SUSAN WALTERS
MOLINE,IL
Summary
Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Emergency Management Specialist
US Army Corps Of Engineers
01.2021 - Current
- I routinely review and update emergency plans such as the All Hazards, COOP, and HIRA. I review operational plans from other Districts to identify streamlined improvements to MVR's plans.
- Develop, implement, and manage effective and ongoing exercise/drill and training program that meets the regulatory requirements for the Rock Island District.
- I have made major revisions to the EM training plan and engaged appropriate internal and external staff throughout the planning process to ensure relevancy.
- Developed a 4 year training projection to layout training needs and goals. The projections help with determining fiscal year training budgets for current year plus out years.
- Develop a timeline/milestones tracker for scheduled EM trainings and exercises. Detailing periodic EM coordination meetings to discuss presentations, agenda topics, presenters, status updates, and rehearsal run-through.
- Performed as battle captain in the most recent flood event. Observed the EOC functionality and made notes of process improvements for future events.
- Prepares and analyzes post-event assessments, including preparation and review of after action report. Conducted hot wash and lessons learned reviews with key groups to gather feedback and suggestions for improvements moving forward.
- Maintain current understanding of local, state and federal guidelines for emergency response.
- Built and strengthened relationships to manage effective planning and implementation of emergency response strategies.
- Utilized comprehensive risk analysis to identify, assess and manage emergency management risks.
- Continued to make improvements to the EM & EOC SharePoint Sites. Changes such as: Creating a centralized knowledge management tool sharing file locations for things such as flood fight training, EM Plans, updated Flood Area Map, and easy access to states' WEBEOC.
Staff Accountant – Asset Manager
US Army Corps of Engineers
08.2013 - 01.2021
- Monitored and managed all facets of personal and real property equal or greater than $25k.
- Maintained a detailed financial portfolio for each asset.
- Scrutinized all costs accrued on real property projects to ensure costs were directly related to the project.
- Coordinations with program managers, field site personnel, Real Estate and Logistics offices to establish clear communication and support for each of the Construction-In-Progress (CIP) accounts.
- Monitored accounts receivable, accounts payable and other account balances to track transactions, avoid discrepancies and maintain accuracy.
- Executed financial reporting, managing prepaid accounts, schedules, reconciliations, event settlements, and month-end accruals.
- Participated in internal and external audit processes to establish accurate financial records and comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and regulatory requirements.
- Complied documentation to meet audit criteria by gathering and coordinating audit samples requested by Headquarters (HQ) and the external audit agency in a timely manner.
- Collaborated with external auditors to provide information for audit process.
- Collected and arranged financial information and entered details into CEFMS financial management system.
- Maintained fixed asset records and depreciation schedules to establish accurate calculations.
- Prepared working papers, reports and supporting documentation for audit findings.
- Partnered with Internal Review (IR) Chief to track errors and add contributions to maintain accuracy.
Knowledge Management Specialist
US Army Corps of Engineers
07.2019 - 11.2019
- Worked on many ongoing District wide initiatives through a knowledge-centric approach that integrated people, processes, content management and technology while developing a culture of teamwork, learning, and improvements.
- Supported and maintained the continuous development of new organizational and online communities of practice, promoting innovative ways to capture both tacit and explicit knowledge.
- Carried out in-depth needs assessments to determine document management requirements at office and individual user levels.
- In collaboration with the ProjectWise Administrator, developed and implemented a change management program to assist in moving the District toward a knowledge-centric culture.
- I worked with senior leaders and Corporate Board members to successfully gain the Commander's directive by signing off on a district policy to enforce all organizations the use of ProjectWise as the standard record repository.
- Maintained organized and efficient document flows by using excellent planning and multitasking skills.
- Provided assistance with inbound and outbound document processes, document sorting, routing, and logging.
- Developed processes and training guidance for individual offices as they transitioned to ProjectWise.
- Served as the content facilitator/manager of a SharePoint site where it houses information and knowledge documents for the workforce.
Financial Systems Analyst
US Army Corps of Engineers
05.2018 - 07.2019
- In the temporary detail, I gained experience troubleshooting problems associated with the Corps of Engineers Financial System (CEFMS) operation and software implementation issues.
- Provided analysis and suggested improvements adjusting financial reporting to eliminate issues.
