Tawanda Buford
Meridianville,AL
Summary
Veteran Program Analyst brings over 18 years of dedicated experience in the Department of Defense, excelling in program evaluations, trend analysis, and enhancing operational efficiencies. Proven track record in leading teams towards achieving clean audits, improving financial operations, and ensuring compliance with stringent regulations. Adept at integrating technical documentation and systems administration to streamline processes, this professional is poised to tackle new challenges and contribute to organizational success.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Program Analyst
Missile Defense Agency
06.2018 - Current
- Serve as Team Lead to the Defense Agencies Initiatives (DAI) Help Desk Operations staff, providing strategic guidance and problem-solving expertise for DAI systemic issues
- Spearhead the development and approval of DAI Help Desk process control documentation, enhancing MDA financial operations and audit readiness initiatives
- Support internal DAI audit examinations, providing key supporting documentation and contributing to a clean audit with zero findings
- Conduct independent user testing for Governance, Risk, and Compliance processes, strengthening the audit position for MDA and DAI Agencies
- Streamline User Access Management audit processes, achieving a clean audit for MDA through rigorous control verifications
- Pioneer DAI's internal access control for 2800 users, bolstering MDA's technical and business process integrity
- Revolutionize DAI Help Desk by implementing systemic issue resolution strategies, elevating MDA's operational standards
- Refine DAI User Access Management and Oracle Time and Labor processes, ensuring 100% compliance with internal standards
- Manage weekly Systems Working Group; Compile critical system-related topics as a forum to address issues for seamless execution for effective financial management
- Conduct comprehensive User Acceptance Testing, Systems Integration Testing, and Regression Test for DAI User Access Management and Oracle Time and Labor functionality to ensure optimal functionality during major releases
- Liaise with Human Resources Payroll Office to troubleshoot systemic timecard issues; Generate ad-hoc reports for prompt processing of MDA Civilian Timecards, enhancing efficiency
- Innovatively utilize Oracle OTL to streamline civilian pay processes, resulting in improved productivity.
Program Analyst
Missile Defense Agency
06.2017 - 06.2018
- Managed THAAD's accounting log, ensuring accurate financial execution data for optimal fund utilization
- Performed in-depth analysis of monthly budget execution reports for accurate financial reporting
- Developed comprehensive briefings for Budget Control Board forums aiding management in making sound financial decisions
- Utilized DAI application for efficient tracking and creation of funding documents
- Reconciled contract action items and financial databases, ensuring adherence to fiscal statutory guidelines
- Streamlined financial reporting processes, enhancing data accuracy and transparency
- Utilized Microsoft Access tool budget tracking and reports increasing operational efficiency
- Ensured financial compliance through meticulous database reconciliation and audit support
- Led financial strategy planning, aligning budgetary goals with organizational vision
Program Analyst
Missile Defense Agency
05.2013 - 06.2017
- Delivered training on Procure to Pay (P2P) system functionality enhancing workforce proficiency; identified gaps in training and implemented solutions
- Developed and executed data staging for P2P processes for requisitions and obligations training, facilitating practical learning
- Interpreted training survey metrics, pinpointing areas for curriculum enhancement
- Offered continuous customer support, resolving queries related to financial data and business policies
- Coordinated logistics for training sessions, ensuring effective and pleasant learning environment
- Streamlined complex business procedures, recommending improvements for optimal efficiency
- Optimized training strategies based on survey metrics, enhancing curriculum relevance and effectiveness
- Delivered personalized support in financial data analysis, improving user comprehension and system utility
- Revolutionized training logistics, integrating virtual solutions to expand accessibility and engagement
- Refined business procedures by analyzing operational trends, recommending actionable improvements.
Agency Program Coordinator
Alabama National Guard
06.2006 - 05.2013
- Managed the government travel card program in compliance with Department of Defense, Department of the Army, and National Guard Bureau travel policy regulations
- Authored internal policies for the travel card program, ensuring operational efficiency and regulatory compliance within the state
- Conducted comprehensive training sessions for soldiers and civilians, promoting appropriate use of government travel cards
- Performed meticulous audits of travel records and worked with travel charge card vendor on updates/inquiries relative to usage enhancing financial accuracy
- Generated detailed reports on delinquency and abuse trends, providing actionable insights to senior leaders for decision-making
- Crafted policy and adverse action letters, facilitating commanders in addressing charge card abuse, and fostering a culture of accountability.
Human Resources Assistant
Alabama National Guard
09.2004 - 06.2006
- Streamlined HR actions by overseeing comprehensive processing into automated personnel systems
- Ensured adherence to federal regulations and National Guard Bureau policies, enhancing operational compliance
- Facilitated new hire orientations, validating paperwork completion and updating HR database
- Boosted employee satisfaction by innovatively formulating and executing new HR policies
- Processed employee benefits, resolved issues promptly and ensured enrollment was accurate
- Maintained up-to-date and confidential personnel files, demonstrating exceptional organizational skills
- Contributed to research projects on HR best practices, fostering continuous improvement.
Education
Master of Science - Human Resource Management
Troy University
Ft. Benning, GABachelor of Science - Business Administration
Troy University
Phenix City, ALAssociate of Science - General Business
Chattahoochee Valley Community College
Phenix City, ALSkills
- Compliance and Risk Management
- Systems Administration
- Internal Access Controls
- Financial Management
- Team Leadership
- Program Operations/Analysis
- Auditing
- Systems Integration Testing/User Acceptance Testing
- Data Analysis
- Budget Analysis
- Operations Management
- Technical Documentation
- Automation Strategies
- System Enhancements
- Financial Analysis
- Operational Integrity
- Data Optimization
- Process Efficiency
- Stakeholder Engagement
Certification
DoD Financial Management Certification, Level 2
Timeline
Program Analyst
Missile Defense Agency
06.2018 - Current
Program Analyst
Missile Defense Agency
06.2017 - 06.2018
Program Analyst
Missile Defense Agency
05.2013 - 06.2017
Agency Program Coordinator
Alabama National Guard
06.2006 - 05.2013
Human Resources Assistant
Alabama National Guard
09.2004 - 06.2006
Master of Science - Human Resource Management
Troy University
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Troy University
Associate of Science - General Business
Chattahoochee Valley Community College
DoD Financial Management Certification, Level 2
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