Erlene Gail R. Collado
Springfield,VA
Summary
Results-driven Financial Management Advisor with over 19 years of executive-level experience leading massive fiscal portfolios, ensuring strict statutory compliance, and driving enterprise resource optimization. Demonstrated mastery in managing multi-million and multi-billion-dollar budgets ($8.5B+) to support critical National Guard Bureau (NGB) and Department of Defense operations. Proven expert in elevating audit compliance, leveraging next-generation financial management systems, and building high-performance analyst teams through structured mentorship.
Overview
1
1
Certification
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Financial Management Advisor, E-8/MSG
National Guard Bureau - J5 Strategy, Policy, Plans, and International Affairs Directorate
10.2025 - Current
- Spearheaded the execution, monitoring, and reconciliation of a $47M+ annual budget for the State Partnership Program, ensuring absolute fiscal precision across 116 global partnerships.
- Orchestrated complex fiscal year-end closeouts by rapidly identifying and strategically reallocating surplus funds to secure and fulfill critical, unfunded mission objectives.
- Pioneered advanced budget forecasting models through the analysis of historical execution data, securing reliable funding projections for future-year budget requests.
- Championed administrative readiness and operational flow for NGB J5 leadership by enforcing rigorous quality control over personnel actions and ETMS2 task tracking.
- Synchronized fund execution and distribution tracking with state financial officers, establishing high-level coordination and 100% compliance with federal guidelines.
Financial Management Advisor, E-8/MSG
ARNG-G3/5/7 Operations, Plans, and Training - Resource Integration Division
09.2022 - 09.2025
- Governed the fiscal stewardship and execution review of a $1.8B portfolio across three distinct appropriations, aligning massive financial resources with strategic Army National Guard objectives.
- Certified all high-dollar financial executions and travel authorizations as the final validating authority, enforcing absolute regulatory compliance and protecting fund integrity.
- Spearheaded the design and rollout of multi-platform financial training initiatives, drastically improving program managers' capabilities and communication on complex funding matters.
- Engineered comprehensive financial analyses and predictive models to directly influence senior-level strategic planning and national-level policy formulation.
- Championed the enterprise-wide integration of advanced financial management systems, significantly boosting reporting accuracy and eliminating data discrepancies.
- Orchestrated cross-functional collaboration with diverse staff elements to streamline financial workflows, successfully driving systemic process efficiencies and eliminating waste.
- Enforced absolute compliance with federal fiscal laws and statutory regulations, preserving the audit readiness and operational integrity of all directorate financial accounts.
Financial Management Liaison, E-7/SFC
ARNG-G1 Human Resources Information Division
08.2020 - 08.2022
- Synchronized critical integration efforts between the Army National Guard HR and finance communities, directly driving the successful nationwide implementation of the Integrated Personnel and Pay System - Army (IPPS-A).
- Authored and revised the comprehensive IPPS-A pay error resolution guide, establishing the definitive standard operating procedure that secured seamless and accurate pay processing.
- Chaired and provided executive guidance during the strategic transition of the ARNG Military Staff Advisory Group and Resource Management Advisory Council.
- Pioneered specialized staff onboarding and professional development training programs, rapidly accelerating team competency and operational output.
- Engineered workflow optimizations that dramatically improved financial and personnel data accuracy while significantly accelerating reporting timelines.
- Mobilized diverse stakeholder groups by orchestrating high-level alignment meetings to establish clear expectations, capture feedback, and unify project goals.
- Cultivated future leaders by mentoring junior personnel, fostering professional growth, and expanding technical capabilities across the team.
- Championed resource optimization initiatives across multiple high-priority projects, maximizing personnel utility and budget efficiency.
Financial Operations NCO, E-7/SFC
ARNG-G8 Resource Management Financial Division
06.2017 - 08.2020
- Propelled audit compliance from 94% to 99.4% by delivering flawless quality assurance and meticulous documentation for independent public accountant audits.
- Formulated strategic budget forecasts directly aligned with long-term organizational objectives and resource management requirements.
- Bridged communication gaps and accelerated resource distribution networks by orchestrating highly effective cross-departmental coordination.
- Leveraged comprehensive program performance metrics to generate data-driven insights, significantly improving senior leadership's decision-making capabilities.
