Skilled analytical person with 13+years of expertise in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of business programs by anticipating potential problems and creating solutions. High level achiever with proven record of leading and executing; consistently exceeding all expectations. Reputed as a people-to-people connecter and forges strategic partnerships, delivering transformational results through effective stakeholder and management relations.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Unemployment Insurance Program Specialist
US Department of Labor
04.2023 - Current
Coordinated unemployment insurance programs within the agency by researching, compiling, and analyzing information and data to use in program administration planning and making recommendations
Interpreted Federal requirements and procedures to grantees to assist them to comply with Federal requirements
Effectively utilized electronic grant management systems in accordance with established guidelines and protocols
Providing oversight of programs, projects, policies relating to any facet of organizational operations
Developed and recommended appropriate actions to improve efficiency and effectiveness
Provided strategic communication, planning advice, and consultation to higher level management and agency officials
Maintained grant files and adheres to grant management documentation requirements established in Employment and Training Orders (ETOs)
Participated in on-site compliance monitoring reviews and Enhanced Desk Monitoring Reviews (EDMRs) of grantees to evaluate the grantee's progress towards meeting the goals specified in the grant agreement with agency
Assessed the quality of the program and services; ensure that grant activities are being conducted in compliance with the grant agreement and applicable Federal regulations
Aided senior level staff in coordinating the assessment of unemployment insurance program accuracy and quality BTQ peer review and Appeals peer review
Federal Project Officer for the State of West Virginia
Regional Subject Matter Expert for Reemployment Services Eligibility Assessment, Benefits, and Appeals
Monitored a budget to ensure that funds are obligated
Participated in the development of policy guidance and technical assistance resources for grantees and workforce system stakeholders
Prepared and delivered presentations to various internal and external audiences on unemployment insurance programs
Performed analyses of grant related data, policy, and program issues, and applies problem-solving techniques to address issues
Engaged in on-going communication with grantees in order to establish a good communication protocol
Worked collaboratively with senior specialists, administrative, program, and performance offices that play a role in the administration of ETA grants
Participated alongside senior staff in the development of policy guidance and technical assistance resources for ETA grantees and workforce system stakeholders
Assisted senior staff in the development of internal standard operating procedures
Completed Risk Assessments to determine the level of low risk, medium risk, or high risk to the grant awarded
Provided technical support in reviewing grant applications, annual reports, and required forms for the fulfillment of financial prerequisites
Business Analyst
Tata Consultancy Services, Ltd
04.2022 - 04.2023
Coordinated with the business teams to build new functionality when required and set reasonable expectations with customers
Build and leverage relationships with internal business partners and external partners to deliver technology solutions
Responsible for the capturing of business requirements for modules assigned
Assisted the client in developing the use case for the initiative
Responsible for the fit-gap and design of initiative assigned, which describe the functional design of the system, its business rules, reports, interfaces, enhancements, workflows, and gap analysis
Responsible for the system design and configuration of the applications in area of responsibility
Responsible for the development of use cases, testing scenarios, and mock-ups/prototypes for initiatives assigned
Created and updated key documents as determined by the lead for assigned initiatives
Provided quality assurance, testing, and updates to test plans and script documents as needed
Responsible for the successful and timely completion of assigned tasks
Provided insights and recommendations from analysis and speak to impacts on the business
Identified and resolve problems in a timely manner, gather and analyze information, develop alternative solutions, and work well in individual and group problem solving situations
Subject matter expert on area of expertise including best practices and technology trends Benefits areas (like Claims Intake, Weekly Certifications, Out of State Functions, Monetary and Non-Monetary Determinations, Overpayments, Appeals, USDOL compliance, IRS compliance) and Tax areas (like Employer establishment and maintenance, Contribution and Wage Reports, Employee Leasing, Billing and Collections, Liens, Fraud, and Investigations, Appeals and Cashiering)
Partner with client and colleagues and develop strategic focus regarding the applications within their specific functional area
Manage enhancement requests from users with a view of longer-term strategic vision of operating company goals
Led Unemployment Insurance business analysts’ team and provide guidance, direction to them as and when required provided technical assistance to the Unemployment Insurance Business process
Build requirement specifications to ensure seamless deployments of Unemployment Insurance projects
Business Analyst
Tek Systems
10.2022 - 01.2023
Led the development of mid-level and detailed nonfunctional, functional, transitional project (technical) requirements for the integrated claims management solution (ex
Workers Compensation, Unemployment Insurance, Disability Insurance, & Paid Family Leave) for California Employment Development Department (EDD)
Provided inputs on technical architecture documentation
Established and enforce QA standards and risk-based entry/exit criteria
Developed integrated dashboard and reporting for senior management reviews
