MICHELLE KESTER
OLD FORGE,PA
Summary
Professional payroll specialist with demonstrated expertise in managing civilian payroll systems and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results, adapting seamlessly to changing requirements. Skilled in payroll processing, financial reporting, and issue resolution, bringing reliability and precision to every task. Recognized for effective communication, problem-solving abilities, and commitment to excellence in payroll management.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
CIVILIAN PAYROLL TECH
Dept of Veterans Affairs
06.2023 - 09.2025
- Maintain records pertaining to federal, state and local taxes, student loan repayment program, employee voluntary leave program, workers compensation program, federal employee benefits program, federal employee life insurance and all other documentation that support payments of salaries for federal employees.
- Monitored all payroll timecards for the Wilkes Barre VA medical center to ensure they were submitted by the required deadlines.
- Assist with time and attendance corrections, pay related change coding changes, and master record schedule changes in the DFAS payroll system: submitted FSC tickets for assistance to resolve escalated issues
- Assisted and advised all timekeepers on how to properly code timecards. resolve errors and make corrections.
- Required to verify deposits for the agent Cashiers office and perform random audits as requested from CFO
- Enter payroll information for all new employees such as tax information, healthcare deductions, TSP, paycheck allotments, child support, banking info, and debt management.
- Create, submit and process all debt waivers.
- Run and analyze daily, weekly and retro payroll reports in order to make correct timecard errors from conversion of hours, missing time and invalid transactions to ensure correct pay is received.
- Answer questions regarding employee leave regulations, procedures and leave balances per VA handbook and AFGE
- Review transactions performed by HR to determine if any payroll action is needed
Material Handler
Department of Veterans Affairs
04.2022 - 06.2023
- Operated forklifts and pallet jacks to transport materials efficiently within warehouse environment.
- Organized inventory, ensuring accurate labeling and optimal storage for easy accessibility.
- Collaborated with team members to streamline material handling processes, enhancing workflow efficiency.
- Conducted regular inspections of equipment to maintain safety standards and minimize downtime.
- Transported inventory items to appropriate locations.
- Packed items into appropriate containers for shipment.
- Used hand-held scanners and physical logs to accurately track item movements.
- Read production orders, work orders, shipping orders and requisitions to determine items to be moved, gathered, or distributed.
- Performed cycle counts and inventory control to accurately track product levels.
- Unloaded incoming shipments to verify accuracy of deliveries and check possible damages.
- Received and unpacked shipments and new equipment as directed.
- Maintained accurate inventory levels to prevent stock outages, conducting weekly inventory audits.
- Trained new employees on best practices for material handling, fostering skilled and knowledgeable team.
- Coordinated disposal of obsolete materials, ensuring environmentally friendly practices.
- Loaded and unloaded materials onto and off of trucks for fast shipment.
- Drove forklifts, pallet jacks and other equipment to move materials.
- Helped train new employees in safe practices and warehouse procedures.
- Used handheld scanners to efficiently track and maneuver freight throughout distribution network.
- Verified quantity and description of materials received by checking merchandise against packing list.
Secretary/Timekeeper
Department of Veterans Affairs VAMC
10.2019 - 09.2021
- Managed scheduling and correspondence for executive leadership within the department.
- Coordinated meetings, ensuring all necessary materials and resources were prepared in advance.
- Maintained comprehensive filing systems to enhance document retrieval and organization efficiency.
- Processed incoming communications, directing inquiries to appropriate departments for timely resolution.
- Handled sensitive information discreetly, maintaining confidentiality when managing personnel files or financial data.
- Answered multi-line phone system and enthusiastically greeted callers.
- Maintained daily report documents, memos and invoices.
- Scheduled appointments and conducted follow-up calls to applicants.
- Prepared professional correspondence, including memos, letters, and emails, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
- Maintained electronic filing systems and categorized documents.
- Provided clerical support to administrative staff by copying, faxing, and filing documents.
- Managed executive calendars, scheduling appointments and meetings to optimize time management.
- Oversaw inventory of office and cleaning supplies.
Housekeeping Aide
Department of Veterans Affairs
09.2019 - 09.2020
- Conducted daily cleaning operations to ensure high standards of cleanliness and hygiene following SOP.
- Followed guidelines of proper use of PPE.
- Operated commercial housekeeping equipment including floor cleaners and buffers, various types of sterilizing machines and vacuums.
- Trained new staff on proper cleaning techniques and safety protocols.
- Cleaned floors with sweeping, dusting, damp or wet mopping and disinfecting.
- Managed time effectively while prioritizing tasks based on urgency or importance, resulting in optimized productivity levels throughout each shift.
