Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Monique Clark

Brooklyn,CT

Summary

Finance professional with comprehensive background in administrative and financial operations, prepared to contribute to organizational success ensuring compliance with State and Department policies and procedures. Known for precision in financial reporting, effective budget management, and contract utilization. Collaborative team player with focus on results and adaptability to changing needs. Possesses strong analytical and communication skills valued by employers.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience

Work History

Travel Advisor

Copperhead Travels, LLC
06.2025 - Current
  • Conducted thorough research on destinations and accommodations to provide accurate information to travelers.
  • Delivered exceptional customer service by promptly addressing inquiries via phone, email, or in-person meetings.
  • Researched cruises, airfare options and siteseeing options to best meet client expectations.
  • Developed tailored plans catering to niche markets such as adventure travel or luxury vacations which ultimately led to an expanded client base.
  • Responded promptly to client calls and emails requesting new travel arrangements or changes to existing itineraries to provide optimal customer service.
  • Educated clients on necessary travel documents, insurance options, and safety precautions for each destination.
  • Assisted clients in choosing suitable vacation packages by assessing their needs and preferences.
  • Stayed current on industry trends and news, allowing for quick adaptation to changes in the market.
  • Attended training sessions, familiarization trips and site inspections to maintain current industry knowledge and gain insight into tourism trends.
  • Organized group travel arrangements efficiently, facilitating enjoyable experiences for large parties.
  • Supervised payments via credit and debit cards and handled sensitive information with professionalism and discreteness.
  • Arranged travel accommodations for groups, couples, executives, and special needs clients.
  • Coordinated both international and domestic travel accommodations for customers, arranging for airfare, hotel and rental car reservations.
  • Administered customer surveys to measure satisfaction with services and better understand desires and expectations.

Grants and Contracts Specialist - Contract Support

State of Connecticut Department Children and Families
12.2023 - Current
  • Provide direct supervision and mentorship to one (1) Fiscal Administrative Officer fostering professional development and ensuring adherence to departmental standards
  • Plan, prepare, develop, track and manage contracts (Personal Service Agreements), Memorandums of Understanding and Agreements, and Scopes of Service
  • Collaborate with department program staff, management, leadership, Office of Policy and Management, Office of Attorney General
  • Coordinated efforts across departments during the RFP/RFQ process, ensuring all relevant information was considered during supplier selection.
  • Conducted regular contract audits to assess performance gaps and identify areas for improvement.
  • Reduced contract approval times by conducting thorough reviews and promptly addressing any discrepancies or concerns.
  • Supported proposal development efforts by providing accurate estimates on costs, timelines, and resources required for project execution.
  • Implemented training programs for team members to enhance their understanding of contract management best practices.
  • Enhanced contract process by streamlining workflows and implementing effective communication strategies.
  • Ensured compliance with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements by staying updated on industry trends and evolving legislation.
  • Conduct comprehensive contract reviews, meticulous proofreading and manage contract preparation and tracking to ensure accuracy and compliance.
  • Responsible for payments of invoice of the Personal Service Agreements which includes supervision and oversight of creating purchase order, receipts and vouchers through the state accounting system (Core-CT)