Provided excellent client interfacing skills, working with IT and business stakeholders
Analyze current UI Modernization requirements and determine applicability to current initiative
Analyze and document requirements for the current Appeals system
Translated business requirements into concise system requirements for use by the software architects and development teams
Analyzed program areas, evaluating employee and organizational effectiveness
Determined compliance with department procedures, workload standards and regulations
Reviewed correspondence for technical and substantive compliance with management and department policies
Final deliverables were sent to California EDD for approval by Project Management Office (PMO)
Unemployment Insurance Program Specialist
Thomson Reuters
07.2021 - 04.2022
Applied knowledge of Federal, state and regulations governing the UI program
Interprets UI program legislation, policies, programs, and regulations
Provided policy advice and delivering technical assistance and training on issues related to UI programs (including regular Unemployment Compensation, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Extended Benefits, Short Term Compensation, Trade Readjustment Act, Unemployment Compensation Federal Employees, Unemployment Compensation Ex-Service Member, Inter/Intrastate Benefits, Combined Wage Claim, Temporary Federal Extended Benefit Program (e.g., Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Mixed Employees Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance), UI adjudications, UI appeals, and benefit payment control
Reviewed documents for conformity, program accuracy and quality in accordance with federal, state, and local requirements
Worked collaboratively and maintaining professional networks with officials in federal, state, or local government agencies or public entities
Written and edited reports and provided guidance to junior personnel and management, state, or local government agencies
Provided oversight for data collection, data analysis, cost-benefit analysis, return on investment, procurement, and the development of performance reports that compare the baseline and actual data
Identified business process improvements and assist with formulation of technical solutions with other teams
Ensured technical solutions conform to UI programmatic goals
Presented quick win recommendations to state and federal stakeholders
Analyzed the efficiency of internal administrative operations
Advised management on a variety of opportunities and options to increase organizational effectiveness
Reviewed reports to determine appropriate changes and/or corrective action required
Conducted studies, reviews, evaluations, and/or assessments of issues assigned
Prepared recommendations for implementation of new procedures and/or organizational changes
Ensured compliance of managerial guidelines and administrative operations
Researched contracts and task orders to support all phases of the contract life cycle
Presented findings, solutions, and recommendations to managers
Established quick win recommendations pertaining to Backlog and Timeliness Pillar regarding American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Tiger Team that were finalized and implemented by the US DOL Employment & Training Administration
Unemployment Insurance Claims Examiner
Department of Unemployment Services
06.2013 - 07.2021
Communicate with customers to conduct intake to process claims for unemployment insurance compensation through a call center environment
Conduct fact finding interviews applying applicable laws and regulations and issue written determinations about eligibility and qualifications of the claimant’s benefits
Identified, reviewed, and documented over 100+ individuals in filing initial, continued and reopened claims against the District of Columbia and other jurisdictions
Coordinated with more than 20 subject matter experts in determinations regarding claimant’s pension, severance pay, availability for work, ability to work, work search requirements, failure to report as directed, failure to report gross earnings, refusal of suitable work, partially unemployed, discharged for misconduct, combined wage claims, alternative base period, identity verification, fraud, overpayments, separations, voluntarily quit, and reasonable assurance
Provided technical assistance to the claimant’s gross earnings by managing the District Online Compensation System to reduce the improper payment rate
Troubleshooted technical issues along with providing clear interpretation for the laws, policies, and rules governing the program(s)
Prepared statistical reports on claims to examine accuracy, content, legal citations, grammar, and other deficiencies prior to the issuance of a decision on a weekly basis
Modernized old workflow processes in department to increase effective communication of program requirements and to adhere to the clean desk policy required by the US Department of Labor
Developed creative solutions to resolve programmatic issues within department over the last several years
Significantly reduced overpayments that claimants receive unlawfully during their unemployment benefits period
Education
Master of Business Administration -
Emporia State University
Emporia, KS
08.2021
Master of Science - Management
University of Maryland Global Campus
Adelphi, MD
08.2019
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice
Delaware State University
Dover, DE
05.2013
Skills
Skill development
Group and individual instruction
Performance assessments
Skill building
Project management
Program management
Strategic planning
Eligibility determination
Standard operating procedures
Timeline
Unemployment Insurance Program Specialist
US Department of Labor
04.2023 - Current
Business Analyst
Tek Systems
10.2022 - 01.2023
Business Analyst
Tata Consultancy Services, Ltd
04.2022 - 04.2023
Unemployment Insurance Program Specialist
Thomson Reuters
07.2021 - 04.2022
Unemployment Insurance Claims Examiner
Department of Unemployment Services
06.2013 - 07.2021
Master of Business Administration -
Emporia State University
Master of Science - Management
University of Maryland Global Campus
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice
Delaware State University
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