Daniel J. Lekwa
Urbandale,IA
Summary
Dedicated Military and Civilian Industry Financial Management Veteran with Security Clearance. Driven Financial Management and Expense Planning professional accountable for leading both large and small teams in providing decision support to all levels of executive leadership. Performing health checks, monitoring risk activities, and escalating detected issues. Showing ability to identify defined patterns of data and respond according to documented procedures.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Inspector General – Director of Complaints – Major
Iowa Air National Guard
Des Moines, IA
09.2025 - Current
- Conducted thorough inspections to ensure compliance with military regulations and standards.
- Led investigative teams in assessing incidents, ensuring timely resolution and reporting of findings.
Senior Expense Analyst
Athene
West Des Moines, IA
08.2020 - Current
- Analyzed expense reports to ensure compliance with company policies and financial regulations.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams and 10 departments across 5 countries to streamline expense reporting processes and improve efficiency.
- Executed month-end fiscal close-outs and provided consulting and decision support to Executives and Senior Leaders
- Engaged with Senior Leaders during company merger with regards to budget and accounting
J8 Director of Finance and Resource Management – Major
Iowa Air National Guard
Johnston, IA
07.2022 - 08.2025
- Represented United States Property and Fiscal Officer and State Comptroller during Joint Army and Air National Guard exercises and missions
- Engaged with Iowa National Guard Senior Leadership on matters of financial management for the state of Iowa and the federal government
- Provided cost estimation and tracking for all domestic operations and exercises involving the Iowa National Guard
J1 Director of Manpower and Personnel and Funds Management Director - Major
Iowa Air National Guard
Johnston, IA
01.2021 - 07.2022
- Led team of 3 Non-Commissioned Officers and 1 Officer to provide manpower and personnel decision support to Senior Leaders in the Iowa National Guard
- Led operational planning and execution for mission readiness and training initiatives.
Budget Officer - Captain
Iowa Air National Guard
Des Moines, IA
07.2016 - 01.2021
- Coordinated life-saving missions across the state of Iowa during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Developed and monitored annual budgets to align with organizational goals.
- Analyzed financial reports to identify discrepancies and ensure compliance.
- Advised leadership on financial strategies to optimize resource utilization and cost savings.
Business Support Consultant
Wells Fargo
Urbandale, IA
06.2019 - 08.2020
- Partnered with Senior Leaders, HR, and Recruiting professionals to post new positions across Wells Fargo Commercial Banking Control
- Created program and policy to track system and equipment requests that was used as a model for all of Wells Fargo Wholesale Banking
Operational Risk Consultant – Claims Representative
Wells Fargo
Des Moines, IA
02.2019 - 06.2019
- Represented Wells Fargo in external mediations when dealing with customers that had filed claims due to improper sales tactics and unauthorized accounts
- Identified areas of risk and improper accounts and audited customer accounts
- Developed new processes when dealing with Non-US citizens to include verification and proper payment and resolution
Business Support Associate – Information Security Review Team Lead
Wells Fargo
West Des Moines, IA
07.2016 - 01.2019
- Expertly analyzed system and user access to all Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Software and provided decision support regarding Information Security to senior leaders
- Audited certifications and user roles. Identified training opportunities, policies and procedural gaps
- Created and streamlined several technical procedures for multiple processes dealing with several mortgage software platforms
Deputy Chief of Financial Integration- Captain
United States Air Force
San Antonio, TX
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Led operational planning and execution for complex military missions, ensuring strategic alignment with organizational objectives.
- Spearheaded the implementation of the Air Force’s largest Oracle based system, Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System (DEAMS) implementation plan for over 2,000 users
- Hand-picked to audit the 502 ABW Manager’s Internal Control Program to deter fraud, waste and abuse.
- Developed training programs to enhance personnel readiness and improve operational capabilities within diverse teams.
Flight Commander of Financial Services and Budget Officer – Lieutenant
United States Air Force
Wichita, KS
07.2011 - 07.2014
- Provided budget analysis for 22nd Mission Support Group at McConnell Air Force Base.
- Led financial services department of finance professionals to provide customer service to over 3000 active duty and civilian personnel.
- Managed Government Travel Card program for 22d Air Refueling Wing as base APC that included managing the efforts of individual organization card managers
- Managed base disbursing operations as Lead Disbursing Officer and Federal Treasury agent.
- Led Group Control Center and Unit Deployment Managers for the Comptroller Squadron and the Air Refueling Wing Staff Agencies.
- Coordinated communications between Crisis Action Team and various agencies during real world contingencies/emergencies and exercises
Comptroller/Chief Finance Officer & Program Manager (Deployed) – Lieutenant
United States Air Force
Afghanistan & Jordan
10.2013 - 04.2014
- Provided financial stewardship and management of 407th Air Expeditionary Group’s $96 million budget in a deployed location
- Supervised Disbursing Agents and Cashiers to provide financial and budget services in austere environment
- Conducted Manager’s Internal Control Program to audit and identify critical areas of risk in the internal controls of Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan
- Managed Commander’s Emergency Response Program (CERP) for entire Southwest Region of Afghanistan. Provided emergency financial response to local populace to ensure good relations with Coalition forces
- Managed the Afghan Reintegration Program for RC (Southwest). Created and managed several projects to provide local Afghans with jobs to provide a stable and safe income to avoid working against Coalition efforts
- Budget Advisor for local Afghan National Police and Army construction projects.
Education
Masters of Business Administration - Business Administration
Webster University
St. Louis, MO12-2017
Bachelor of Science - Management
Iowa State University
Ames, IA05-2011
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Iowa State University
Ames, IA05-2011
Skills
- Auditing techniques
- Policy analysis
- Compliance monitoring
- Data analytics
- Internal controls
- Investigative expertise
- Decision-making
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Team building
- Crisis management
- Emergency response
- Budget management
Certification
- Financial Management Level 2 Certification, United States Department of Defense - 2015-2025
Timeline
Inspector General – Director of Complaints – Major
Iowa Air National Guard
09.2025 - Current
J8 Director of Finance and Resource Management – Major
Iowa Air National Guard
07.2022 - 08.2025
J1 Director of Manpower and Personnel and Funds Management Director - Major
Iowa Air National Guard
01.2021 - 07.2022
Senior Expense Analyst
Athene
08.2020 - Current
Business Support Consultant
Wells Fargo
06.2019 - 08.2020
Operational Risk Consultant – Claims Representative
Wells Fargo
02.2019 - 06.2019
Budget Officer - Captain
Iowa Air National Guard
07.2016 - 01.2021
Business Support Associate – Information Security Review Team Lead
Wells Fargo
07.2016 - 01.2019
Deputy Chief of Financial Integration- Captain
United States Air Force
01.2014 - 01.2016
Comptroller/Chief Finance Officer & Program Manager (Deployed) – Lieutenant
United States Air Force
10.2013 - 04.2014
Flight Commander of Financial Services and Budget Officer – Lieutenant
United States Air Force
07.2011 - 07.2014
Masters of Business Administration - Business Administration
Webster University
Bachelor of Science - Management
Iowa State University
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Iowa State University