Lois D'Avril Williams
Laurel,MD
Summary
Accomplished Financial Management Specialist at DHHS/FDA, recognized for expertise in financial analysis and compliance management. Successfully streamlined invoice processing and audit support, enhancing operational efficiency. A trusted advisor, I foster collaboration and mentorship, ensuring adherence to UFMS standards while driving timely resolutions to complex financial issues.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Financial Management Specialist GS-501-12 step 10
DHHS/Food and Drug Administration
Rockville, MD
06.2004 - 07.2025
- I act as the primary senior-level financial invoice processor and Trusted Enrollment Agent for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) liaising between FDA and Department of Treasury for financial transactions and additional financial needs.
- Utilized the Unified Financial Management System (UFMS) to enhance accuracy of financial reporting and streamline financial processes.
- Combined with my comprehensive knowledge, as well as application, of the Prompt Payment Act – I participated in multiple User Acceptance Testing (UAT) activities to assist in the validation and assurance FDA accounting systems performing in a manner consistent with Division of Payment Services (DPS) specifications.
- Supported FDA Business Control Team and FMFIA initiatives by delivering audit samples and documentation, ensuring timely responses to audit requests.
- Collaborated with the Director and team leads to update the internal control process.
- Assisted external and internal auditors by retrieving, assessing, and providing explanations or justifications on financial data and samples.
- Responded to employee inquiries on financial management policies and procedures, providing expert guidance.
- Processed vendor invoices for a variety of goods and services. Tracked invoices from receipt through the payment process providing situational awareness to management of delays.
- Additionally, notified the Procurement Staff immediately upon recognizing problematic issues involving contracts, purchase orders, or interagency agreements.
- Worked independently to resolve vendor payment issues. Served as liaison between the organization and the vendors regarding payment issues. Provided prompt resolutions to issues by adhering to FDA financial management policies and procedures thus eliminating adverse actions.
- Formally recognized by management for my expertise in this area.
- Assured the financial modules were operating as intended and in accordance with sound financial management principles and concepts by volunteering as a UAT Tester, reporting malfunctions and system errors to Division of Payments Service Director and the Division of Financial System Support.
- Conducted daily payment batching activities to include; assembling vendor invoices agency-wide and routinely conducting formalized hands-on training for other office batcher's.
- Performed as a Data Entry Officer responsible for ensuring payments were properly submitted through the Electronic Certification System (ECS).
- Provided training, administration, and financials reviews to in-house functional managers, colleagues and contractors as required.
- Completed several classes on the principles, standards, practices. concepts, rules regulations, policies, theories, and procedures as they relate to U.S. Government financial management practices.
- Applied thorough knowledge of invoicing processes, including the Prompt Pay Act (PPA), UFMS, and PRISM, to identify and resolve issues impacting timely vendor payments.
- Acted as Director or Supervisor in their absence, managing correspondence, reports, and risk assessments while overseeing task distribution among subordinates.
- Upper Management recognized me as a Financial Management subject matter expert (SME) and the ‘go-to’ individual for analyzing complex payment issues.
- I am the lead person to analyze, assess and communicate any needs of the DPS to IT, Management, Customers, Division Directors.
- On a routine basis I offer mentorship, training and / or guidance to less senior staff members to include; the reviewing / auditing of invoices prior to disbursement.
- I routinely take the initiative to bridge the communication gap between the Financial Management Specialist payers to assist in resolutions with Senior Management. I obtain feedback from colleagues and combined with the application of my combined knowledge, I interpret the issue and conveying this information in a comprehensible manner.
- My knowledge of the PPA has been applied in the performance of developing training materials, briefing Management, training the Field and Headquarter employees;
- Researching the validity of complex, one-of-a-kind issues regarding payments;
- Ensuring payments are proper, which includes interpreting terms of Purchase Orders as they relate to invoices terms;
- Responding to internal and external customers (account histories, reconciliations, payment status from commercial and Government vendors);
- Independently preparing and catering training subject matter based on specific needs for internal customers, as well as, developing and implementing multiple presentations for stakeholders in order to improve communications and convey an understanding of the invoicing process;
- Drafted training correspondence and policies utilizing my knowledge of the PPA alongside DPS’s internal rules, regulations, and guidelines.
- In accordance with the PPA, independently batched payments via the Department of Treasury; Secured Payment System (SPS)
- Communicated tasks across departments within DPS to ensure clarity and alignment.
- Routinely draft and disseminate internal standard operating procedures (SOP), Staff Manual Guides and other administrative guidance for dissemination.
- Directly involved in drafting Job Aids, and Staff Manual Guides revisions.
Education
Business Certificate - Business Communication
General Communications Incorporated
Bethesda, MD01.1992
General Studies -
High Point Senior High School
Beltsville, MD01.1984
Some College (No Degree) - General Studies
Prince Georges Community Collage
Largo, MDSkills
- Financial analysis
- Invoice processing
- Compliance management
- Audit support
- UFMS expertise
- Financial reporting
References
- Marcia Bess, Current Supervisor, Supervisory Financial Management Payment Services, 11601 Landsdown Street, Rockville, MD, 20852, 301.535.4185, Marcia.Bess@fda.hhs.gov
- Candis Brown, Colleague, Management Analyst, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, 301.433.1986, Candis.Brown@fda.hhs.gov
- Tara Phillips, Colleague, Supervisory Financial Management, 11601 Landsdown Street, Rockville, MD, 20852, 301.796.7192, Tara.Phillips@fda.hhs.gov
- Ann Hamilton, Colleague, Research Analyst, 16900 Westbourne Terrace, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, 301.215.1563, ahamilton915@gmail.com
Awards
- 04/01/22, Cash Award (PMAP Related)
- 08/01/22, Time Off Award
- 10/01/22, Leadership Excellence Award (OO Honor Awards)
- 04/01/23, Cash Award (PMAP Related)
- 06/01/23, Unsung Hero Award
- 04/01/24, Cash Award (PMAP Related)
- 08/01/24, Time off Award
Timeline
Financial Management Specialist GS-501-12 step 10
DHHS/Food and Drug Administration
06.2004 - 07.2025
Business Certificate - Business Communication
General Communications Incorporated
General Studies -
High Point Senior High School
Some College (No Degree) - General Studies
Prince Georges Community Collage