- Adhered strictly to company policies and guidelines concerning hygiene practices, upholding a high standard of cleanliness at all times.
- Cleaned carpets by vacuuming, shampooing, deodorizing, and disinfecting.
- Assisted in training new hires on housekeeping standards and procedures, ensuring consistent quality across the team.
- Removed dirt, dust, grease and from surfaces using proper solutions.
- Disinfected and mopped bathrooms to keep facilities sanitary and clean.
- Disposed of trash and recyclables each day to avoid waste buildup and contamination.
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SEMI-SKILLED LABORER
PA DCNR Department of Con and Natural Resources
04.2017 - 10.2019
- Maintained the cleanliness of all park buildings and grounds.
- Used various machinery and tools to maintain park areas, such as, Z-turn mowers, snow blowers, weed whackers, power washers, chain saws, chippers, handheld power tools.
- Responsible for documenting assigned daily tasks. Required to drive various vehicles onsite such as small quad/tractors, cars, pick-up truck and dump trucks.
- Perform laboring duties as needed, painting, power washing, mopping, sweeping, shoveling, scrubbing, moving furniture and raking.
- Used assorted chemicals to clean bathrooms and cabin areas and maintained all tools assigned to me.
- Performed inventory of cleaning supplies, chemicals, paper products and gas tanks.
- Assisted water treatment plant when needed to add chemicals to the system and test water samples to be sent to DEP. Completed required paperwork for samples and physically drove samples to DEP.
- Assisted maintenance repair men with assigned tasks such as plumbing, electrical, painting, winterizing of cabins and bathrooms, install fixtures, roofing and tiling. adhered to all safety regulations including chemical safety and proper PPE.
- Operated hand and power tools to complete maintenance and repair tasks efficiently.
- Cleaned and maintained tools, equipment and worksites.
REVENUE FIELD OFFICE CLERK
Pa Dept of Revenue
02.2017 - 04.2017
- Worked as an RFOC Clerk to assist taxpayers and answer questions in completing their Pa State income tax forms and Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. resolved issues by researching and applying PA DOR tax codes and laws.
- Greeted walk-in taxpayers, answered phone calls, and distributed tax booklets/forms.
- Scheduled in person and phone appointments for clients to meet with agents.
- Verify, copy and prepare proof of income documents to be submitted with tax returns and rebate forms.
- Copy, scan, fax and file taxpayer documents such as W-2's, social security statements, rent receipts, 1099's tax bills.
- Collect and organize tax documents for submission to RECA agents for review.
- Contact and communicate with Federal and Local tax offices to gather income information and documentation for clients.
- Processed tax filings and payments accurately, maintaining compliance with state regulations.
- Responded to inquiries from callers seeking information.
- Greeted incoming visitors and customers professionally and provided friendly, knowledgeable assistance.
- Processed and filed tax documents efficiently, ensuring compliance with state regulations.
- Assisted in data entry for taxpayer information, maintaining accuracy across databases.
- Responded to inquiries from taxpayers, providing information on forms and procedures.
- Managed incoming calls and correspondence professionally, ensuring timely responses to clients.
DOCUMENT PROCESSING CLERK/PREPPER
One Source/EDM Americas
02.2017 - 04.2017
- Organized and prepped insurance documents mailed in from clients to be scanned into their accounts. Duties included physically receive and sort mail and distribute to specific PO box accounts. Reviewed legal documents for authenticity such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, and divorce decrees. responsible for identifying and tagging checks for deposit or to be returned into retirement or death benefit accounts.
SUBSTITUTE CLERICAL/AIDE
Old Forge School District
09.2014 - 01.2016
- Fill in for office clerical staff as needed.
- Responsibilities include answering phone, checking in visitors, coordinating documents from students, teachers and staff. Involved in all aspects of general office duties.
- Assisted teachers with classroom preparations and distribution of educational materials.
- Work as a teacher's aide to support the teacher in all classroom activities and to fulfill the assigned daily duties of the regular aide for that day... lunch duty etc.
- Act as a Personal care aide to students with special needs such as taking them to required educational programs, therapy and help with their regular schoolwork.
- Coordinated daily bus schedules and walker lists.
- Successfully completed CPR and SCM crisis Management training offered from district.
LYOPHILIZATION TECHNICIAN
Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation
04.2006 - 03.2014
- Worked in an aseptic sterile environment to prepare and package human bone and tissue for the freeze drying process. Prepared, completed and reviewed all documentation associated with the each donor tissue. Reconciled, dispositioned and physically inspected all tissue for correct identification numbers, number of units and any rejected units following sop guidelines. Also responsible for printing, checking and reviewing all lyophilized cycles of donor tissue to ensure the run met FDA regulations. Used multiple computer programs to perform data entries on all donors for inventory and tracking purposes. Also was cross trained to package donors using approved packaging materials, labels and inserts.