Grants and Contracts Specialist - Region Support

State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families
11.2013 - 12.2023
  • Fiscal specialist and supervisor to one (1) Financial Clerk and three (3) Accounts Payable Processors (one for each office) for Region 3 (Middletown - Norwich - Willimantic offices.) Oversight with fiscal controls of approved budgets against expenditures based on management priorities and policies.
  • Oversee $10 million annual spending on Wrap Services for Region 3 offices: Lead, coordinate and verify the producing and review of detailed authorizations and monitoring expenditures against each of the three distinct offices developed budgets. Develop monthly, quarterly, and yearly purchasing authorization reports. Review high ticket authorizations, trends in specific services and monitoring the process to make recommendations and discuss these findings with executive management and leadership teams and complete recommendations for efficient financial budgeting. Develop monthly, quarterly, and yearly expenditure reports for budget analysis of categories, compare with past spending traits for trends, and compare statewide spending with other regions for similarities and/or abnormality with our spending. Discuss these findings with executive management team and complete recommendations for efficient financial spending.
  • Account Payables Management – oversight the implementations of all non-contracted service needs with timely processing of payments, payment and account management of all services in region: (Timely Payments, Aging Statements, Provider Inquiries and Technical Support) Supervise (1) Financial Clerk who is responsible for setting up Provider Ids, problematic invoices, and review of Aging Statements completed by the providers. Supervise (3) Accounts Payable Processors who are responsible for the processing of each of the area offices invoices for services that are paid against each office's WRAP budget.
  • Develop, maintain, and coordinate effective proactive financial training, education material with regard to policies and procedures relating to purchasing for all Region 3 staff.
  • Co-Lead (along with System Program Director) and liaison for quarterly meetings with Region 3's contracted providers and Contract Management Unit to review utilization with budget/narrative and scope outcomes of service expectations and collaborate to overcome challenges with programs and celebrate wins and explore on lower outcome services.
  • Credentialing Committee Member with responsibilities to acquire qualified credentialed providers, complete audit and assist with vendor performance issues, and assist worker with services.
  • Exercise discretionary judgement with regard to unique circumstances and problem resolution within the thresholds established under State practice, policy, and regulations.
  • Lead for Requests for Proposal (RFP) contracts which includes reading the request for Programs, analyzing material submitted on the Program and determining the best applicant for the contract in a legal forum.

Fiscal Administrative Officer - Contract Managment

State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families
04.2008 - 11.2013
  • Manage 27 multi-million dollar contracts for multiple providers' budgets, budget revisions, with reports, expenditures for completeness, accuracy and conformance with agency policies with efficiency.
  • Complete payments to providers, monitor expenditures and appropriations utilizing CORE-CT. Prepare, generate, and analyze EPM reports. Reconcile and complete annual audit for final reports against approved budgets to determine if budget revisions are necessary, and also calculate unexpended funds which include a review of the latest budget submission, analysis of expenses, calculating by line item if expenses have been spent correctly. Contact providers on any questionable revisions that require further information. Corresponding with agency on dollars due to DCF, tracking incoming dollars, and submitting reports to the audit unit. Make recommendations to program staff on the changes that are requested both financially and programmatically and review any questions with provider's fiscal staff submitting paperwork. Compile and consolidate data for appropriate Contract Management Logs utilized by all in unit. Prepare contract packages for processing. Compile information for appropriate providers that are being reviewed with comments from OPM, Cost Allocation Plans, and appropriate DCF managers. Technical assistance to providers, which involves meeting with agencies and their fiscal staff to review the budgeting, reporting, and revision process utilized by DCF. This involves developing their program budgets, aiding with line item expenditure analysis, and explaining G & A costs.
  • Provide assistance and train unit members regarding contracts enter purchase orders, complete payments, and close out purchase orders, dispatch purchase orders, complete PO balance reports, with the CORE-CT system. Responsible for updating Contract Management Instructions.
  • Cover unit when Fiscal Administrative Supervisor is out of the office.
  • Assist Associate Accountant with DCF Bonding Funds which includes the development and tracking of bonding spending plan, sending out and tracking incoming bonding applications, developing a committee and supplying information to the committee for the selection of bonding awards, submitting bonding recommendations to appropriate personnel including OPM. Complete assigned bonding site visits with providers to determine validity of request, the need of the provider and whether recommendation for a contract with bonding dollars is needed. Code and approve bond invoices. Track all bonding projects for dollars spent and make sure that the dollars are appropriately wired to their account.
  • Complete Request for Proposal (RFP) for contracts which includes reading the request for Programs, analyzing material submitted on the Program and determining the best applicant for the contract. The Program material is reviewed, questions are answered, a score sheet is submitted to the committee all discussed in a legal forum. A key member of the six member work group who trains all staff on procurement, contracts, and RFP procedures and policies.
  • Chosen as Team Leader for the CT Lean Kaizen Team Charter for the Contract Process Improvement Project.

