I am a qualified Financial Aid professional with 20 years of experience in term and non term financial aid. I have developed areas of expertise in all aspects of the financial aid profession but find great satisfaction in training new counselors, maintaining a high level of quality control and creating new trainings for the whole staff.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Coordinator of Processes, Training and Compliance
Indiana Wesleyan University
01.2020 - Current
National & Global Studies, Student population
Provides cultural and spiritual leadership to team members
Monitors various deadlines, assists leadership team with determining financial aid office priorities, and monitors counselor progress in completing assigned tasks
Provides training and guidance and is a resource for counselors in performing their daily processes and communications; addresses student concerns and complaints
Evaluates all office processes continually for maintenance and improvements: customer service, enrollment, processing, reconciliation, quality control, and support staff functions; takes the lead in facilitating implementation of enhancements
Continually communicates and/or facilitates communication, especially for relation of financial aid office processes to students, peer offices, and other internal functions;
Maintains an up-to-date catalog of priorities, processes, tools, and personnel being utilized for all office functions; maintains up-to-date procedural documentation
Performs quality control consistent with Indiana Wesleyan University awarding policies and procedures and in conjunction with federal and state regulations
Team Leader
Indiana Wesleyan University
01.2008 - 01.2020
National & Global Studies, Student population
Train and develop new counselors so they are able to work independently as fully trained financial aid counselor.
Field questions from counselors to provide support to the Assistant Director of Financial Aid.
Analyzes complex situations and resolves problems, understands and anticipates customer service needs with regard to student funding options
Maintains practical current knowledge of statutory and regulatory requirements regarding student financial aid, other aid agencies, and the university and applies this knowledge accurately to student financial aid packages
Financial Aid Counselor
Indiana Wesleyan University
11.2004 - 09.2008
National & Global Studies, Student population
Develops and finalizes student financial aid award packages in a timely and accurate manner consistent with Indiana Wesleyan University awarding policies and procedures and in conjunction with federal and state regulations
Counsels students in-person, by phone, or by email on rights and responsibilities regarding receipt of student financial aid and promotes financial literacy with professionalism and a customer service orientation; answer questions regarding maximizing aid eligibility and explains and advises regarding available and beneficial options and required actions
Completes review for verification and other general aid eligibility processes
Analyzes complex situations and resolves problems, understands and anticipates customer service needs with regard to student funding options
Staff Accountant
Terry Reckard, CPA
05.2003 - 01.2004
Company Overview: Huntington, IN
Managed Small business financial statements, bank statements, and tax liabilities on a monthly basis.
Prepared client payroll checks, EFT drafts, and payroll taxes on a weekly basis for multiple accounts.
Prepared client personal tax returns, reviewed data for possible financial implications.
Huntington, IN
Education
Bachelors of Science - Accounting, Business management
Huntington University
Huntington, IN
05.2003
Skills
Ability to convey information clearly
Analytical problem solving
Ability to quickly adjust to new situations
Accurate documentation management
Strong organizational scheduling skills
Strategic task management
Proficient in managing deadlines
Collaborative teamwork
Timeline
Coordinator of Processes, Training and Compliance
Indiana Wesleyan University
01.2020 - Current
Team Leader
Indiana Wesleyan University
01.2008 - 01.2020
Financial Aid Counselor
Indiana Wesleyan University
11.2004 - 09.2008
Staff Accountant
Terry Reckard, CPA
05.2003 - 01.2004
Bachelors of Science - Accounting, Business management
<ul>
<li>Spearhead the management and oversight of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) project, a pivotal national asset developed in partnership with the U.S</li>
<li>Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S</li>
<li>Department of Homeland Security (DHS)</li>
<li>Collaborate with USDA and DHS stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition of operations and mission capabilities from the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) to NBAF, ensuring uninterrupted research, diagnostics, and training essential to national security</li>
<li>Lead the operational endurance phase, validating work processes and laboratory setups to guarantee compliance with the highest safety and biocontainment standards, particularly in biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) environments</li>
<li>Act as the hiring manager, conducting interviews and selecting high-quality employees to ensure the success of both DCA and NBAF</li>
<li>Serve as a subject matter expert pert for the payroll system Paychex, overseeing and approving payroll for 63 officers biweekly while managing paid time off and leave requests to maintain the security posture for the facility</li>
<li>Monitor project milestones, providing critical updates to senior management and stakeholders while ensuring alignment with USDA's mission objectives and federal guidelines</li>
<li>Direct the development and execution of strategic initiatives to facilitate efficient collaboration with federal partners, ensuring all laboratory operations adhere to regulatory requirements set forth by the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP)</li>
<li>Foster a culture of excellence and professionalism within the team, emphasizing rigorous training, safety compliance, and operational integrity as key components of NBAF's mission to safeguard public health and the nation's food supply</li>
<li>Monitored budgeting activities by tracking expenditures and providing regular updates to management.</li>
<li>Analyzed existing processes within a department or organization in order to identify areas for improvement or increased efficiency.</li>
<li>Implemented quality control measures throughout each stage of a project's lifecycle.</li>
<li>Worked closely with senior managers to ensure that all projects were completed according to schedule.</li>
<li>Conducted research on potential vendors, suppliers, contractors and subcontractors for projects.</li>
<li>Provided administrative support to the Project Manager in order to facilitate successful project outcomes.</li>
