GERALD TIMMINS
Leander,TX
Summary
Results-driven audit professional with strong analytical skills and comprehensive understanding of financial regulations and compliance. Expert in identifying inefficiencies, ensuring accurate reporting, and enhancing internal controls. Dependable team player with focus on collaboration, adaptability, and achieving targets in dynamic environment. Proficient in risk assessment, data analysis, and audit software tools.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Auditor
AUDITOR, IMPROPER PAYMENTS REMEDIATION AND OVERSIGHT OFFICE, OFFICE OF BUSINESS OVERSIGHT
10.2017 - Current
- As a lead auditor, I was responsible for successfully establishing programs encompassing all VA outlays
- My ability to interpret policy and legislation has previously resulted in a reduction in VA programs subject to improper payment risk assessment
- Lead Auditor responsible for oversight activities to meet requirements of the Program Information Integrity Act of 2019 (PIIA)
- Oversight activities include program identification, risk assessments, review of the sampling plan, review of test plan, monitoring testing progress, attending contractor support meetings, deep drives of corrective action plans, and monitoring the effectiveness of completed corrective actions
- I served as a lead auditor on a VA-wide payroll improper payment probe sample of Title 5 and Title 38 employees
- Served as lead auditor and assisted in leading the Department through the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and Government Accountability Office annual and ad hoc audits related to improper payments and performance audits
- Assigned as liaison for VA Financial Statement Audit
- Regularly responded to requests and provided relevant documents to external auditors
- Assisted with year-end reporting submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
- Responsible for removing two reportable programs successfully approved by OMB and OIG: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and Education Chapter 33
- Responsibility included managing the corrective action plan for accuracy and completion of root cause analysis and estimated completion dates
- Responsible for reviewing changes to policy for the Office of Financial Policy
- Part of team that continually reduced improper payments. In FY 2023, VA reported a reduction of $333.87 million in improper and unknown payments, a reduction of 9.54% from FY 2022 results. VA’s implementation of mitigation strategies and corrective actions reduced improper and unknown payments despite increases in outlays of $4.32 billion, or 13.61%. Since FY 2018, VA has reduced improper and unknown payments by $11.57 billion, or 78.51%, and removed seven programs from reporting requirements, by prioritizing corrective actions on the largest proportion of errors and noncompliance with laws and regulations.
- Provided detailed documentation on audit findings, facilitating swift corrective action when necessary.
- Maintained confidentiality, handling sensitive information discreetly throughout all stages of the audit process.
Supervisory Auditor
MANAGEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SERVICE (MQAS), OBO
07.2012 - 10.2017
- Supervisor to four senior auditors at the GS-13 level who conduct follow-up of corrective action plans received from field and nationwide audits conducted by Management Quality Assurance Service
- These audits included Veterans Health, Veterans' Benefits, and National Cemetery Administrations
- Consistently assessed the abilities of subordinate staff and identified the necessary training to increase skills or maintain proficiencies
- This was completed by routinely holding one-on-one meetings in person or over the phone
- Exercised professional judgment and knowledge of applicable standards to ensure findings were adequately supported
- In addition, this professional experience was used daily in reviewing recommendations closed by my team or by fielding questions
- Effectively oversaw the team's equitable workload distribution and tasks by establishing workflow or job specialization
- Due to the breadth of topics the review team regularly covered, I provided daily technical advice, coaching, and guidance to team members
- Made a significant impact on MQAS by performing root cause analysis to ensure corrective actions were effectively closed
- Assisted in the architecture of the Recommendation Implementation Verification Tracking Database to support the evolving needs and mission of the office
- Assisted in scaling the database to a national VA tracking database level
- Provided performance plans, mid-year evaluations, counseling, mentoring, and end-of-year evaluations for four GS-13 employees
- At times, this elevated to seven GS-13 employees
- Coordinated with Human Resources (HR) to effectively and efficiently address employee actions to ensure employee conduct deficiencies were addressed expeditiously, as appropriate
VHA and VBA Auditor
MANAGEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SERVICE (MQAS), OBO
10.2008 - 10.2012