Fiscal Administrative Officer - Accounts Payable

State of Connecticut, Department Children and Families
12.2004 - 04.2008
  • Supervise two (2) Fiscal Administrative Assistants and one (1) Clerical for Accounts Payable division of Fiscal Division for 14 area offices.
  • Plans office work flow and determines priorities for Fiscal Administrative Assistants and Office Assistant. Schedules, assigns, oversee and reviews work. Establishes and maintains office procedures.
  • Provide staff training and assistance to Fiscal Administrative Assistants and Office Assistant, and other department staff as necessary. Responsible for hiring/refilling vacant positions with Accounts Payable Department.
  • Liaison with other units (Contracts, Grant Funding, Bonding) within Department for other agencies and other officials regarding policies and procedures.
  • Responsible for all aspects of: Accounts Payable, Petty Cash, Employee Mileage Reimbursement, Foster Parent Reimbursement, Travel Activities for Regional Offices and Corporate Office. Responsible for ensuring all Transfer Invoices are paid timely with accuracy. Maintain budget control by reviewing and monitoring expenditures for Petty Cash reimbursements, travel, and foster parent reimbursements. Responsible for Petty Cash Checkbook Account and Cash Account.
  • In charge of establishing and processing Bond and Tax-Exempt Process Fund Payments and Contract Payments for Contracts & Bonding division.
  • Member of the Bond Fund Committee.
  • Resolving problems with receipts with valid coding, handling all issues related to CORE-CT including reviewing receipts for compliance with general accounting procedures (GASB) as well as Connecticut General Statutes regarding depositing of state receipts.
  • Completes adjustments, journal entries, payment cancellations, and reversals with the Core CT system. Follow all policies, rules and regulations set forth by Department, Comptrollers and Auditors.
  • Prepare and analyze EPM reports.
  • Other duties assigned by Supervisor, Manager, or Assistant Chief Officer.

Office Assistant

Willimantic Office
09.1999 - 12.2004
  • Provide administrative support for social workers, supervisors, and program supervisors. Entrusted with handling highly complex confidential paperwork for court and outside agencies.
  • Accountable for receiving and assigning cases to social workers and supervisors. Maintain HIPPA regulation for office. Assist management with interviews. Complete audits on cases via LINK and CMS software systems and records. Research clients through DSS computer system (EMS). Prepare and maintain various schedules/logs. Responsible for processing closed records (audit, purge, microfilm, and correspondence). Contact Donnegan to pick up closed records for microfilming. Process/research all requests for closed records within agency.

Education

Bachelor of Science Degree - Business Administration

Eastern Connecticut State University
Willimantic, Connecticut

Associate in Science Degree - Business Management

Quinebaug Valley Community College
Danielson, Connecticut

Associate in Science Degree - Accounting

Quinebaug Valley Community College
Danielson, Connecticut

Skills

  • Financial reporting, analysis and strategic planning
  • Audit and compliance management
  • Develop, maintain, coordinate financial training and educational material for all staff
  • Proficiency in all MS Office Applications (Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, and SharePoint)
  • Excellent organizational and synchronization ability
  • Superb written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to construe and apply statutes, regulations and administrative policies with state government and public sector
  • Confidentiality compliant
  • Contract administration
  • Procurement processes
  • Contract drafting
  • Document review

Timeline

Travel Advisor

Copperhead Travels, LLC
06.2025 - Current

Grants and Contracts Specialist - Contract Support

State of Connecticut Department Children and Families
12.2023 - Current

Grants and Contracts Specialist - Region Support

State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families
11.2013 - 12.2023

Fiscal Administrative Officer - Contract Managment

State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families
04.2008 - 11.2013

Fiscal Administrative Officer - Accounts Payable

State of Connecticut, Department Children and Families
12.2004 - 04.2008

Office Assistant

Willimantic Office
09.1999 - 12.2004

Bachelor of Science Degree - Business Administration

Eastern Connecticut State University

Associate in Science Degree - Business Management

Quinebaug Valley Community College

Associate in Science Degree - Accounting

Quinebaug Valley Community College
Monique Clark