Joseph E. Nicholas
Surprise,USA
Summary
Financial leader with a strong track record in strategic planning, risk management, and financial analysis. Expertise in driving financial growth through effective team collaboration and adaptive strategies. Known for reliability, flexibility, and results-driven approach. Skills in budgeting, forecasting, and regulatory compliance ensure fiscal health and organizational success. Extensive experience in guiding financial strategy and fostering organizational growth. Utilize comprehensive financial analysis to support decision-making and optimize resources. Proven track record of fostering team collaboration and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief, Financial Analysis Division
Pacific Air Forces Financial Management and Comptroller Directorate
Joint Base Pearl-Harbor Hickam, HI
05.2022 - Current
- Ensures the financial integrity of an overseas combat command
- Leads a 17 member team with diverse financial operations supporting 3 Geographic Subordinate Commands and 10 operating locations across the Pacific region
- Develops, defends, and executes budgets totaling over $1.3B
- Directs accounting operations that conduct, record, and report all financial transactions
- Interpreted financial policy and provides guidance to leadership at all levels
- Advised Pentagon fiscal leadership in the development and justification of $616M in immediate recovery requirements and $9.5B across future years needed for rebuilding a resilient Andersen Air Base in Guam following Typhoon MAWAR
- Crafting a $1.2B procurement plan for Resilient Basing Execution Strategy, used deep understanding of Appropriation rules to masterfully aligned warfighter equipment lists with the available funding for prepositioned equipment across the Pacific Theater
Senior Military Assistant (Chief of Staff)
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Financial Management and Comptroller
Pentagon, Washington DC
08.2021 - 05.2022
- Principle advisor and Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller) charged with oversight of the Depart of the Air Force $156.3B operating budget
- Directed a fast-paced C-Suite office; prepared and edited strategic senior level briefings, correspondence and travel for 12 General Officers and Senior Executive Service Civilians across four divisions
- Engineered a transition plan and developed policy questions material to prepare presidentially appointed Secretary for her Congressional hearings and confirmation
Senior Military Assistant (Chief of Staff)
Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, Mgmt & Deputy Chief Mgmt Officer
Pentagon, Washington DC
08.2020 - 07.2021
- Principle advisor to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force regarding efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Air Force business operations, supported implementation of continuous process improvement and innovation initiatives across the Department of the Air Force
- Partnered with Airman Powered by Innovation Team to revamp Air Force innovation proposal review process; recognized top ideas with best return on investment, awarded $3M seed funding for six projects
- Assisted with updating governance guidelines for Department of the Air Force to streamline policy decisions and clarify decision rights across US Air Force, US Space Force, and the Department of the Air Force
Commander, Comptroller (CFO)
86th Airlift Wing
Ramstein Air Base, Kaiserslautern Germany
06.2018 - 07.2020
- Led diverse cross functional 335 member organization with $368M operating budget
- Delivered C-Suite level briefings and analysis to Installation Commander supporting 66K U.S
- Military and their families
- Oversaw accounts payable operations for 56 operating budgets valued at $987M
- Provided independent auditing and oversight of P&L statements for 19 Moral Welfare and Recreation business lines valued at $30M for installation Commander
- Directed 75K military and civilian customer payroll and travel expense inquiries annually
- Organization recognized as the best Air Force Comptroller Organization and Financial Services Operations in Europe
- Overhauled financial customer service operations, invested in customer queuing system to streamline customer flow/track inquires that resulted in a 50% reduction in wait time and a 36% increase in payroll transaction completion rate
- Mobilized installation Civil Engineers and budget analysts to prioritize facility renovation timetables resulting in $10M in savings that was skillfully reinvested in the renovation of 18 key buildings resulting extending their lifecycle and improved quality of life for 4K Airman residents
- Received Department of Defense Installation Excellence Award for achievement
Commander, Comptroller (CFO)
56th Fighter Wing
Luke Air Force Base, Phoenix, Arizona
06.2015 - 05.2018
- Cultivated diverse 232 member organization with $168M operating budget
- Delivered C-Suite level briefings and analysis to CEO and staff supporting 14K U.S
- Directed accounting operations for 18 local operating budgets
- Oversaw 9K military and civilian payroll and travel expenses inquiries valued at $9.8M annually
- Principle advisor to C-Suite leaders responsible for providing independent auditing control and guidance over account reporting for 11 Moral Welfare and Recreation business lines P&L statements valued at $12M
- Crafted installation resourcing strategy to upgrade perimeter fence, advocated for and secured $1.5M funding increase for project; reduced intrusions and increased security of $8.6B in assets
- Secured $1.2M in seed funding for 1st of its kind Air Force program to reduce pilot G-Force injuries, synchronized requirements, performed economic analysis benchmarked AF-wide for Fighter Pilots
- Developed focused performance metrics by using data analytics to identify trends; parlayed into the design of targeted training sessions for organization personnel that slashed transaction error rates 30%, efficiency identified as an Command 'Best Practice'
Leadership Positions Held, United States Air Force
United States Air Force, USAF
Various
09.2001 - 10.2015
- Congressional Appropriations Liaison, Pentagon, Washington DC;
- Division Chief, Financial Analysis, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas;
- Deputy Comptroller (CFO), Combined Security Transition Command, Kabul Afghanistan;
- Comptroller, Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan
Education
Master of Arts - Military Operational Art And Science
Air University
Montgomery, AL01.2015
MBA - Financial Management
Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, CA01.2005
BBA - Finance
The University of Texas At Austin
Austin, TX01.2001
Skills
- Strategic Project Oversight
- Continuous Process Evaluation
- Budget Development
- Organizational Development
- Team Leadership Across Functions
- Legislative Process Knowledge
- Strategic Alignment with Partners
- Strategic Planning
- Analytics and Reporting
- Excellent communication
- Effective Organization
Certification
- Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt Trained
- DoD Financial Management Certification Program Level 3 (DFMCP3)
- Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM)
Affiliations
- President, Aloha Chapter of Society of Defense Financial Management
- Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) (Life Member)
Timeline
Chief, Financial Analysis Division
Pacific Air Forces Financial Management and Comptroller Directorate
05.2022 - Current
Senior Military Assistant (Chief of Staff)
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Financial Management and Comptroller
08.2021 - 05.2022
Senior Military Assistant (Chief of Staff)
Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, Mgmt & Deputy Chief Mgmt Officer
08.2020 - 07.2021
Commander, Comptroller (CFO)
86th Airlift Wing
06.2018 - 07.2020
Commander, Comptroller (CFO)
56th Fighter Wing
06.2015 - 05.2018
Leadership Positions Held, United States Air Force
United States Air Force, USAF
09.2001 - 10.2015
Master of Arts - Military Operational Art And Science
Air University
MBA - Financial Management
Naval Postgraduate School
BBA - Finance
The University of Texas At Austin
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