Kendra Johnson
McDonough
Summary
People Operations Specialist with over 4 years of experience in onboarding and compliance, adept at enhancing candidate experiences and reducing background check delays by 50%. Demonstrates strong organizational and critical thinking skills, effectively collaborating with HR, IT, and legal teams to ensure seamless integration and compliance. Committed to maintaining high regulatory standards while fostering positive relationships and delivering clear communication.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
SENIOR PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
07.2025 - Current
- Lead strategic onboarding operations for high-volume national hiring classes (100–150+ hires), ensuring accuracy, compliance, and an exceptional candidate experience.
- Act as the primary liaison with Sterling, overseeing background screening for multiple teams; ensured compliance, risk mitigation, and continuity across processes.
- Drove a stretch initiative to deepen onboarding team expertise in background check processes, including training the INDUS team and leading internal knowledge transfer sessions.
- Designed and delivered onboarding process improvements, including a rehire workflow and attendance tracking system, streamlining team operations and reducing administrative delays.
- Spearhead training and coaching for new and returning seasonal onboarding staff, establishing a train-the-trainer approach that builds long-term capability.
- Serve as the point of contact for all ad hoc questions during campus hiring season; hosted weekly office hours and developed documentation for cross-functional alignment.
- Lead seamless execution of campus volume onboarding, coordinating with Recruiting, HRIS, and Risk Ops to ensure timely, compliant, and high-quality start experiences.
- Recognized for consistently demonstrating CLEARR values, collaborative leadership, and a proactive problem-solving mindset that builds trust with internal stakeholders.
PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
09.2022 - 07.2025
- Serve as the primary point of contact for new hires during the onboarding journey, ensuring a seamless and positive experience from pre-hire to integration.
- Manage onboarding processes for high volumes (100–150+ candidates), ensuring timely completion of background checks and documentation to meet strict deadlines.
- Partner cross-functionally with internal teams (HR, legal, IT, recruiters, hiring managers) to deliver consistent and personalized onboarding experience.
- Developed onboarding tools and tracking systems that reduced work-stoppages due to background delays by 50%, increasing client and stakeholder satisfaction.
- Designed and implemented SOPs to standardize onboarding and compliance practices, improving efficiency and accuracy.
- Conduct New Hire Orientation sessions and Q&A forums to ensure clarity and foster engagement during the onboarding process.
- Provide responsive support through onboarding communications, inbox management, and equipment coordination.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory standards (EEOC, FCRA) while maintaining a customer-first approach in handling sensitive information.
- Remote
CLIENT COMPLIANCE & SUCCESS SPECIALIST
Insight Global
02.2022 - 07.2022
- Acted as a client advocate by ensuring all onboarding and compliance steps aligned with each client’s specific contractual requirements.
- Reviewed and processed background checks (Sterling, First Advantage, Accurate) and employment eligibility documents to guarantee smooth contractor onboarding.
- Maintained a 100% compliance rate by proactively addressing onboarding issues and resolving them before contractors’ start dates.
- Collaborated with recruiters and account managers to ensure client expectations were met with timely and accurate onboarding processes.
- Built and nurtured relationships with internal and external stakeholders, supporting long-term client retention and satisfaction.
- Analyzed client contracts and MSAs to verify onboarding obligations, providing strategic insights and ensuring expectations were met. Streamlined onboarding processes to enhance contractor readiness, achieving a 100% compliance rate and timely starts for all contractors.
- Remote
SENIOR CASE COORDINATOR
Clayton County Probate Court
02.2021 - 11.2021
- Delivered high-touch support to individuals navigating sensitive legal processes, ensuring a respectful, inclusive, and responsive experience, skills directly transferable to employee relations and onboarding support.
- Managed the intake, processing, and filing of legal documentation (e.g., guardianships, licenses, permits) with strict attention to detail, mirroring the document control and compliance required in HR operations.
- Handled front desk operations including greeting visitors, answering phones, and responding to inquiries from diverse stakeholders, cultivating strong interpersonal and communication skills essential to people-facing roles.
- Maintained accurate records and updated confidential client data across electronic and physical systems, aligning with data integrity practices used in HRIS and onboarding platforms.
- Collaborated with court staff and external agencies to coordinate case logistics and ensure timely resolution of complex matters, demonstrating cross-functional partnership and case management like employee onboarding or offboarding.
- Drafted internal communications, formal letters, and documentation with a focus on clarity, tone, and professionalism, skills vital in crafting HR documentation, onboarding materials, and policy guidance.
Education
Graduate Coursework - Strategic Leadership Development
Clayton State University
Morrow, GA01.2022
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Clayton State University
Morrow, GA07.2020
Skills
- Effective time management
- Strong organizational skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
- Problem-solving skills
- Strategic decision-making
- Efficient keyboarding abilities (85 WPM)
- Remote team engagement
- Interpersonal and written communication
- Timely project completion
- Verbal and written communication
LINKS
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com
Timeline
SENIOR PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
07.2025 - Current
PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
09.2022 - 07.2025
CLIENT COMPLIANCE & SUCCESS SPECIALIST
Insight Global
02.2022 - 07.2022
SENIOR CASE COORDINATOR
Clayton County Probate Court
02.2021 - 11.2021
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Clayton State University
Graduate Coursework - Strategic Leadership Development
Clayton State University