Claire R. Nelson
Washington,DC
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Budget Analyst II
Raventek Solution Partners
Washington, DC
03.2025 - 10.2025
- Responsible for assisting the T/EX/Budget Officer and other government employees with the formulation and execution of approved budgets using Foreign Assistance funding.
- Reviewed and brought to the attention of appropriate budget government staff any issues of importance noted for assigned portfolio.
- Provided recommendations on how to resolve budgetary issues noted.
- Reviewed expenditures to assist budget government staff in ensuring that the bureau expends funds within their legal authorities in accordance with the Anti-deficiency Act that prohibits making or authorizing any expenditures or obligations more than the amount available.
- Forecasted the timing of obligations based on the budget cycle and availability of funds at the appropriation, allotment and sub-allotment levels using budget inquiry reports out of the Global Financial Management System.
- U.S. Department of State - T/EX
Financial Management Specialist
U.S. Department of State
Dunn Loring, VA
08.2019 - 02.2024
- In conjunction with ATA's Budget Analyst, administered the overall execution of budget activities for the ATA domestic and foreign programs to include assignments of ATA's event control numbers, verification of funding availability for initiation of program events, monitoring of expenditures, identification of unused obligation, and reobligation of residual funds.
- Reviewed and approve procurement requests, travel authorizations, contractor acquisition forms (CAFs), and all other proposed program expenditures.
- Kept senior management and program managers abreast on pending issues, problems concerning negligent use of resources, and inconsistencies with ATA's overall financial plans and priorities.
- Reconciled financial plan execution data, which is entered into the Counterterrorism Program Management Information System (CTPMIS). Analyze and reconciles financial documents with the Department of State's, Central Financial Management System (CFMS), the Global Financial Management System (GFMS), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Payment Management System (for various grantees).
- In conjunction with the Chief Technology Officer, maintained, updated, designed, and operated the financial management database.
- Administered the Budget and Finance Unit's database (B&F) to track the status on commitments, obligations, expenditure residuals, and re-obligations.
- Formulated responses to financial data requests from the DS Chief Financial Officer (CFO); General Accountability Office (GAO); the Office of Inspector General (OIG); Department's Resource Management and Foreign Assistance Bureaus (RMFA); the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); Congress; and Health and Human Services (HHS).
- Drafted reports on ATA's program-wide financial budget, financial plans, and expenditures; liaise on a continuing basis with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Vendors Claims Office (VCO) in the US Department of State, and Charleston Financial Services Center (CFSC).
- Examined financial document for illustrative tasks, posting allotments, ledgers, and sub ledgers obligations, along with liquidations for entry into the Department's Global Financial Management System (GFMS).
- Analyzed vouchers, invoices, claims, and other requests for payment or goods and services that are submitted to DS/T/ATA for accuracy, adequacy of documentation, and correct contractual references. Maintained compliance with regulations; compare requests and statements with recently submitted authorized documents, receipts, delivery, and acceptance certificates, in addition to available papers and records.
- Worked collectively with the B&F Budget Analyst in maintaining record keeping systems of unliquidated obligation (ULO), grant drawdown payments, closeout on grants, and modification requests for closeout from vendors. Maintain a close relationship with the CFO, the grantees, and the Grant Officer to close out specified grants. Worked with the assigned Budget Analyst, of the portfolio to make recommendations for correction, and realignment of request are corrected to reflect the proper resolution.
- Administered information contract procedures and regulations required to examine and processed invoices, closeout and related documents. Reviewed procurement instructions and procedures, in addition to general budgetary terms and provisions of standardized forms of Government contracts.
- Prepared special and recurring financial reports and other data for vendors, covering the status of funds, expenses and obligations, as required by the program managers. Carried out special projects and assignments concerned with the varying phases of the continuing budget process; prepared and recommended annual financial plans that may reflect allotments and program objectives, in addition to requesting funds categorized by each portfolio to carry out the assigned programs.
- Tracked, researched and resolved billing issues.
- DS/T/ATA
Finance Specialist
Embassy of Canada
Washington, DC
07.2015 - 08.2019
- Processed vendor/employee invoices in IMS for payment via electronic funds transfer (EFT or SPS), bank transfer, or cheque, ensuring that the proper budget and coding is used.
- Provided assistance to clients with budgets management (Budget structure setup on SAP, fund movements, creation of Special Purpose Account).
- Performed data entry in IMS to record budget-related transactions not resulting in payment.
- Produced and verified cheques and other banking documents prior to signature by the Financial Management Officer or MCO.
