Alisha Smith
Waldorf,MD
Summary
Analytical and strategic professional with a background in fiscal management. Known for high productivity levels and efficiency in task completion. Skilled in financial forecasting, variance analysis, and cost-benefit analysis. Excels in problem-solving, communication, and strategic planning, ensuring optimal financial decisions in fast-paced environments. Skilled in developing, analyzing, and implementing budgets across various departments. Demonstrated ability to improve processes by identifying financial inefficiencies and recommending budget adjustments that align with organizational goals. Fostered collaboration among teams to ensure optimal use of resources and adherence to fiscal policies.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
BUDGET OFFICER
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
BETHESDA, US
01.2018 - Current
- This role involves high-level financial oversight, strategic planning, process improvement, and team leadership, with a strong emphasis on fintech, budget development, presentation, compliance, and financial system management
- Provide senior leadership with advice on both current and future budget plans, ensuring alignment with congressional justification and forecasting requirements
- Prepare annual formulation guidance memos for each Division, office or program to align with current budget climate
- Initiate annual formulation process and evaluate program submissions for accuracy, clarity, and address areas of concerns
- Collaborate with program leads to gather and justify budget requests and presenting financial data to support budget recommendations
- Maintain organizational awareness to accommodate budgetary and system requirements for all activities across the organization
- Create detailed presentations outlining proposed budget scenarios for upper management approval
- Built and maintain financial models to predict future budgetary requirements and assess the impact of potential business decisions in the rapidly changing fintech environment
- Ensure analysts maintain accurate financial records, complete work on time, and identify any discrepancies or inefficiencies in the budgeting process
- Offer timely, specific, and actionable feedback to help team members improve and grow
- Ensure the budget analysts regularly communicate with other departments or stakeholders to gather necessary data, clarify assumptions, and provide updates
- Assign appropriate tasks and projects to budget analysts, ensuring the workload is balanced and deadlines are met
- Encourage critical thinking and foster an environment where budget analysts feel comfortable proposing new ideas, solutions, or improvements to the budgeting process
- Manage and mentor subordinate staff, ensuring workload balance, efficiency, and effective performance
- Facilitate team meetings, conduct performance evaluations, and provide developmental resources for staff growth through Individual Development Plans (IDPs)
- Provide clear, concise, and relevant financial updates to leadership to ensure they have the information necessary to make informed decisions
- Compile meeting agenda and highlight key data points and provide insights on all activities across the organization
- Work across the organization to improve budget tracking, management processes, and procedural guidance
- Develop long-term tracking methods and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for budget activities and collaborate with staff and leadership to improve overall financial system efficiency
- Develop and maintain financial system to track grants and student loan repayments to ensure financial resources are available for current and future funding requirements
- Ensure allocations are entered accurately in accounting systems and monitor and identify areas for improvement and lead efforts to build and improve financial systems for accurate tracking, forecasting, and reporting
- Develop and execute comprehensive financial policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, and overseeing reconciliations and reports for precision
- Maintain cost methodologies and internal audit controls to ensure that financial activities align with government-wide accounting principles and internal controls
- Analyze the impact of new regulations and assess financial projections for compliance and ensure management directives are carried out
- Manage long-term budget planning, staffing solutions, and identify cost-saving opportunities
- Lead high-level projects related to policy-making and program management and advising senior management on financial policies and internal controls
- On a monthly basis, provide a high-level breakdown of budget versus actuals and highlight significant deviations that impact the bottom line
- Reviewed requests for new funding allocations or modifications of existing ones based on current needs and objectives.