<li>Prepared monthly progress reports summarizing key accomplishments achieved since the last report.</li>
<li>Trained junior staff on best practices for managing multiple projects simultaneously.</li>
</ul> at Defense Contracting Activity, LLC<ul>
<li>Spearhead the management and oversight of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) project, a pivotal national asset developed in partnership with the U.S</li>
<li>Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S</li>
<li>Department of Homeland Security (DHS)</li>
<li>Collaborate with USDA and DHS stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition of operations and mission capabilities from the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) to NBAF, ensuring uninterrupted research, diagnostics, and training essential to national security</li>
<li>Lead the operational endurance phase, validating work processes and laboratory setups to guarantee compliance with the highest safety and biocontainment standards, particularly in biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) environments</li>
<li>Act as the hiring manager, conducting interviews and selecting high-quality employees to ensure the success of both DCA and NBAF</li>
<li>Serve as a subject matter expert pert for the payroll system Paychex, overseeing and approving payroll for 63 officers biweekly while managing paid time off and leave requests to maintain the security posture for the facility</li>
<li>Monitor project milestones, providing critical updates to senior management and stakeholders while ensuring alignment with USDA's mission objectives and federal guidelines</li>
<li>Direct the development and execution of strategic initiatives to facilitate efficient collaboration with federal partners, ensuring all laboratory operations adhere to regulatory requirements set forth by the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP)</li>
<li>Foster a culture of excellence and professionalism within the team, emphasizing rigorous training, safety compliance, and operational integrity as key components of NBAF's mission to safeguard public health and the nation's food supply</li>
<li>Monitored budgeting activities by tracking expenditures and providing regular updates to management.</li>
<li>Analyzed existing processes within a department or organization in order to identify areas for improvement or increased efficiency.</li>
<li>Implemented quality control measures throughout each stage of a project's lifecycle.</li>
<li>Worked closely with senior managers to ensure that all projects were completed according to schedule.</li>
<li>Conducted research on potential vendors, suppliers, contractors and subcontractors for projects.</li>
<li>Provided administrative support to the Project Manager in order to facilitate successful project outcomes.</li>
<li>Prepared monthly progress reports summarizing key accomplishments achieved since the last report.</li>
<li>Trained junior staff on best practices for managing multiple projects simultaneously.</li>
</ul> at Defense Contracting Activity, LLC
<ul><li>Advised 20+ leaders on complex employee relations issues like performance management and workplace investigations, ensuring full compliance with Panamanian labor law and minimizing legal risks.</li><li>Keeping an Open-Door policy for the employees. Investigations regarding employee issues and complaints. Collaboration with the Security and Employee Relations departments in investigations.</li><li>Review and approval of disciplinary actions. Completed more than 500 terminations according to Panamanian labor law.</li><li>Requesting, reviewing and approving of HRIS updates, transfers, benefits payments, intercompany and schedules changes.</li><li>Led the foreigner workers contract terminations according to the established Labor Law and company policies.</li><li>Participated in the Health and Safety Committee and inspections of the Social Insurance Institution, obtaining a passing score on every inspection. Developed the accidents events guidelines and form.</li><li>Participated in projects and tasks together with other areas such as HRIS and HR Corporate, for instance, the creation of the employee knowledge database to feed the chatbot for employees questions/answers.</li><li>Reporting and KPIs examination, including attrition and exit interviews results.</li><li>Review of policies, guidelines and procedures. Creation and updates of processes and control spreadsheets such as job abandonment process and form and the Oracle Manager Self Service control.</li><li>Implemented the onboarding program for new hires.</li><li>Developed HR Topics training plan for Operations staff.</li><li>Provided on the job training to the local HR members, developing skills and empowering the team.</li><li>Managed the HR providers purchase orders and payment requests.</li><li>Maintained close collaboration with the payroll department on claims and other employees inquiries, as well as support with compliance documents.</li></ul> at ALORICA<ul><li>Advised 20+ leaders on complex employee relations issues like performance management and workplace investigations, ensuring full compliance with Panamanian labor law and minimizing legal risks.</li><li>Keeping an Open-Door policy for the employees. Investigations regarding employee issues and complaints. Collaboration with the Security and Employee Relations departments in investigations.</li><li>Review and approval of disciplinary actions. Completed more than 500 terminations according to Panamanian labor law.</li><li>Requesting, reviewing and approving of HRIS updates, transfers, benefits payments, intercompany and schedules changes.</li><li>Led the foreigner workers contract terminations according to the established Labor Law and company policies.</li><li>Participated in the Health and Safety Committee and inspections of the Social Insurance Institution, obtaining a passing score on every inspection. Developed the accidents events guidelines and form.</li><li>Participated in projects and tasks together with other areas such as HRIS and HR Corporate, for instance, the creation of the employee knowledge database to feed the chatbot for employees questions/answers.</li><li>Reporting and KPIs examination, including attrition and exit interviews results.</li><li>Review of policies, guidelines and procedures. Creation and updates of processes and control spreadsheets such as job abandonment process and form and the Oracle Manager Self Service control.</li><li>Implemented the onboarding program for new hires.</li><li>Developed HR Topics training plan for Operations staff.</li><li>Provided on the job training to the local HR members, developing skills and empowering the team.</li><li>Managed the HR providers purchase orders and payment requests.</li><li>Maintained close collaboration with the payroll department on claims and other employees inquiries, as well as support with compliance documents.</li></ul> at ALORICA