Oracle
Open To Work
DEJA SERO
Business and Finance
Santa Cruz,CA
Summary
Strategic business operations professional with significant experience in financial planning and fiscal management. Possess strong analytical skills, adept at strategic decision-making and fostering collaborative relationships to drive budget objectives. Successfully streamlined processes, improved operational efficiency and reduced costs in previous role. Demonstrated ability to forecast trends, analyze variances, and initiate corrective actions for financial health of the organization.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Skills
- Budget administration & multi-year planning
- Strategic planning & assessment
- Organizational leadership & development
- Data visualization & analytics
- Operational efficiency & automation
- Financial forecasting & modeling
- Policy and procedure development
- Project management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Process Engineering
Work History
BUSINESS OPERATIONS CONSULTANT
Self-Employed
Santa Cruz
10.2024 - Current
- Advised clients on multi-year financial planning, aligning strategies with organizational goals.
- Facilitated workshops to train teams on best practices and operational tools.
- Collaborated with clients to assess needs and implement customized solutions.
- Developed operational strategies that streamlined operations and reduced costs.
- Conducted market research to inform strategic recommendations for clients.
- Managed project timelines and deliverables across multiple client engagements.
- Analyzed business processes to identify opportunities for improvement and efficiency.
- Created documentation to ensure clarity and consistency of processes across teams.
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING & BUDGET
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-CLEAR LAKE
Houston
02.2018 - 09.2024
- Directed institution-wide budget planning and management for multi-million-dollar public university, ensuring fiscal stability.
- Established budget policy frameworks compliant with state and federal regulations.
- Oversaw financial reporting and designed financial/planning dashboards to enhance decision-making.
- Achieved cost savings through procurement negotiations and process optimization, promoting institutional sustainability.
- Implemented ERP budgeting system (Hyperion) and developed data-driven dashboards for senior leadership.
- Led strategic financial planning using Balanced Scorecard methodology to align resources with institutional mission.
- Engaged stakeholders in discussions on long-term institutional goals to foster transparency and accountability.
- Conducted market analysis to inform strategic plans and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Analyzed workflows to streamline operations and enhance productivity across departments.
- Conducted regular assessments of business processes to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
- Coordinated with IT teams to leverage technology for process enhancement opportunities.
SENIOR BUDGET ANALYST
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Houston
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Conducted financial forecasting and variance analysis to facilitate executive decision-making.
- Developed rolling three-year budgets to enhance resource allocation and forecasting accuracy.
- Produced comprehensive executive reports that transformed complex financial data into actionable insights.
- Ensured compliance with state reporting standards and audit requirements consistently.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to assess funding needs and establish priorities effectively.
- Monitored expenditures to uphold budgetary controls and ensure fiscal responsibility.
- Managed resource allocation across diverse university programs and initiatives efficiently.
- Created and implemented budget policies, procedures, and controls aligned with organizational objectives.
SENIOR BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR/COORDINATOR
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Houston
01.2012 - 01.2016
- Provided strategic direction for business operations across multiple departments, ensuring compliance.
- Reduced administrative errors by 60% through targeted training and procedural enhancements.
- Achieved positive internal audit outcomes, demonstrating fiscal responsibility and operational excellence.
- Led a high-performing team focused on professional growth, accountability, and efficiency.
- Managed administrative functions supporting university operations and academic programs.
- Assisted in budget preparation and tracked departmental expenditures effectively.
- Trained new staff on administrative procedures and university software systems.
- Collaborated with management on short-term and long-range planning initiatives.
ASSISTANT TO ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Houston
04.2011 - 12.2011
- Managed financial reconciliations, investment support, debt management, and administrative budgeting activities.
- Coordinated event planning and budgeting, delivering highly organized and cost-effective outcomes.
- Supported research projects by gathering data and preparing reports.
- Implemented procedures to improve office efficiency and workflow.
- Assisted in the preparation of reports, presentations and correspondence.
- Assisted in the development of new policies and procedures to improve operational efficiency.
- Performed accounting or financial analysis.
SR FINANCE MANAGER
VAN HORN AUTO GROUP
Plymouth
01.2006 - 12.2010
- Developed and implemented cost-reduction strategies to optimize resource utilization.
- Led monthly and quarterly reporting, enhancing decision-making and profitability.
- Managed sales teams to boost performance and customer satisfaction metrics.
- Directed financial planning and analysis for dealership operations.
- Streamlined financial reporting procedures, increasing accuracy and efficiency.
- Supervised finance team to ensure compliance with company policies.
- Collaborated with department heads on initiatives for cost control.
- Evaluated potential investments and acquisitions, assessing impacts on financial position.
PERSONAL BANKER/CUSTOMER SALES & SERVICE REP
WELLS FARGO BANK INC.
Sheboygan
01.2005 - 12.2006
- Maximized branch revenue through strategic financial planning and sales initiatives.
- Evaluated customer financial needs to recommend suitable products.
- Educated clients on digital banking tools and services to improve user experience.
- Managed account openings, closings, and maintenance to ensure operational efficiency.
- Collaborated with team members to improve overall customer service initiatives.
- Partnered with loan officers and financial advisors to deliver optimal financial solutions to clients.
Education
MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION -
KAPLAN UNIVERSITY
Davenport, IA01.2016
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE -
KAPLAN UNIVERSITY
Davenport, IA01.2012
Certification
Balanced Scorecard Professional Certification (BSP), UGW Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, 01/01/20, Present
Leadership Experience
- Administrative Co-Chair, Planning and Budgeting Committee, 01/01/22, 12/31/24
- Member, Data Governance Steering Committee, 01/01/22, 12/31/24
- Member, University Technology Advisory Committee, 01/01/21, 12/31/24
- Member, Strategic Management Team, 01/01/19, 12/31/20
- Member, Texas Association of College Business Officers Budget Committee, 01/01/19, 12/31/24
References
References available upon request.
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeContract WorkPart TimeLocation Preference
RemoteHybridImportant To Me
Personal development programsFlexible work hoursCareer advancementTeam Building / Company RetreatsSoftware
Hyperion
Tableau
Power BI
Concur
Adobe Acrobat Pro (form create)
PeopleSoft
Canva
Corel
Monday
JIRA
SAP
Quickbooks
Affiliations
- NACUBO
- SACUBO
- Small Business Development of Santa Cruz
Quote
Work smarter not harder.
Allen F. Morgenstern
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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