail, software knowledge, and mathematical skills and my past work experiences along with the 9-1/2 years at the Bank have been a great asset to me in using my knowledge and being able to apply it to my job.
Do you have any hobbies?
The hobby that I enjoy most during my leisure time is reading. I enjoy a variety of books and I have collected so many over the years; my husband states that I could open my own bookstore. I also love to swap books with other people. I collect cookbooks and really take pleasure in preparing foods and meals that I have never cooked before. I do it so often that my family rarely eats the same food twice in one month.
Brian Voelk
Accounting Specialist II
3 years, 9 months of service
What is your favorite thing about working at CSB?
Some of the benefits of working at Claremont Savings Bank is that they provide opportunities to develop your skills as a business professional that has allowed me the opportunity to further my education, attend seminars, and network with other people. It is a pleasure to work with such a talented group of individuals at CSB. There is a wealth of knowledge and disciplines where everybody is friendly and willing to help.
Another advantage about working at the Bank is that it provides a fun and supportive work environment for its employees. I personally have been fortunate by being able to train in a few different departments throughout the Bank, which has increased my overall knowledge and ability to provide our customers with excellent service.
Which of your skills do you find the most helpful in doing your job?
My educational background is in economics and accounting and with this analytical background, it has been helpful with maintaining accuracy, efficiency, and problem solving in my work. I enjoy going the extra mile and making sure that our customers are receiving the best achievable service. Teamwork is also an important aspect of my workday considering that I interact with each of the other departments and branches throughout the bank. We are all working together to make sure that our customers are being taken care of in the best manner possible.
Do you have any hobbies?
In my time away from work, I enjoy being outside where you will find me skiing, playing golf, snowshoeing or running.
Mary Ann Bateman, AAP
Accounting Analyst, ACH Coordinator
12 years of service
What is your favorite thing about working at CSB?
I have been employed at Claremont Savings Bank for the past 12 years where I transitioned from working in concessions for a music theatre in Connecticut. My initial position at the Bank was in the Operations Department where my fellow employees went above and beyond in order to make me feel welcome and part of the “team,” which is one of the great things about working here.
The Bank has recently become more diversified and has streamlined departments, which is the reason that I am now working in the Accounting Department as the Accounting Analyst and Automated Clearing House (ACH) Coordinator. Claremont Savings Bank has always been proactive with encouraging their staff to seek further education and learning opportunities, which has allowed me to receive the AAP (ACH Accredited Professional) accreditation. This certification provides me the expertise to manage all areas pertaining to Automated Clearing House payments (ACH - direct deposits and payments).
Another area that I value about working at Claremont Savings Bank is the Bank’s encouragement for providing volunteerism in the community. Because of this, I am able to serve as the Activities Chair for the Claremont Relay for Life, and be the Team Captain for the CSBSteppers, which has over 20 employees on the team. The event is an 18-hour walk that raises money for the American Cancer Society. The Bank also encourages employees to join committees at work, such as the Wellness Committee and Activities Committee among others, which is a great way to build team-working skills and to get to know other employees that we do not work with directly.
In closing, it is nice to come to work with people you can call your friends - every day. Throughout our lives, we tend to spend more time with the people we work with than the people we live with - it is nice to be able to have them as friends as well as co-workers.
Which of your skills do you find the most helpful in doing your job?
Besides the knowledge and expertise that I have in ACH, I genuinely like people, which helps in relating to the customers when my job requires me to handle situations that are sometimes emotional for them. While working in the Operations Department, I cross-trained in each area, which has also helped me to know and understand “how” things work. This is a benefit when assisting a customer with a dilemma. I also feel that I “think outside of the box,” which is an asset for problem solving within the Bank and with the community service projects that I work on outside of the Bank.
Do you have any hobbies?
In my spare time, I work with Relay for Life, I enjoy bowling, and I enjoy reading a variety of books. I also do charity work where I knit hats for premature babies. I have learned how to knit scarves. I am in the process of teaching myself to knit sweaters, and knitting socks are next on my list. I also enjoy traveling where I have found Aruba as my favorite vacation destination. We usually vacation with as many as 12 to15 of my friends and relatives at least once a year, which is loud, confusing, and a ton of fun!