- Instituted targeted training programs on specialized resource management software, rapidly elevating staff technical proficiencies and data accuracy.
- Steered strategic planning forums focused on identifying, mapping, and implementing process improvements for optimal resource allocation.
Travel Budget Manager/Operations NCO, E-6/SSG
ARNG-HQ Director’s Office
04.2014 - 06.2017
- Orchestrated the logistical planning and synchronization for over 500 high-profile site visits, directly enabling seamless Army National Guard (ARNG) headquarters operations.
- Resolved complex inquiries concerning military pay and travel systems, successfully securing the rapid, accurate reconciliation of 200 critical missions.
- Governed the submission of comprehensive financial documentation from multiple stakeholders, enforcing strict adherence to federal and military regulations.
- Collaborated with executive finance leaders to scrutinize fund allocations, identifying waste and driving enhanced budget efficiencies.
- Evaluated operating budgets through continuous trend analyses, proactively realigning necessary funding to match changing operational requirements.
- Secured accountability for sensitive office equipment and assets valued at $106,000, preventing property losses and maintaining 100% property book accuracy.
- Executed all personnel actions within the director’s office, achieving 100% compliance and flawless audit readiness with annual record-keeping policies.
Budget Analyst, E-6/SSG
ARNG-G8 Resource Management Comptroller, Budget Execution Branch
06.2012 - 04.2014
- Directed the high-volume preparation, reconciliation, and distribution of more than $8.5 billion in Army National Guard personnel pay, securing flawless and timely financial operations.
- Administered end-to-end budget execution processes under strict federal statutory guidelines, achieving a 100% compliance rate across all financial portfolios.
- Formulated advanced, granular financial models and discrepancy reports to monitor budget variances, successfully isolating critical cost-saving opportunities.
- Mentored senior State and field financial analysts on advanced budget management methodologies, driving standardized financial analysis techniques nationwide.
- Engineered modern budgeting workflows and systemic process improvements that drastically reduced reporting errors and heightened data integrity.
- Optimized resource allocation efficiency across diverse agency programs by designing and deploying high-impact strategic financial initiatives.
Education
Master of Science - Organizational Leadership
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL05-2028
Bachelor of Science - Management, Human Resources
Park University
Kansas City, MO03-2019
Associate of Arts - General Studies
University of Phoenix
Tempe, AZ04-2012
Skills
- Federal Fiscal Compliance & Law
- IPA Audit QA & Compliance Optimization
- Defense Budget Formulation & Execution
- System Integration & Error Resolution
- Streamlined Financial Reporting
- Cross-Departmental Resource Optimization
- Large-Scale Initiative Coordination
- Executive Stakeholder Engagement
- Budget Training & Team Mentorship
Certification
- Department of Defense Financial Manager Certification, Level 3
- Syracuse Senior Resource Management (SRM) Course
- Syracuse Army Comptroller Course
- Planning, Programming, Budget, Execution (PPBE) Course
- Fiscal Law
- Equal Opportunity Leaders Course
Timeline
Financial Management Advisor, E-8/MSG
National Guard Bureau - J5 Strategy, Policy, Plans, and International Affairs Directorate
10.2025 - Current
Financial Management Advisor, E-8/MSG
ARNG-G3/5/7 Operations, Plans, and Training - Resource Integration Division
09.2022 - 09.2025
Financial Management Liaison, E-7/SFC
ARNG-G1 Human Resources Information Division
08.2020 - 08.2022
Financial Operations NCO, E-7/SFC
ARNG-G8 Resource Management Financial Division
06.2017 - 08.2020
Travel Budget Manager/Operations NCO, E-6/SSG
ARNG-HQ Director’s Office
04.2014 - 06.2017
Budget Analyst, E-6/SSG
ARNG-G8 Resource Management Comptroller, Budget Execution Branch
06.2012 - 04.2014
Associate of Arts - General Studies
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science - Management, Human Resources
Park University
Master of Science - Organizational Leadership
Columbia Southern University
DOD Financial Management Systems
- General funds Enterprise Business Systems (GFEBS)
- Army National Guard Checkbook
- Air National Guard Checkbook
- Resource Management Online (RMO)
- Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System (DEAMS)
- Defense Travel System (DTS)
- Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army (IPPS-A)