- Utilized administrative knowledge of accounting theories, practices, methods, and techniques as well as basic knowledge of programming, budgeting, and financial execution within the policy and regulations provided by the Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Defense.
- Troubleshot incidents reported by end-users to schedule system changes and identify permanent solutions.
- Collaborated with upper management to drive strategy and implement new processes.
- Communicated and explained business requirements to team members to understand and implement functional demands.
- Analyzed existing systems and databases and recommended enhancements to solve business needs.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Provided travel assistance by interpreting transportation polices, procedures, and guidelines.
- Managed the Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves for District employees by providing guidance to th employees and their supervisors.
- I was the primary liaison between the employees and the USACE Logistics Activity, the USACE Finance Center to warrant timely processing of all PCS travel orders and vouchers.
- Reviewed and approved all monthly accruals over $100k ensuring the validity and accuracy of the supporting documentation.
- Processed and input bi-weekly payroll transactions to include government contributions, awards, retention incentives, and student loan repayments.
- I served as the acting Chief Finance and Accounting Officer on several occasions.
- I continually provided suggestions to improve team efficiencies and ways to foster cross training opportunities within the office.
- Identified areas of weakness and recommended or implemented process improvements.
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
Process Improvement Specialist
US Army Corps of Engineers
09.2016 - 01.2017
- My 120-day detail focused on the Knowledge Management (KM) initiative, developing a plan for the upcoming position and what the KM position would offer to the District.
- I surveyed and compiled results to gain a better understanding of the state of the District regarding data and document management, current system(s) use, and functionality.
- Working closely with the ProjectWise Administrator, we identified a plan of action and milestones for the ProjectWise migration and implementation.
- I developed a cost estimate detailing an approximate timeline and expected costs for each organization through the migration period.
- Successfully gained senior leadership and management approval by developing and conducting a series of briefings on the District's KM initiative, state of the District, and a plan moving forward by identifying and capturing the District's most critical knowledge.
- Reviewed the FY16 Federal Employee Viewpoint (FEV) survey results, providing a detailed analysis of the current year survey, along with a comparison and trends analysis of the past 4 years.
- Facilitated meetings with the FEV champions and developed new action plans to incorporate FY16 concerns.
- Mentored and guided employees with tie Lean Six Sigma (LSS) green belt projects.
- Recruited candidates for the LSS greenbelt training.
- Reviewed, edited, and uploaded new processes into the Quality Management Systems (QMS).
- Worked closely with the commanders and senior leaders in coordinating and facilitating Corporate Board meetings, consisting of scheduling monthly meetings and presenters. I recorded and managed meting minutes to include due outs and follow-ups.
Budget Analyst
US Army Corps Of Engineers
06.2009 - 06.2011
- I monitored and transmitted reimbursable documents daily, such as customer and government orders, received from other field operating activities, districts, and non-Corps government agencies
- Reviewed all incoming and outgoing source documents for accuracy and promptly distributed to the appropriate office
- Analyzed and determined corrective actions to reimbursable order processing and budget problems, reviewed all orders for accuracy of appropriation data, and ensured compliance with budgetary rules and regulations
- Prepared Purchase Request and Commitments (PRACs) and labor charge codes.
- Worked closely with all offices at fiscal yearend to review all customer orders for expiring and carryover funding. Initiated Customer Order amendments returning expiring unused funds.
- Managed military and civil funded projects in Project Management Business Process Portal (P2), making necessary adjustments to activities as needed or requested.
- Coordinated with project managers, fund holders, and program personnel to prepare data to load, create new projects, and maintain current resourcing and scheduling in P2
- Executed month-end fund distributions and accruals in CEFMS to properly record expenditures and execution of monthly recurring expenses to maintain facility accounts.
- Processed the ACE-IT and Enterprise Geographic Information System (EGIS) monthly expenses along with the Fed-Ex, mail services, and military salaries.
- Prepared written standards of procedures (SOPs) for monthly distributions and accruals.
- Extracted reports from a variety of systems such as CEFMS, Data Mart, and Project Reports, utilizing data to compile and prepare monthly business execution reporting.
- Compiled monthly data to create the Cost of doing Business Review and Analysis (COBRA) briefing for the district commander, office Chiefs and senior leadership.
- Formulated the resource management office budget and assisted with budget preparation for various offices within the District.
