LAURIE RENEE CHAVEZ
Monterey,CA
Summary
Dedicated and detail-oriented Financial Analyst and Budget Specialist with extensive expertise in analyzing, validating, processing, and resolving financial transactions across a wide range of financial management services and accounting functions. Proficient in executing analytical, technical, and administrative tasks throughout the budgetary process, including formulation, justification, presentation, and execution. Recognized for a strong ability to identify financial irregularities and apply accounting theory to both routine and complex challenges while leveraging knowledge of federal budget processes, policies, and regulations. I use exceptional communication skills that enhance customer relations and facilitate effective collaboration with senior management.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Resource Manager
Institute for Security Governance
Monterey, CA
06.2019 - Current
- Streamlined resource allocation processes to enhance operational efficiency across multiple projects.
- Developed and implemented strategic workforce planning initiatives to meet organizational goals.
- Mentored staff in resource management best practices, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to optimize project timelines and resource utilization.
Property Manager
Institute for Security Governance
Monterey, CA
06.2019 - Current
- Managed property maintenance schedules, ensuring timely repairs and upkeep of facilities.
- Oversaw tenant relations, addressing concerns to enhance satisfaction and retention.
- Developed and implemented operational policies that streamlined property management processes.
- Conducted regular inspections to ensure compliance with safety regulations and property standards.
- Analyzed market trends to inform strategic decisions regarding rental pricing and marketing efforts.
- Collaborated with vendors to negotiate service contracts that improved efficiency and reduced costs.
- Conducted regular property inspections, identifying areas for improvement and proactively addressing potential safety hazards.
Finance Analyst
Institute for Security Governance
Monterey, CA
04.2019 - Current
- Analyzed financial data to identify trends and support decision-making processes.
- Developed comprehensive financial reports for stakeholder presentations and strategic planning.
- Implemented budget tracking systems to enhance financial oversight and efficiency.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align financial objectives with organizational goals.
- Conducted variance analyses to ensure compliance with established budgets and forecasts.
- Assisted in the successful completion of annual audits through timely preparation of accurate financial statements.
- Updated, reconciled and resolved issues with computerized accounting system.
- Supported long-term strategic planning initiatives, providing critical financial data for informed decisionmaking.
- Collaborated with finance team to complete detailed analyses of short- and long-term strategic forecasts to assist with resource planning and capitalization needs.
- Maintained compliance with all relevant regulations by staying up-to-date on industry-specific laws and accounting practices.
FINANCIAL ANALYST, GS-0501-11
Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, CA
11.2012 - 04.2019
- PERFORM THE FULL RANGE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS while developing, recommending, and implementing new budgetary and financial policies and procedures within the department. Provide direct oversight for receiving, allocating, tracking, monitoring, researching, analyzing, reconciling, and maintaining financial execution of all funding. Perform timely and accurate analysis of financial, accounting, and budgetary issues. Provide financial administrative advice and guidance to support decision-makers in achieving overall objectives and priorities. Provide financial analysis of funding acceptance and execution, including commitment, obligation, and expenditure of funding. Ensure purchase requirements are compliant with command policies and ensure accurate and efficient accounting of all command purchases, authorized cards, and funds.
- DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF BUDGET PREPARATION AND EXECUTION PROCEDURES and strategies for a $18 million budget; apply the methods, principles, and techniques used to formulate, present, control and execute federal budgets. Assist with planning and budget development in the proposal stage. Analyze budgetary resources to identify imbalances within program areas. Provide support/assistance during execution of projects (projecting expenditures, forecasting budget adjustments, initiating budget modifications, and monitoring expiration dates on program funds). Reconcile the execution (obligation and expenditure of funds) of assigned program budgets to ensure execution is in accordance with approved plans. Ensure all relevant budget requirements are identified. Distribute funds and other resources. Perform cost-benefit analyses to review financial requests and explore alternative funding methods. Analyze, revise, and recommend approval of budget submissions. Examine past budgets and research economic and financial developments that impacted spending. Provide financial/budget management support and advice to management. Advise executive management on status and availability of funds within the organization. Develop administrative control of funds policies and procedures. Ensure compliance of budget requests. Assist program managers in interpreting the impact of financial/budgetary and program changes. Keep management aware of problematic situations, such as budget shortages, or large unwarned obligations.
- PERFORM DETAILED ANALYTICAL/DATA MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS in support of department operations. Identify trends and patterns from downloaded reports using excel to analyze data, develop solutions, and present findings. Develop, execute, and monitor the spend plans. Analyze, evaluate and review budget and program issues and financial data and reports using business tools and applications, cost and economic analysis, and performance metrics to provide recommendations. Perform financial management work using KFS, Fast Data, Excel and other Microsoft programs. Propose procedures and methods to resolve current problems and enhance the validity, accuracy, and integrity of financial data. Develop, analyze, and evaluate a wide variety of financial management data, statistics and other information to aid management in efficiently and effectively allocating resources, and resolving financial management issues.
- CARRY-OUT ACCURATE AND EFFICIENT ACCOUNTING OPERATIONS; oversaw approximately 60 lines of accounts totaling over $18Million for FY17. Balance and maintain the subsidiary and general ledger accounts. Reconcile general ledgers to summary accounts. Analyze, examine, and reconcile accounting transactions for accuracy and completeness. Make appropriate accounting adjustments to finalize and validate accounts. Investigate, examine, and resolve complex accounting problems. Implement systems modifications and new procedures to improve accounting and reporting processes. Ensure accounting data is valid and conforms to prescribed budgetary and accounting regulations. Take corrective action when required and recommend changes in procedures to prevent recurrence of any significant problems.
- UTILIZE TECHNICAL COMPETENCE TO DEVELOP AND MONITOR INTERNAL CONTROLS and assist in monitoring and evaluating financial systems. Establish and monitor internal controls to ensure correct and proper execution of guidance, policies, and procedures related to accounts payable operations. Interpret financial management guidance, regulations, and policies to complete mission objectives. Interpret and apply professional accounting theories, concepts, practices, and principles to improve internal controls, track and safeguard financial records, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance and program integrity. Document findings and corrective actions. Review and validate system generated data to identify trends and discrepancies. Evaluate and analyze internal control systems' effectiveness, adequacy, and interrelationships within the automated financial system and corrects deficiencies. Recommend process improvements.
- LEADERSHIP AND SUPERVISION: Lead, manage, and oversee the work of 3 employees. Plan and organize work and provide oversight to ensure program requirements are implemented. Plan and assign work based on priorities and according to each employee’s capabilities; prepare schedules for completion of work. Modify work goals to conform to new scheduling constraints/priorities; coordinate work with employees and adjust priorities to ensure deadlines are met. Identify and assess developmental needs and prepare and provide training. Embody EEO principles and diversity objectives in all actions.
- CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION AND PROCUREMENTS: Perform the full range of contract administration functions such as contract receipt and review, final closeout, canceling funds, reconciliation, terminations, assuring delivery of contractual end items and serving as principal contracting advisor for construction and remodeling contracts. Responsible for the acquisition life cycle, planning, and requirements development. Oversee contracts in excess of $17 Million per year. Perform contract administration to ensure compliance with contract terms and ensure timely delivery of products and services. Recommend changes to statements of work (SOWs) or specifications.
- COMMUNICATE FINANCIAL AND BUDGETARY INFORMATION TO SENIOR STAFF IN WRITING. Develop and deliver financial and budgetary presentations and written reports. Develop and implement standard excel spreadsheets for department-wide use. Produce briefing materials for senior leadership and present financial information in collaborative meetings, critical review sessions, and discussions with internal/external parties. Run monthly reports. Create reports based on current needs of leadership. Review accounting reports to ensure funds are allocated recorded or expended properly. Develop analytical data, narratives, reports, and tables to support the planning, formulation, justification, and presentation of budgets. Prepare annual budget reports, expenditure estimates, budget requests and cash flow-reports. Support high-level management decisions by providing timely financial statements, analyses, and recommendations. Ensure all reports are accurate and concise. Utilize Microsoft Word and Excel to prepare documents.
- ORAL COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: Communicate, advise, and brief senior management on financial requirements, limitations, and policies. Develop and present presentations of complex financial analyses via face-to-face meetings in support of recommendations to management officials. Serve as a primary point of contact in conferences, workshops and other meetings with key personnel representatives concerning financial matters. Serve as a liaison with customers, accountants, and executive management officials to identify problems and negotiate acceptable solutions. Anticipate and meet the needs of both internal and external customers. Accurately and efficiently respond to customer service issues, keeping customers up to date on issue resolution progress. Demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism, courtesy, and tact.
