Christina Mercer
Gastonia,NC
Summary
Experienced financial operations and program management leader with 20+ years of experience optimizing large-scale processes, improving operational efficiency, and mentoring high-performing teams. Proven track record in spearheading data-driven decisions, facilitating high-impact collaboration, and championing initiatives to enhance workforce engagement and diversity. Demonstrated ability to inspire and guide teams towards achieving organizational goals and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Currently serving as a Substitute Teacher for Gaston County Schools (Grades 1–12), I operate safe, orderly, and positive classroom environments, provide meaningful instruction, and implement established routines and curriculum objectives in the absence of regular teachers. I am committed to clear communication, transparency, and reporting, ensuring student well-being and discipline while supporting school administration as needed. Dedicated to balancing people and mission priorities, I promote transparency in communication and lead by action to create a positive and productive work environment.
Educational professional prepared to bring expertise to new role. Provided engaging and structured learning experiences, ensuring smooth transition for students. Emphasizes collaboration and flexibility to meet varying classroom needs. Known for effective communication and classroom management.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Substitute Teacher – Grades 1-12
Education Staffing Solutions
08.2025 - Current
- Operate a safe, orderly, and positive classroom environment while the regular teacher is absent.
- Provide meaningful instruction to students in assigned classrooms while regular teacher is absent
- Review and implement regular teacher's routines, procedures, lesson plans, and curriculum objectives
- Report on any student injuries, illness, and serious discipline problems to school administration
- Perform other duties as directed by school administration
Program & Staff Advisor
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
01.2022 - 09.2025
- Spearheaded data-driven decisions by creating executive-level summaries for contracts, personnel, resource management, and statutory authorities.
- Championed initiatives to optimize financial strategy and improve operational efficiency in areas such as employee awards, records management, audit coordination and contracting.
- Facilitated high-impact collaboration across senior leadership and diverse business units to achieve timely execution on investments ranging from $25K to $3M per investment supporting the CFO ensuring equity integration and thorough vetting for Food Safety Inspection Service.
- Served as staff advisor for the OCFO, collaborating with HR to develop position descriptions, create job announcements, and vet potential candidates. Functioned as a subject matter expert on hiring panels, conducted behavioral interviews, and filled multiple vacancies while promoting workforce diversity through recruitment, outreach, and employee development efforts.
- Designed OCFO's strategic plan and initiatives to implement 4 unifying goals. Created performance dashboards for alignment and establishment of an Employee Rights & Responsibilities Communication Plan for transparency and accountability.
- As Contracting Officer Representative for OCFO, directed the creation of statements of work, oversaw cost estimation, chaired Technical Review Boards, managed contract expectations, provided strategic feedback to contractors, and ensured contract compliance.
- Oversaw the Employee Engagement Team (EET) to enhance workforce engagement, morale, and resources at OCFO. Under my leadership, the EET implemented initiatives promoting diversity, including an OCFO book club, newsletter, lunch and learn sessions, and improved collaboration culture.
Branch Chief of Financial Operations & Programs
Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Financial Management Division
08.2017 - 01.2022
- Emphasized a balanced leadership approach by investing in employee development, mentoring emerging leaders, and implementing succession planning practices to secure a strong leadership pipeline.
- Led crisis management efforts during unprecedented disruptions—including government shutdowns and the COVID-19 pandemic—to preserve operational stability and financial integrity.
- Oversaw accounts receivable operations managing over $225 million in annual billings and maintaining a collection rate of 98% or higher during my tenure.
- Directed accounts payable for operations, overseeing $800M payroll and $7.5M in annual employee reimbursements. Improved and automated reimbursement processes, reducing processing time by 70% through business process review and staff training.
- Managed cross-department initiatives, streamlined procedures, and implemented the awards processing system that significantly enhanced interdepartmental collaboration and financial accuracy. This implementation resulted in the successful processing of more than 22,000 awards, an almost 50% increase from the prior fiscal year’s awards.
- Coordinated rapid response to the 2018 China export disruption, ensuring timely delivery of export certificates for commodities worth millions. Implemented system solutions to enhance workflow management, reduce human error, and safeguard data. Received Secretary of Agriculture’s Honor award in recognition of these efforts.
- Implemented process enhancements to optimize accounts receivable and payable operations, reducing redundancies and increasing efficiency. Led transition to email-generated invoicing, cutting paper billings by 67% and eliminating labor-intensive manual processing for 45,000 invoices annually.
Supervisory Financial Systems Analyst
Supervisory Financial Systems Analyst
07.2010 - 08.2017
- Directed accounts receivable operations managing over $225 million in annual billings and collections maintaining a collection rate of 96% or higher.
- Oversaw and coached a customer support team handling complex billing inquiries and compliance enforcement for private industry clients. Provided strategic oversight to ensure accurate resolutions for approximately 10,000 inquiries annually, maintaining high service standards and adherence to guidelines.
- Supervised diverse teams geographically dispersed, implementing innovative initiatives to adapt to evolving department requirements and technological changes in our accounting system and travel system.
- Advised senior management on financial strategies and implemented systems transitions that optimized financial operations and introduced sustainable improvements moving from antiquated accounting systems to an SAP platform.
- Developed and maintained strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring seamless technology integration and adherence to performance standards.
- Leveraged a people-first approach to mentor staff by aligning their professional development with organizational objectives, thereby cultivating future leaders, and ensuring operational excellence.
Additional Financial Operations Roles within the USDA
01.2000 - 07.2010
- Productive employee and team leader in accounts payable/receivable operations, collections, payroll operations, domestic and international travel, internal controls, customer service and system implementations.
Education
Business Administration
Des Moines Area Community College
Skills
- Financial Operations & Controls
- Process Design & Improvement
- Regulatory Compliance
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
- Crisis Response Leadership
- Cross-Functional Team Collaboration
- Organizational Change Management
- Coaching & Mentorship
- Relationship building and management
- Adaptable
- Student engagement
Timeline
Substitute Teacher – Grades 1-12
Education Staffing Solutions
08.2025 - Current
Program & Staff Advisor
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
01.2022 - 09.2025
Branch Chief of Financial Operations & Programs
Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Financial Management Division
08.2017 - 01.2022
Supervisory Financial Systems Analyst
Supervisory Financial Systems Analyst
07.2010 - 08.2017
Additional Financial Operations Roles within the USDA
01.2000 - 07.2010
Business Administration
Des Moines Area Community College