- Identify opportunities and options for cost reductions to accommodate potential cost reductions and stay abreast on new initiatives to accommodate potential budget increases
- Identity cost-saving opportunities within the company's financial processes, leveraging data analysis to recommend strategies that improved operational efficiency and reduced costs
- Interpret and apply laws, rules and regulates to appropriately manage budgetary plans
- Implement financial policies aligned with Congressional and Departmental requirements, ensuring expenditure controls, efficient tracking methods, and compliance with allocation guidelines
- Utilize advanced Excel, Power BI and SQL skills, financial software, and data analytics tools to create actionable insights from financial data, improving reporting accuracy and efficiency
- Present visuals to help convey complex data more clearly, such as pie charts, bar graphs, trendlines and dashboards
BUDGET ANALYST
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
BETHESDA, US
08.2008 - 01.2018
- This role involved comprehensive budget analysis, financial management, reporting, and policy implementation within the organization
- The responsibilities included managing complex financial systems, processing agreements, tracking salary and award allocations, and coordinating across teams to ensure efficient and compliant use of resources
- The position also required a high level of strategic planning and stakeholder collaborations, along with training and mentorship of other analysts to ensure adherence to financial policies and effective use of financial tools
- Review and process Inter/Intra Agency Agreements (IAAs) into the NBS Reimbursable Oracle System, managing an annual total of $37 million
- Serve as a key resource for troubleshooting issues related to the IAA process and assist other analysts
- Oversee the management of over 900 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) allocations, and track accessions, separations, and salary costs totaling approximately $66 million
- Monitor and analyze FTE usage, trends, and ensure alignment with budget and funding allocations
- Organize and establish flow of work and standard operating procedures and methods of control and tracking of personnel actions and documents
- Lead the management of the $64 million mandated budget, ensuring compliance with research objectives, accurate coding of grants/contracts, and effective tracking of expenditures
- Lead projections and tracking for monetary awards, time-off awards, and quality step increases, including creating effective systems to ensure proper budget allocations and reporting
- Monitor and assist in processing of timely payments of commercial accounts payable through the appropriate office
- Monitor the processing of vouchers to ensure the obligations are within limits and charged to the appropriate accounts
- Maintain accurate and up to date accounting journals and ledgers to ensure appropriate posting and to allow efficient record keeping and reconciliation
- Implement process automation for budgeting and reporting workflows, reducing manual entry and increasing efficiency in budget tracking and reporting
- Monitor appropriated and non-appropriated budgets and daily expenditures to ensure compliance, assess program costs, and recommend adjustments as needed to stay within budgetary constraints
- Prepare 5-year financial plans and track expenditures against budgeted amounts
- Reconcile financial systems and prepare monthly and annual reports
- Provide trend analysis, status reports, and detailed financial summaries for senior leadership and budget officers
- Guide both accounting and non-accounting personnel in all aspects of the budget and serve as lead budget contact for internal and external customers
- Lead preparation of annual Congressional Justification components and hearing materials for Director, including briefing cards and updates on the budget
- Serve in a lead role representing organization in presenting and defending budget submissions to OMB and Congress
- Work closely with program staff, administrative officers, and other analysts to resolve complex financial issues, ensure proper budgeting and tracking, and maintain effective working relationships across departments
- Lead training sessions for other analysts on processes like the new IAA system and provide guidance on financial reporting, budget tracking, and usage of financial systems
- Mentor new analysts to ensure smooth transitions in budget management
- Assist administrative staff with using personnel tracking systems to input recruitment and salary data and guide them through system updates and data entry
- Develop and recommend basic accounting and reporting systems to meet internal needs and improve accounting and reporting standards to comply with guidelines from the General (GAO) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
- Provide feedback and contribute to the redesign of internal systems, such as the OAM Redesign Website, to enhance user experience and efficiency
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
ARMY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND
ALEXANDRIA, US
08.2005 - 08.2008
- Generated financial reports for management review including income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement.
- Monitored and tracked expenses to keep business on track with financial targets.
- Assisted in the development and implementation of new accounting systems and software.
- Conducted cost-benefit analyses for proposed changes to operations.
- Researched and implemented best practices to improve audit results.
- Participated in continuous improvement initiatives to streamline accounting processes.
- Processed payroll and reviewed employee liability balances in support of HR objectives.
- Researched complex transactions to ensure proper classification within the general ledger accounts.
- Conducted monthly and year-end close processes, enhancing financial reporting timeliness.
- Reviewed and reconciled discrepancies in accounts and financial documentation.
- Reviewed and analyzed financial statements for accuracy and compliance with standards.
- Diminished financial discrepancies and accurately reconciled accounts using detailed data analysis results.
- Cross-trained employees, enabling completion of priority tasks during personnel absences.
- Implemented financial controls and procedures to minimize risk and improve accuracy.
- Assisted with budget preparation and monitoring, identifying cost-saving opportunities.
- Participated in special projects as needed.
- Utilized automated financial systems to generate reports, forecasts, and track commitments and obligations
- Created custom reports to present to management for decision-making
- Analyzed trends and provide recommendations on budgetary ceilings, allocations, and future funding requirements to senior management
- Played a key role in year-end accounting processes, including reconciling balance of accounts, tracking expenditures, and updating financial documents
- Ensured that apportionments, allotments, and allowances are correctly allocated and documented
Education
MASTER OF MANAGEMENT - FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
University of Maryland University College
11.2024
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
University of Maryland University College
01.2007
Skills
- Budget Forecasting
- Data Analytics
- Data Visualization
- Performance Metrics
- Process Improvement
- Strategic Planning
References
- Hoa Thanh, (240) 906-1321
- Joe Bowman, (202) 674-8300
- Tanya Atkins, (240) 988-3567
- Joe Ellis, (443) 623-5605
Timeline
BUDGET OFFICER
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
01.2018 - Current
BUDGET ANALYST
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
08.2008 - 01.2018
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
ARMY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND
08.2005 - 08.2008
MASTER OF MANAGEMENT - FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
University of Maryland University College
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
University of Maryland University College
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