- Reviewed and analyzed completed individual office budgets to assure all constraints and guidance measures have been met.
- After creating and entering current budgets, adjust budgeted resources to time phasing constraints, in order to more accurately expense the annual budget monthly allowing for peaks and valleys in expenses.
- Utilized consolidated reports to create the Program Budget Advisory Committee (PBAC) briefing to present to the district Commander, office chiefs and senior leadership for review and approval.
- Assisted the Regional Budget officer with the FY2012 Regional Program Budget Advisory Committee (RPAC) briefing for the general’s review and approval
- I prepared a budget template and collaborated with region budget analysts for input. Once all this information was gathered I consolidated all the data and placed into a regional PowerPoint briefing, Regional Program Budget Advisory Committee (RPBAC)
- In May 2012, I participated and earned certification in the EngLink Strike Team training
- I assisted with local EngLink training in July 2012
- I also worked in the Recovery Field Office (RFO), to provide Resource Management (RM) support, specifically issuing and tracking of MIPRs.
- In November, 2012 I assisted the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in preparing employees for deployment to Hurricane Sandy.
- I led the team of potential deployees assisting with all the requirements each employee had to meet to be green, such as medical screenings, defensive driving certifications, shots, safety equipment, as well as safety and disaster timekeeping briefings.
Account Technician
US Army Corps of Engineers
06.2008 - 06.2009
- Served as the payroll liaison for the District civilian employees and represented the intermediary between the employees and Defense Finance & Accounting Services (DFAS).
- Maintained and updated master employee records, input federal and state tax authorizations, allotments, and charity contributions.
- Reviewed, verified , and processed payroll, time and attendance data impacting pay, electronic funds transfer information, payroll deposits, leave, taxes, and other deductions to the mater payroll file.
- Performed time audits and presented all findings with management and employee(s).
- Served as timekeeper for the Resource Management office. Performed labor cost transfers when necessary.
- Managed the payroll pay cap waivers assuring emergency management personnel and related employees full payroll while deployed.
- Verified timekeeping records and handled any discrepancies with employees.
- Maintained employee privacy and protected payroll operations by keeping all information confidential.
- Responded to employee questions and requests for information in timely and knowledgeable fashion.
- Reviewed personnel records to determine names, rates of pay, occupations of new hires and changes in wage rates.
- Updated employee files with new details such as changes in address or other payroll deductions.
- Responded to employee inquiries to clarify payroll issues regarding wages, deductions and taxes.
- Processed garnishments from creditors or government agencies to meet legal requirements of deducting money from employees' paychecks to pay off debts.
Account Technician Supervisor
Defense Finance And Accounting Services
04.2004 - 05.2008
- I coordinated and supervised the payment production of 21 accounting technicians and subordinate teams within the Vendor Pay business line
- Formulated plans for improving procedures, training and processes.
- My work involved technical advice, assistance, and excellent coordination with the project managers, including contracting officers and resource managers, higher headquarters, other DFAS locations and customers (26 Army installations and their representatives)
- Received, reviewed and prioritized the miscellaneous pay division workload
- I continually monitored and realigned workload assignments considering difficulty and complexity of work and employees capabilities
- Provided interpretive Customer Service and guidance to customers, vendors, and other staff members in order to resolve issues
- Maintained control of action correspondence, performed follow-up action to ensure timely reply and resolution
- I researched problems surfaced by customers and vendors. I resolved these issues by thoroughly analyzing the problem, gathering technical data to make sound and compliant solutions.
- Responded promptly to all routine and non-routine inquiries from customers, vendors, management and accounting staff.
- As a Vendor Pay Supervisor, I also organized the workforce through a transition from paper document to Electronic Document Management System (EDM); while having the ability to continue to support the overall mission requirements
- Contributed as key a player on a conversion team during an upgrade transition of an accounts payable database (CAPS-Windows)
- This workforce implementation plan included activities such as the development on how to train all personnel and provide customer service responses in a timely manner.
- Additionally, I created daily reports for review of payment and voucher validation, rejected payments and any corrective actions. Through analyzing this data I was able to successfully assist the organization with accurate accounting information in accordance with laws and regulations.
- I created customized reports from a variety of automated financial systems used by management in their decision making processes.