- Performed VHA revenue reviews to evaluate management and oversight of existing financial management operations, identify improvement areas, and provide specific recommendations
- Areas reviewed included Accounts receivable, cash management operations, billing, insurance verification, system access controls, utilization reviews, unapplied deposits, and accounting
- Performed VHA expense reviews to evaluate management and oversight of existing financial management operations, assess the integrity of selected expenditure and stewardship accounts, identify improvement areas, and provide specific recommendations
- Areas reviewed included: Travel card program, fleet card program, general post fund, agent cashier operations, payroll operations, fiscal control environment, system access controls, unapplied deposits, personal funds of patients, VA Form 1358, undelivered orders, accounts payable, beneficiary travel, and convenience checks
- Led and performed VBA compensation reviews to evaluate management and oversight of existing management operations and identify improvement areas, providing specific recommendations
- Some areas reviewed were Severance pay, separation pay, education benefits, incarcerated Veterans, and claims processing and administration
- We identified VBA’s separation pay issue, which led to MQAS finding over $200 million in improperly paid separation pay related to legislation that VBA incorrectly applied
- Planned all project work to meet required deadlines and communicated with leadership any planned changes
- Obtained sufficient, relevant, competent evidence through various means to support analysis and conclusion in work papers
- Prepared work papers, reports, and other deliverables to include purpose, source, scope, and criteria
- Ensured every finding included a root cause and an effect statement
- Ensured professional standards were met when conducting work
- We communicated findings to Executives in the field through briefings and finding/corrective action resolution
- Before the supervisor review, I reviewed work papers, reports, and deliverables to ensure accuracy and completeness for professional standards assurance
Purchase Card Auditor
MANAGEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SERVICE (MQAS), OBO
11.2006 - 10.2008
- Reviewed and mined charged card transactions from approximately $3.3 billion yearly procurements
- Analyzed and followed up on suspicious activities
- This included downloading transactions from the purchase card vendor (Citibank), running the transactions through queries, reviewing the questionable transactions, distrusting transactions to station A/OPCs, maintaining multiple distribution lists, and following up with Station Directors for delinquent station response
- Drafted ratification actions, extracted data from servicing bank, and provided support to two senior auditors running the program
- Worked on multiple special purchase card projects at the request of the Office of Management
Education
BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - ACCOUNTING
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
San Marcos, TX05.2008
MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY - ACCOUNTING
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
San Marcos, TX05.2008
Skills
- Microsoft Suite
- Analytically minded
- Research Based Driven
- Proactive and Independent
- Access
- Power Bi
Certification
Certificate in Leadership Skills for Managers Program - University of Texas at Austin
Timeline
Auditor
AUDITOR, IMPROPER PAYMENTS REMEDIATION AND OVERSIGHT OFFICE, OFFICE OF BUSINESS OVERSIGHT
10.2017 - Current
Supervisory Auditor
MANAGEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SERVICE (MQAS), OBO
07.2012 - 10.2017
VHA and VBA Auditor
MANAGEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SERVICE (MQAS), OBO
10.2008 - 10.2012
Purchase Card Auditor
MANAGEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SERVICE (MQAS), OBO
11.2006 - 10.2008
MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY - ACCOUNTING
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Certificate in Leadership Skills for Managers Program - University of Texas at Austin
BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - ACCOUNTING
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Similar Profiles
Chiara Rodriguez, MS, RNChiara Rodriguez, MS, RN
Senior Medical Advisor and Deputy Director of the Medical Support Program at Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO) – Detention OversightSenior Medical Advisor and Deputy Director of the Medical Support Program at Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO) – Detention Oversight
Jennie RathwellJennie Rathwell
Senior Planning Advisor (AS-06) at Government of Canada – Public Services and Procurement Canada – Departmental Oversight Branch – Business planning and Management servicesSenior Planning Advisor (AS-06) at Government of Canada – Public Services and Procurement Canada – Departmental Oversight Branch – Business planning and Management services
Lorna N. MadisonLorna N. Madison
Correctional Lieutenant at Correctional Policy Research and Internal OversightCorrectional Lieutenant at Correctional Policy Research and Internal Oversight