Adriana A. Contreras
Dallas
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven professional with extensive experience in financial forecasting and project management. Dependable professional with track record of success in field, attention to detail and proactive mindset. Seeks opportunities to improve processes and workflows for team benefit. Conscientious, hardworking and excels at multitasking in fast-paced environments.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Central Office, Sr. Grant Management Specialist
Southern Methodist University
Dallas
01.2023 - Current
- Pre-Award Administration for all types of proposals: NIH, NSF, NASA, Dept. of Defense, Foundations, and others.
- Including budget development, compliance requirements, and award setup and distribution.
- Post-award administration that includes budget change requests, no-cost extensions, deobligations, and required report submissions.
- For College Access grants, I performed monthly reconciliation, resolved discrepancies, and monitored the utilization of grant assets with the principal investigator, and reported performance to leadership and program managers.
- Present educational sessions to inform and teach financial budgeting best practices.
- Using my computer skills to create financial reports, summary reports, or presentations.
- Developed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure financial metrics, impact, and relationships with subrecipients and all staff.
- I am the central point of contact for five colleges at SMU, and I am always ready to assist with questions that arise.
Sr. Grant Administrator
American Heart Association
Dallas
04.2019 - 01.2023
- Responsible for post-award financial activities and closeout functions for very large consortium grants.
- Collaborated with grant implementors on change requests to deliverables, scope, or grant period changes to ensure the funder was satisfied with project outcomes.
- Administered the Kids Heart Challenge grants for all elementary and high schools in the U.S.
- This included the opening of the application window to the payout of awards.
- I reported the success of our grants each year.
- Extensive experience in creating legal agreements, working with program investigators in finalizing 'just-in-time' requirements.
Senior Implementation Consultant
VALIC/AIG
Houston
05.2016 - 05.2017
- Led complex implementation projects for VALIC’s most high-profile clients.
- Defined project scope, project budget, project timeline, best practices, and risk.
- Provided effective consultation to find solutions to out-of-scope services
- Proactively managed issues and concerns raised by clients to ensure customer satisfaction by leading weekly project status meetings
- Reviewed and participated in the RFP process for new business to identify potential solutions based on needs and best practices.
Senior Client Relationship Manager
Halcyon Wealth Advisors, LLC formerly Clark, Waters & Hardy, LLC
Irving
09.2014 - 05.2016
- Researched and analyzed plan data to identify plan strengths and deficiencies and created a proposal strategy for each new prospect
- This new strategy increased the retirement plan business 18% within 1 year
- Anticipated potential issues of a plan conversion and provided resolution to issues related to the plan transition
- Liaison between clients, prior recordkeeper, and new services providers
Transition Project Manager
TIAA
Charlotte
11.2012 - 07.2013
- Implemented new services for TIAA’s largest and most strategic client ($4B)
- My planning and strategy to engage at a deeper level with key decision makers became the new communication standard for Relationship Managers
- Led a team (25-35) of technology and design project managers to create custom online applications that would facilitate the administration of over 4,000 state-run agencies.
Executive Assistant to the CFO
Comerica Incorporated
Dallas
03.2007 - 11.2012
- The primary contact for the office of the Chief Financial Officer
- Maintained strong relationships with investors, industry analysts, third party consultants, regulatory agencies (Federal Reserve, Department of Labor, SEC, and others), other division heads and external vendors
- Ensured there was open communication between the CFO and other executive offices using good judgement to make decisions and act during the CFO’s absence
- Recordkept highly confidential grants and reported financials and outcomes to funders and key program directors.
Proprietor and Baker
El Hornito Bakery
Dallas
01.2005 - 03.2007
- Sole proprietor specializing in authentic Mexican breads and desserts
- Managed the day-to-day operations of the bakery
- Created sales and marketing strategy for large volume clients and growing the business
- Having my own bakery was a personal accomplishment
- My bakery was featured in the Dallas Morning News three times for producing some of the best baked goods in Dallas, Texas
Consultant Relations, Senior Manager
Charles Schwab Corp. Services
San Francisco
04.2002 - 01.2005
- Maintained strategic relationships with pension, compensation, and benefit consultants on the West Coast.
- I represented Charles Schwab at key pension and stock option conferences.
- Contributed 10% to new business acquisitions each year.
Senior Conversion Project Manager
Charles Schwab Corp. Services
Richfield
03.1999 - 04.2002
- Converted over forty retirement plans in slightly over $965M in new assets to Schwab’s DC/DB business
- Accountable for completion of the conversion from all aspects – legal agreement negotiation, system set-up, payroll integration, initial and on-going employee education program and relationship manager to the client during the conversion
- Schwab Sales Award 1999 for delivering the first 24-hour conversion
Senior Implementation Project Manager
Fidelity Investments
Salt Lake City
07.1994 - 01.1999
- Streamlined processes of 501(c )plans to meet volume demand and clients’ needs
- Presented technical requirements of each project at sales finals
- Worked in conjunction with participant education manager to create custom forms, documents, and websites for high profile clients
Education
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - Economics with Business Applications
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TXSkills
- Financial Forecasting, Modeling, and Risk Assessment
- Accountable Project Management
- Client Resolution and Negotiation
- Process Improvement Management
- Team Leader and Trainer
- Multi-Task Oriented
- Data Anaylsis to Identify Gaps
- Deadline-Driven
- Sales Force
- Sigma Six – Lean
- Microsoft Office Suite
Professional Development
- Root Cause Analysis Course – 2021
- NGMA – Courses 2022-2023
Languages
Spanish
Professional
French
Limited
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Central Office, Sr. Grant Management Specialist
Southern Methodist University
01.2023 - Current
Sr. Grant Administrator
American Heart Association
04.2019 - 01.2023
Senior Implementation Consultant
VALIC/AIG
05.2016 - 05.2017
Senior Client Relationship Manager
Halcyon Wealth Advisors, LLC formerly Clark, Waters & Hardy, LLC
09.2014 - 05.2016
Transition Project Manager
TIAA
11.2012 - 07.2013
Executive Assistant to the CFO
Comerica Incorporated
03.2007 - 11.2012
Proprietor and Baker
El Hornito Bakery
01.2005 - 03.2007
Consultant Relations, Senior Manager
Charles Schwab Corp. Services
04.2002 - 01.2005
Senior Conversion Project Manager
Charles Schwab Corp. Services
03.1999 - 04.2002
Senior Implementation Project Manager
Fidelity Investments
07.1994 - 01.1999
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - Economics with Business Applications
Southern Methodist University
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