- SUPPLY MANAGEMENT: Provide advice while performing independently on all Information Technology (IT) equipment. Conducted inventory of accountable IT property. Have coordinated accountability records to include hand receipts to match inventory data. Created custodian accounts in Defense Property Accountability System (DPAS). Processed Request for Issue/Transfer/Turn-In Form DD1150. Worked excess property with on-site excess. Completed DLA Form 2500, certification of hard drive disposition after pulling hard drives from laptops and CPU’s. Developed an internal minor property form for tracking assets to and from other locations. Developed internal numbering system. Created Stock and Catalog numbers for assets. Receives assets in DPAS. I’ve received notification from DSCU/DSCA Property manager they see me as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) regarding ISG’s property which I developed from scratch. I have a comprehensive supply program to include forecasting demand, storage, inventory, distribution classification and disposal of ISG equipment. I review and determine if requirements and justifications are appropriate for acquisitions into department. I work with ITACS for yearly specifications for equipment. Currently first to update and innovate our classrooms and conference room to be more interactive into the future. Currently managing over 100 assets between government and contractors for home equipment. We standardized equipment for fairness, efficiency, and durability. Purchase student laptops thru end of year NASA/SWEP contracts to get most return on investment. I type of all necessary contract action paperwork for successful purchases. Manage yearly action plan for internal IT needs, then assign appropriate color of funds then I work Purchase Request requirement thru card holder until items are received. Once received I upload serial numbers into DAPS then assign asset to custodian.
- BUILDING/FACILITIES MGMT: Independently completed complex projects given budgets to include upgrade complete furniture for organization of 58 Contractors 59 Government employees for building size of 17,000 square feet accommodating 2 classrooms, conference room and 48 workstations upstairs, 4 executive workstations and 24 workstations downstairs in a building with no elevator. As the program manager for internal wall projects to make for additional supervisor spaces, built new classroom retractable wall for more versatility of space. Updated both copy rooms for efficiencies and promote a clean atmosphere. Lead efforts for discarding of old items utilizing the mandatory resources available for items to be reused thru normal procedures. Created phasing plan for all in building to have furniture emptied and inspected for excessed. Identified need for furniture movers for old 80’s style furniture from second floor to first. Worked market research had site visit with local vendors, wrote Performance work statement (PWS), Independent Government Estimate (IGE), Tech Evaluation with successful award. Furniture was move in 1 day with no disruption to normal class schedule. New furniture I shopped and performed all market research thru mandatory sources to complete project under budget of $177,000 within 3 months. Created phasing step plan for all IT equipment. Worked space allocation projects per individual’s grade and base allocation standards. Converted two supply rooms into working workspaces to accommodate 9 additional workstations. Staged each office for comfort and equality while adding for future workstations to increase the capacity of workers in the building while performing the upgrade furniture project. Worked workspaces for organization with yearly updates within official Navy Facility Electronic System. Actively work Fire Marshal duties to include defibrillator battery check and exit lights. Oversee yearly custodial contracts to include COVID Services.
- Michael ChoRichard Hoffman, 831-402656-831471, may contact.
FINANCIAL ANALYST, GS-0501-09
Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, CA
04.2009 - 11.2012
- PERFORMED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS to include verifying, validating, and analyzing all funding documents, assisting with budget formulation, reviewing and evaluating budget requests, maintaining control and reports on obligations and expenditures, analyzing costs, working up work upcreating Independent Government Estimates (IGEs) and recommending alternative methods of financial management.
- PURCHASING EXPERTISE: Filled additional role as Approving Official (AO) for the CCMR [Center for Civil Military Responsespell out (CCMR)] department. Approved all purchases and verify that funds are available. Verify the Purchasing Agents files each month for accuracy and compliance with the Navy Regulations before processing the Process Action Tool (PAT) thru CitiDirect.
- CONDUCTED BUDGET ANALYSIS while demonstrating complete knowledge of budgeting requirements and procedures. Performed diverse financial management and budgetary functions essential to the organization to include command operating budget analysis, general accounting, financial forecasting, fiscal planning, financial and operational analysis, internal/external reporting, capital spending, special projects, and process improvement initiatives. Ensured validity of baseline financial data. Maintained accounting records and prepare financial reports; routinely compiled, analyzed and summarized complex financial data; reviewed financial data for accuracy and resolve discrepancies. Analyzed reports and financial data to identify trends. Developed and compiled factors for planning and budgeting and analyzing financial execution.
- DATA ANALYSIS AND EXAMINATION: Well-versed in accounting and budgeting methodologies to perform analyses. Reviewed, interpreted, and analyzed financial and budgetary data. Performed reconciliation of account balances by comparing account balances with related data to ensure agreement. Reviewed records and source documents to identify the sources of discrepancies and determine the entries required to bring accounts into balance.