OWNER, CONTRACTOR FOR FEDEX GROUND
M. Kester Inc.
09.2004 - 03.2007
- Owner of 3 Fedex Ground Delivery routes and vans. Oversee 3 or more employees. Responsible for day to day delivery and pick-up operations including the dispatch of freight. Manage all company accounts including... accounts receivable, accounts payable and payroll. Responsible for the maintenance and record keeping on company vehicles required by fedex Ground and Pa Dot. Fill in or assist drivers as needed.
INTERMITTENT INTAKE INTERVIEWER
Pa Dept of Labor and Industry
10.2001 - 08.2004
- Gathered (by interviewing) data from claimants, employers and agent offices to establish validity of claims for uc benefits.
- Reviewed forms and contacted claimants, employers and agent offices to obtain claim information to expedite the claims process.
- Responded to customer inquiries regarding claims status, pending payments, updating personal information.
- Provided guidance to clients on available resources and services within the Department of Labor and Industry.
- Gathered and analyzed client information to ensure accurate documentation and compliance with regulations.
- Prepared and mailed forms for completion by claimants and employers.
- Detected and referred claims issues to examiners for further processing.
- Worked on various special assignment teams within the UC svc ctr including Monetary Dept, Adjudication Support and Adjudication Dept.
- Worked as an Out-of-class Examiner/Adjudicator, which entailed analyzing a claimants separation of employment info in order to determine eligibility for UC benefits and writing the final determination.
- Completed final determinations by required date.
HUMAN RESOURCES REP
UPS
11.1991 - 10.2001
- Responsible for the recruiting, interviewing and hiring of all new employees for 2 UPS facilities.
- Interviewed candidates, processed all paperwork, performed background checks, and references.
- Conducted new hire orientations which included, safety compliance training, benefit package information, and workplace conduct policies.
- Responsible for daily/weekly/monthly reports and general HR paperwork.
- Trained employees in the various area of the UPS delivery system.
- Created and followed action plans to maintain to maintain facility staffing needs.
- Involved in the testing and interviewing of all promotional candidates. Started my employment in 1991 as a clerk/loaded/unloader then started as a driver in 1995.
- In 1998 was promoted to a Human Resources Specialist.
- Managed employee records and maintained compliance with HR policies and procedures.
- Facilitated onboarding processes to enhance new employee integration and engagement.
- Answered employee inquiries regarding health benefits and 401k options.
- Maintained accurate personnel records, safeguarding confidential information while keeping it uptodate.
- Assisted with writing job postings and job descriptions for boards.
Education
No Degree -
University of Scranton
Scranton, PAVocational/Technical Certificate - Act 120 Police Academy
Lackawanna Jr College
Scranton, PA05-1991
High School Diploma -
Scranton Central HS
Scranton, PA01-1987
Skills
- Timekeeping management
- Employee benefits administration
- Payroll processing
- Payroll auditing
- Leave and attendance tracking
- Customer service
- Multitasking Abilities
- Organizational skills
- Payroll software proficiency
Timeline
CIVILIAN PAYROLL TECH
Dept of Veterans Affairs
06.2023 - 09.2025
Material Handler
Department of Veterans Affairs
04.2022 - 06.2023
Secretary/Timekeeper
Department of Veterans Affairs VAMC
10.2019 - 09.2021
Housekeeping Aide
Department of Veterans Affairs
09.2019 - 09.2020
SEMI-SKILLED LABORER
PA DCNR Department of Con and Natural Resources
04.2017 - 10.2019
REVENUE FIELD OFFICE CLERK
Pa Dept of Revenue
02.2017 - 04.2017
DOCUMENT PROCESSING CLERK/PREPPER
One Source/EDM Americas
02.2017 - 04.2017
SUBSTITUTE CLERICAL/AIDE
Old Forge School District
09.2014 - 01.2016
LYOPHILIZATION TECHNICIAN
Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation
04.2006 - 03.2014
OWNER, CONTRACTOR FOR FEDEX GROUND
M. Kester Inc.
09.2004 - 03.2007
INTERMITTENT INTAKE INTERVIEWER
Pa Dept of Labor and Industry
10.2001 - 08.2004
HUMAN RESOURCES REP
UPS
11.1991 - 10.2001
No Degree -
University of Scranton
Vocational/Technical Certificate - Act 120 Police Academy
Lackawanna Jr College
High School Diploma -
Scranton Central HS