- Through my analysis I would recognize areas of unliquidated obligations taking place, pre-validation problems, and discrepancies between accounting and vendor pay to ensure conformance with policy.
- Through review of financial reports and record data I was able to recognize routine area where trends and weaknesses were occurring.
- To improve and ensure compliance, I constructed standard operation procedures to resolve procedural problems and improve efficiencies of related support functions.
- Cross trained subordinates in all facets of workload to maintain performance efficiency.
- Disseminated updated information to all Directorate personnel concerning policies, plans, procedures, methods, and actions. I accomplished this through weekly team meetings, discussing changes in workload, procedure and policy, and allowing opportunities for subordinates to offer suggestions and/or process improvements.
- Analyzed a variety of management status reports and audits to identify and resolve all data integrity problems.
- Recognized and categorized problem areas and improved payment processing.
- Reviewed, evaluated, and recommended improvements for vendor pay and accounting procedures, reports, and operations.
- Participated in management decision-making sessions and provided status or projects to Command
- Drafted and prepared written mid-year evaluations and annual appraisals for all team personnel
- Created and maintained spreadsheets tracking individual production statistics to analyze individuals progress. Demonstrated individual and team production levels via graphs and charts.
- Conducted counseling sessions with each technician to review annual ratings.
- Maintained a variety of administrative records on subjects such as employee time and attendance, leave usage, overtime usage, personnel actions, training requirements, and overall work measurement.
- I successfully trained and utilized the training in a management role with Worker’s Compensation claims and submissions.
- Due to the BRAC in 2008, DFAS Rock Islands workload was transferred to gaining sites
- I spearheaded the vendor pay workload transition to Columbus, Ohio.
- I compiled and developed an extensive power point presentation, briefing the gaining site on types of contracts and payments processed, problem contracts, and payment procedures
- I spent 2 weeks on site training the vendor pay work force in Army accounting. Prior to BRAC, DFAS Columbus had never utilized and paid via the Army accounting
- I was commended by the Rock Island and Columbus Directors for doing an outstanding job.
Head Cashier
Lowes Home Improvment
10.2009 - Current
- As a part-time Head Cashier I ensure front end coverage is maintained to support customer needs.
- Manage staffing levels to provide optimal support for cash register operations.
- Review employee schedules to fulfill gaps based on expected customer demands.
- Train, mentor, and develop new cashiers with positive and encouraging techniques to maximize performance and team contributions.
- Help customers complete purchases, locate items, and join reward programs.
- Perform store opening, closing, and shift-change actions and kept accurate shift-change logs.
- Process both cash and card purchases and returns.
- Work extra shifts during busy periods and cover for call-in employees to maintain service levels.
- Resolve escalated customer disputes with special actions such as discounts.
- Assist customers by answering questions and fulfilling requests.
- Lead cashiers and associates in providing thoughtful customer service.
- Alleviate customer service needs with policy-appropriate solutions.
- Evaluate presentation of checkout lanes and keep team members on top of cleaning tasks when necessary.
- Facilitate and log store opening, closing, and shift changes.
- Learn duties for various positions and provided backup at key times.
Education
Blackhawk College
Moline, ILLean Six Sigma Certification -
Continuous Process Improvement
National ENGLink Strike Team
Mobile, ALSkills
- Mission Support
- Activities Management
- Disaster Response
- Emergency Preparedness
- Effective Planning
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Team Leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Training and Development
Timeline
Emergency Management Specialist
US Army Corps Of Engineers
01.2021 - Current
Knowledge Management Specialist
US Army Corps of Engineers
07.2019 - 11.2019
Financial Systems Analyst
US Army Corps of Engineers
05.2018 - 07.2019
Process Improvement Specialist
US Army Corps of Engineers
09.2016 - 01.2017
Staff Accountant – Asset Manager
US Army Corps of Engineers
08.2013 - 01.2021
Head Cashier
Lowes Home Improvment
10.2009 - Current
Budget Analyst
US Army Corps Of Engineers
06.2009 - 06.2011
Account Technician
US Army Corps of Engineers
06.2008 - 06.2009
Account Technician Supervisor
Defense Finance And Accounting Services
04.2004 - 05.2008
Blackhawk College
Lean Six Sigma Certification -
Continuous Process Improvement
National ENGLink Strike Team
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