- CONTINUOUSLY ANALYZED FINANCIAL AND BUDGETARY OPERATIONS with a goal of improving operating procedures. Provided analytical support to senior management or executives by performing special audits, studies, and reviews to determine reliability and accuracy of business operations. Made recommendations and implemented modifications of financial plans and objectives based on changes in legislation or finance and accounting requirements. Implemented policies to ensure regulatory compliance. Determined potential problems and disseminated information and recommendations to upper-level management. Proposed new procedures and methods to improve the validity, accuracy, and integrity of operations and processes. Saw to the effective use of manpower, money and materials.
- PREPARED EXPENSE ACCOUNTING JOURNAL ENTRIES; extracted financial data and reconciled expense accounts. Posted daily and monthly vouchers. Reviewed status of fund certifications, authorizations, commitments, obligations, Accounts Payable (AP) and accrued expenditures. Advised senior management on disbursement obligations for cash management purposes. Initiated and posted Accounts Payable journal entries monthly. Verified balance in control accounts, reviewing bank statements for subsidiary general ledgers for accuracy and integrity of data in preparation for issuing financial statements. Examined journal entries for errors in posting, ensuring accuracy from source documents. Prepared weekly reconciliations and cash reports for year-end reporting.
- ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE ORALLY; frequently corresponded with financial program coordinators, staff and upper-level management to convey budget information. Facilitated bi-weekly financial meeting covering topics such as Fund Cites, Memorandums Military Internal Purchase Requests (MIPRs), Honorariums, Purchase Request’s (PRs), Invitational Travel Orders (ITO), Close outs, Roll over accounts, and establishing Job Order Numbers (JONs). Leveraged interpersonal skills while working closely with our program managers, comptrollers and sponsors such as NETSAFA and DSCA on de-obligating unliquidated obligations and expenditures, rollover accounts, and International Mobile Educational Team (IMETS) Funding. Advised on the status of funds, the cost of goods or services, current budget policies and regulations and methods and procedures for computing and estimating the cost of funding needs. Collaborated with individuals to resolve budgetary issues and problems and to discuss the preparation of budget requests. Exercised professionalism, tact and discretion in all interactions.
- Richard Hoffman, 831-656-3171, may contact.
PURCHASING AGENT, GS-1105-07
Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, CA
01.2005 - 01.2008
- COORDINATED, EXECUTED, AND REVIEWED ALL PURCHASING OPERATIONS; ensure Purchase Requests (PR) submitted by the Principal Investigators (PIs) or alternates were completed appropriately. Accessed FASTDATA to ensure funds are available and then execute commitment and obligation of funds. Exercised delegated authority to utilize Simplified Acquisition Procedures to conduct market research and determine fair and reasonable pricing to award purchases with the government-wide purchase card. Assisted end users in the preparation of Requests for Contractual Procurement (NAVCOMPT 2276), to include Independent Government Estimates (IGEs), Sole Source Justification, Quotes from vendors, Urgency Statements, Market Research Memorandum, etc., on all contract submissions to Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC) San Diego.
- Richard Hoffman, 831-656-3171, may contact.
Education
Associate degree - General Ed
American River Jr. College
Sacramento, CACertificate of Technical Studies -
Lincoln Training Center
Sacramento, CA09-1989
Skills
- FM Certified
- ELMS Manager
- DAI Certifier
- DTS Reviewer
- DARQ Reviewer
Certification
- Financial Manager FM1 certified
- Fiscal Law in DoD
- CON 111, Mission Strategy Execution
- CON 110, Mission Support Planning
- CON 237, Simplified Acquisition Procedures
- The COTR, Contracting Program Basics
- CON 100 Shaping Smart Business Arrangements
- Defense Commissary Agency Customer Service Class
- Project Communication Management
- Leadership Supervisory Skills for Women
- General Hazard Communication Training Program
Timeline
Resource Manager
Institute for Security Governance
06.2019 - Current
Property Manager
Institute for Security Governance
06.2019 - Current
Finance Analyst
Institute for Security Governance
04.2019 - Current
FINANCIAL ANALYST, GS-0501-11
Naval Postgraduate School
11.2012 - 04.2019
FINANCIAL ANALYST, GS-0501-09
Naval Postgraduate School
04.2009 - 11.2012
PURCHASING AGENT, GS-1105-07
Naval Postgraduate School
01.2005 - 01.2008
Associate degree - General Ed
American River Jr. College
Certificate of Technical Studies -
Lincoln Training Center
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Performance Awards: 1991/2001-2016 with QSI in 2006 & 2008, Active Member of achieving the Capability Maturity Model Level III, Certificate of Appreciation Volunteer for the McClellan Aviation Museum Foundation
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Maintained Excellence at the highest level on daily bases
Received on the spot awards
End of year appraisals are rated at high levels