- Performed, as required, other IMS entries not related to accounts payables such as clearing asset & liabilities general ledgers.
- Developed and maintained a comprehensive knowledge of relevant job-related regulations and guidelines such as the Financial Administrative Act (FAA), financial directives (e.g., travel directive, hospitality guidelines, FSDs), IMS software, and changes to coding structures of the Department.
- Audited invoices, expense and petty cash claims (e.g. travel and hospitality), ensuring expenses are in accordance with the FAA, departmental policies and procedures; and investigating and/or bringing inconsistencies to upper management's attention.
- Verified acquisition card expenditures, followed up to resolve discrepancies; preparing required documentation for signature; and processing related payments.
- Completed appropriate documentation and prepared financial instruments for payments/reimbursements, presented them for signature of the Financial Management Officer or other delegated authority.
- Performed other administrative task related to processing payable transactions.
- Acted as the initial point of contact for operational problem resolution and routine questions concerning accounts payable operations for portfolio clients (eighteen US Missions, Haiti, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil).
- Explained financial procedures and policies to portfolio clients and suggested ways to improve their financial operations.
- Supported the division in responding to external audit queries pertaining to the administrative expenses area by coordinating with the units across the division (Prime Minister's visit etc.…).
- Coordinated with the units across the division in getting the process documentation prepared, updated and reviewed (for training purposes) then storing it in the central SharePoint space (Info Bank).
- Promoted standardization of reporting, common processes, policies, and best practices in general.
- Performed Payroll SAs for various missions semi-monthly.
- Assisted in Month End Closing and Year End Closing.
- Performed other duties related to CSDP activities.
- CSDP
AP Financial Analyst
RGM Distribution
New York, NY
07.2012 - 07.2015
- Managed the accuracy and timely processing of up to 15,000 monthly invoices ($2M) of the invoicing team of four associates.
- Coded items such as invoices, vouchers, expense reports, check requests, etc., with correct codes conforming to standard procedures to ensure proper entry into the financial system.
- Handled all vendor correspondence via phone or email.
- Prepared non-inventory purchase order requisitions.
- Attached the corresponding purchase orders to incoming invoices with all supporting documentation.
- Investigated and resolved problems associated with processing of invoices and purchase orders.
- Prepared batch check runs, wire transfers, and ACH transactions.
- Assisted with monthly status reports, and monthly closings.
- Reconciled various accounts by identifying errors in posting or omissions by applying appropriate accounting standards.
- Processed remittance information from checks, drafts and wire transfers for invoices provided by vendors, reviewing instructions accompanying items to determine proper disposition and crediting accounts in accordance with standard procedures.
- Received, researched and resolved a variety of routine internal and external inquiries concerning account status, including communicating the resolution of discrepancies to appropriate persons.
- Filed, maintained, and distributed accounting documents, records and reports.
- Performed other duties as required to support Accounting Department.
Business Client Associate
JPMorgan Chase Bank
Brooklyn, NY
08.2010 - 07.2012
- Received and counted working cash at beginning of shift.
- Identified customers, validated and cash checks.
- Accepted cash and checks for deposit and checked accuracy of deposit slip.
- Processed cash withdrawals.
- Performed specialized tasks such as preparing cashier's checks, personal money orders, issuing traveler's checks and exchanging foreign currency.
- Performed services for customers such as ordering bank cards and checks.
- Received and verified loan payments, mortgage payments and utility bill payments.
- Recorded all transactions promptly, accurately and in compliance with bank procedures.
- Balanced currency, cash and checks in cash drawer at end of each shift.
- Answered inquiries regarding checking and savings accounts and other bank related products.
- Attempted to resolve issues and problems with customer's accounts.
- Initiated and opened new accounts.
- Explained, advised on and promoted bank products and services to customers.
- Identified referral opportunities and made relevant referrals eligible for monthly incentives.
- Ensured compliance with all internal controls and established policies and procedure.
- Operated as vault custodian of the branch bank and balanced daily cash transactions and record results into teller express software.
- Completed weekly orders for currencies and coins.
Timeline
Budget Analyst II
Raventek Solution Partners
03.2025 - 10.2025
Financial Management Specialist
U.S. Department of State
08.2019 - 02.2024
Finance Specialist
Embassy of Canada
07.2015 - 08.2019
AP Financial Analyst
RGM Distribution
07.2012 - 07.2015
Business Client Associate
JPMorgan Chase Bank
08.2010 - 07.2012