Open To Work
BECKA MERCHANT
Hayward,CA
Work Preference
Summary
Public-sector procurement and contract administration professional with more than 20 years of administrative, financial, and operational experience supporting municipal engineering, capital improvement, and construction projects. Experienced administering public procurement from solicitation through contract closeout, coordinating professional services and construction agreements, monitoring budgets and encumbrances, processing contractor pay applications, maintaining regulatory compliance, and supporting executive and project management teams. Recognized for identifying cost-saving opportunities, improving business processes, developing operational documentation, and building collaborative relationships across departments to deliver efficient, compliant public services.
Overview
3
3
years of post-secondary education
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Engineering Office Assistant
City of Alameda
Alameda, USA
11.2023 - Current
- Administer professional services agreements from initiation through closeout, including task orders, work orders, amendments, and funding coordination.
- Prepare and process contracts, construction agreements, change orders, purchase orders, bid documents, RFPs, City Council agenda materials, and execution packages.
- Coordinated bid advertisements, vendor communications, public bid openings, award documentation, and maintained official procurement records.
- Process consultant invoices, contractor pay estimates, and purchase orders while monitoring encumbrances, contingency balances, contract authority, and fiscal-year deadlines.
- Review insurance certificates, endorsements, bonds, DIR registration, W-9s, legal entity documentation, and other compliance requirements before contract execution.
- Supported procurement and contract administration for Engineering, Facilities, and Public Works capital improvement projects.
- Audited more than 150 East Bay Municipal Utility District utility accounts, identifying incorrectly assigned Public Works accounts and helping generate more than $35,000 in annual Capital Improvement Program savings.
- Analyzed multi-year utility consumption data to identify potential leaks, collaborating with project managers to support repairs and utility billing adjustments.
- Public Works Department
- KEY ACHIEVEMENT: Identified utility billing discrepancies that resulted in significant annual savings while strengthening financial oversight of Capital Improvement Program expenditures.
Account Clerk
City of Pittsburg
Pittsburg, USA
08.2022 - 12.2022
- Processed accounts payable and receivable transactions, reconciled customer payments, and researched billing discrepancies to ensure accurate financial records.
- Created and maintained utility accounts while coordinating service connections and disconnections and explaining City policies and billing procedures to enhance customer understanding.
- Supported daily utility functions
Front End / Closing Manager
Safeway
Walnut Creek, USA
07.2019 - 09.2022
- Supervised front-end operations, including employee scheduling, training, coaching, and daily workflow; acted as manager to independently close store operations, ensuring smooth end-of-day processes.
- Executed closing procedures to ensure accurate store transitions. to ensure smooth store transitions.
- Managed cash accountability, balancing registers and deposits while resolving customer escalations and upholding service standards to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Trained staff on cash handling and register operations.
Online Sales Specialist
Self-Employed
Oakley, USA
10.2017 - 09.2019
- Founded and managed online resale business, overseeing inventory, bookkeeping, customer service, shipping, invoicing, and tax records to ensure smooth operations.
- Managed customer inquiries through email and social media platforms.
- Developed engaging product descriptions for online listings.
Executive Assistant
Randstad Staffing
Pleasant Hill, USA
04.2018 - 07.2018
- Coordinated calendars, meetings, travel, reports, presentations, and confidential records for senior executives and an eight-member leadership team, ensuring smooth operations and effective communication.
- Developed meeting materials, agendas, minutes, and follow-up documentation to facilitate informed discussions and track action items.
- Facilitated compassionate end-of-life care at Hospice East Bay
Clerical Assistant III – Special Education
Berkeley Unified School District
Berkeley, USA
05.2017 - 09.2017
- Collaborated with families, staff, and outside agencies to streamline administrative processes, demonstrating independent judgment and attention to detail.
- Coordinated transportation services for over 150 students, ensuring timely and safe transport while maintaining confidentiality of student records.
- Organized student records and maintained accurate filing systems.
Billing Manager / Healthcare Office Administrator
Chiropractic & Wellness Offices
Pleasant Hill, USA
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Implemented new electronic health record and billing software, recovering payment on 95% of over 260 aged insurance claims through appeals and corrected submissions, significantly improving collection rates.
- Managed medical billing, coding, insurance verification, collections, scheduling, office administration, provider credentialing, and processed 30–50 insurance claims daily to ensure timely reimbursement.
- Oversaw insurance claim submissions and follow-ups for patient accounts.
Administrative, Records & Billing Assignments
AppleOne, Kimco, Randstad & OfficeTeam
East Bay, USA
01.2008 - 01.2016
- Delivered administrative, records management, billing, auditing, and confidential document support to enhance operations across multiple organizations.
- Audited and reorganized more than 300 Section 8 files, correcting missing and misfiled documentation.
- Executed daily administrative tasks with precision, ensuring smooth operations in a fast-paced environment.
- Prioritized and organized tasks to efficiently accomplish service goals.
- Proposed innovative ideas and solutions that improved team collaboration and project outcomes.
- Provided excellent service and attention to customers when face-to-face or through phone conversations.
Eligibility Worker
Contra Costa Employment & Human Services
Hercules, USA
02.2015 - 05.2015
- Assessed CalFresh eligibility via interviews, documentation review, policy application, benefit calculations, and case documentation using CalWIN, MEDS, and Compass Pilot to ensure compliance and accurate issuance of benefits.
- Reviewed and verified client information to ensure compliance with regulations.
- Provided guidance on application processes and required documentation.
Education
Associate of Science - Business / Marketing
Chabot College
Hayward, CA 08.2022 - 01.2023
Associate in Applied Science - CSU Transfer / General Education
Los Medanos College
Pittsburg, CA 08.2017 - 05.2018
Associate in Applied Science - Business Administration
Heald College
Concord, CA 08.2011 - 01.2013
Skills
- Procurement administration
- Construction & Professional Services Agreements
- Bidding coordination
- Compliance management
- Purchase Orders & Change Orders
- Invoice processing
- Budget management
- Financial analysis
- SOP development
- Operational Efficiency
- Project Coordination
- Records Administration
- Tyler ERP
- Tyler Cashiering
- Accela
- Legistar
- NextRequest
- CivicPlus OpenCities
- BPX Planroom
- Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, Outlook)
- Adobe Acrobat Pro
- DocuSign
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Team Collaboration
- Customer and Vendor Relations
Earlier Experience
- Customer Service / Clerical Lead / Shift Supervisor – Gottschalks
- Administrative Assistant – AppleOne Employment Services
- Customer Service Associate – Famous Footwear & Victoria's Secret
- Cashier / Food Service Associate – Panera Bread
Timeline
Engineering Office Assistant
City of Alameda
11.2023 - Current
Associate of Science - Business / Marketing
Chabot College
08.2022 - 01.2023
Account Clerk
City of Pittsburg
08.2022 - 12.2022
Front End / Closing Manager
Safeway
07.2019 - 09.2022
Executive Assistant
Randstad Staffing
04.2018 - 07.2018
Online Sales Specialist
Self-Employed
10.2017 - 09.2019
Associate in Applied Science - CSU Transfer / General Education
Los Medanos College
08.2017 - 05.2018
Clerical Assistant III – Special Education
Berkeley Unified School District
05.2017 - 09.2017
Eligibility Worker
Contra Costa Employment & Human Services
02.2015 - 05.2015
Billing Manager / Healthcare Office Administrator
Chiropractic & Wellness Offices
01.2014 - 01.2016
Associate in Applied Science - Business Administration
Heald College
08.2011 - 01.2013
Administrative, Records & Billing Assignments
AppleOne, Kimco, Randstad & OfficeTeam
01.2008 - 01.2016