Sandra Foster
HSV,AR
Summary
Detail-oriented professional with over 10 years of experience in financial management and procurement. Known for strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and teamwork, consistently achieving compliance and budget efficiency while enhancing organizational effectiveness.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Procurement Specialist
Federal Government - National Center of Toxicology
Pine Bluff, AR
01.2016 - 04.2016
- Analyzed procurement needs and developed strategies to optimize supply chain efficiency.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance with federal procurement regulations.
- Managed vendor relationships, negotiating contracts to secure favorable terms and conditions.
- Conducted market research to identify potential suppliers and assess product quality.
- Streamlined purchasing processes, improving turnaround times for procurement requests.
- Implemented inventory management systems to enhance tracking of supplies and materials.
- Reviewed purchase orders and invoices for accuracy, ensuring adherence to budget constraints
- Facility Property Officer:
- Managed physical laboratory assets - inventory.
- Responsible for maintaining accurate asset log. Initiated quarterly physical validation and documentation, to include, disposals of property, if required. While adhering to the federal government policy and procedure.
Financial Management Specialist
Federal Government - National Center of Toxicology
Pine Bluff, AR
01.2011 - 01.2016
- Conducted travel audits and approvals for domestic and foreign travel; Ensuring adherence to standards and facilitating corrective action where necessary in accordance with Federal Government regulation's policy and procedures.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory requirements by conducting daily audits and addressing identified issues promptly with government travel on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration for the Federal Government.
- Provided and assisted government employees make informed decisions about financial requirements while traveling within the United States as well as outside of the United States.
- Streamlined reporting processes, improving accuracy and timeliness of financial data submission to meet daily time limits.
- Provided mentorship to peers on financial management best practices and system usage.
- Studied financial documents to identify potential areas needing improvement or administrative change.
- Monthly reconciliation of travel budget and banking statements for the Food and Drug Administration.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams within the United States to implement organization-wide financial strategies aligned with company goals.
Budget Analyst
Federal Government - Pine Bluff Chemical Activity
Pine Bluff, AR
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Analyzed budget proposals and forecasts to ensure compliance with federal regulations.
- Developed financial reports to support decision-making processes within the organization.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve budget efficiency.
- Monitored expenditures and budget allocations, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
- Conducted variance analysis to identify discrepancies and recommend corrective actions promptly.
- Presented findings and recommendations to senior management, influencing strategic financial decisions.
- Responsible for Departmental time keeping.
- Responsible for Departmental and Command Staff travel needs.
- Responsible for annual reconciliation of Agency travel as well as initialing travel for new year.
- Self initiation to stay updated and implement changes, if required, via Federal Government Regulations within data systems or budget requirements; And sharing said requirements to Senior Management.
- Federal Government Credit Card Holder - Responsible for office purchases for the Budget Department and Command Staff.
- Responsible for monthly credit card reconciliations.
- Reviewed and was second level of approval for all the organization's travel requirements and credit card purchases and monthly reconciliations.
- Worked and supported all needs required by the Command Staff and Senior Managers of the organizations on a daily basis.
Command Staff Administrative Assistant
Federal Government - Pine Bluff Chemical Activity
Pine Bluff, AR
01.2006 - 01.2009
- Managed scheduling and coordinated meetings for senior officials and team members.
- Maintained comprehensive filing systems for sensitive documentation. Held a Secret Clearance.
- Facilitated communication across departments to improve project collaboration.
- Assisted in the preparation of reports and presentations for management review.
- Trained new administrative staff on office protocols and best practices for efficiency.
- Oversaw inventory management of office supplies, ensuring availability without excess expenditure. Maintained a government credit card.
- Answered multi-line phone system, routing calls, delivering messages to staff and greeting visitors.
- Promoted a positive work environment through effective communication skills and fostering professional relationships among colleagues.
- Coordinated office supply inventory management, proactively ordering necessary items before depletion to avoid workflow disruptions.
- Supported executive staff through scheduling meetings, coordinating travel arrangements, and preparing crucial documents.
- Optimized calendar management for executives by scheduling appointments strategically while considering priorities and minimizing conflicts.
- Organized office events such as holiday parties or team-building activities, promoting a positive company culture and boosting employee morale.
- Maintained inventory of office supplies and placed orders.
- Contributed to policy updates, researching regulations to ensure company compliance.
- Maintained confidentiality of sensitive information, adhering strictly to data protection regulations.
- Enhanced communication within office, establishing weekly newsletter summarizing key updates and achievements.
- Monitored office supplies inventory, ensuring availability of essential items without overstocking.
- Coordinated travel arrangements for staff, ensuring cost-effective and timely accommodations and transportation.
- Managed phone and email correspondence and handled incoming and outgoing mail and faxes.
- Assisted coworkers and staff members with special tasks on daily basis.
- Organized logistics and materials for each meeting and took detailed notes for later dissemination.
- Transcribed and organized information to assist in preparing speeches and presentations.
- Maintained time keeping for Command Staff and Operations Office.
- Supported, coordinated, and initiated required task for Change of Command; While ensuring proper accommodations were complete for guest and prominent officials, both civilian and military.
Hot Check Coordinator
Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney's Office
Pine Bluff, AR
01.1995 - 01.2000
- Coordinated case management activities to ensure timely progress and compliance with legal protocols.
- Maintained comprehensive filing systems for case documentation and evidence tracking.
- Facilitated communication between attorneys, clients, and external agencies to streamline processes.
- Organized and was the presenter at siminars designed for local business owners to stay informed on procedures required by them, upon receiving bad checks, and if required, proper legal procedures going forward for recovering lost funds.
- Compiled cases and worked closely with deputy prosecutors to file legal actions, to include, misdemeanor or felony hot check criminal charges through the Jefferson County Courts, when individuals failed to meet their scheduled payment plan.
- Responsible for purchasing all supplies for the office.
- Responsible for inventory control of supplies and equipment.
- Maintained and reconciled departmental checking account used for expenditures.
Criminal Investigator Secretary
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Pine Bluff, AR
01.1985 - 01.1995
- Answered incoming phone calls and routed to the caller to the appropriate investigator.
- Greeted incoming guest and directed them to the appropriate investigator or department within the Sheriff's Office.
- Typed all criminal reports which were hand written by the investigators. Responsible for initiating change for proper grammer and spelling, if needed.
- Assisted in maintaining a criminal index file of all criminals and victims in all cases worked within or by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
- Assisted in reviewing the weekly pawn shop logs to aid in possibly locating stolen property or names of known suspects of stolen property.
- Assisted as an emergency back up in the dispatch radio room, if needed. Dispatching and intaking of emergency calls.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Technical Writing
University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR
Little Rock, ARSkills
- Supplier contracts
- Effective communication
- Order placement
- Purchasing processes
- Writing and verbal communication
- Purchase order creation
- Telephone and email etiquette
- Product tracking
- Logistics oversight
- Document preparation
- Data entry
- Procurement activity coordination
- Time management
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Reliability
- Excellent communication
- Self motivation
- Conflict resolution
- Interpersonal skills
Timeline
Procurement Specialist
Federal Government - National Center of Toxicology
01.2016 - 04.2016
Financial Management Specialist
Federal Government - National Center of Toxicology
01.2011 - 01.2016
Budget Analyst
Federal Government - Pine Bluff Chemical Activity
01.2009 - 01.2011
Command Staff Administrative Assistant
Federal Government - Pine Bluff Chemical Activity
01.2006 - 01.2009
Hot Check Coordinator
Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney's Office
01.1995 - 01.2000
Criminal Investigator Secretary
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
01.1985 - 01.1995
Bachelor of Science - Technical Writing
University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR