Tercola M. Durham
Waldorf,USA
Summary
Highly accomplished professional with extensive experience in nonprofit, for-profit, and governmental sectors. Skilled in operations, strategic management, contract management, account management, P&L management, balance sheet analysis, strategic positioning, negotiations, and business planning. Successfully contributed to both start-up and growth organizations. Results-oriented and decisive leader with a proven track record in strategic thinking and problem-solving. Possessing well-developed communication skills and expertise in contractual negotiations, personnel management, and project management. Equipped with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to drive organizational efficiency. Known for strategic planning, data analysis, and process improvement. Proven ability to foster team collaboration and adaptability to changing needs, ensuring reliable and impactful outcomes. Highly skilled in stakeholder engagement, project management, and performance metrics.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Management Analyst – Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR-Level III)
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
11.2008 - Current
- Company Overview: Federal Government, Administration for Children and Families – Office of Head Start (OHS)
- Provide technical advice to colleagues regarding contractual acquisition and contract modification
- Responsive to internal/external customers (CORS) and provide responsive service that support contract requirements
- Actively participate with colleagues to accomplish Division of Contracts (DOC) operational priorities, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) mission and workforce goals
- Provide advice and guidance to CORs in Office of Head Start (OHS) Regions III, V and VI on contracts by established deadlines
- Communicate accurate and complete information to OHS staff (i.e., COR Monthly Reports and Optional Tasks for Logistics and Conference Support contracts)
- Provide customer service for the Customer Service Improvement Project and Training and Technical Assistance contract for the OHS Central Office
- Process contract invoices; prepare acquisition plans, perform market research for contracting, perform cross-functional tasks to support work across OHS divisions, for example, reviewing and commenting on documents and materials related to contracts
- Manage the coordination and response to TTA Smart Hub recompete
- Prepare and review Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) spreadsheets for several projects (TTA, CSIPs, RPFI, Panel Review Requirement)
- Prepare full acquisition package for OHS Logistics and Conference Support Task Order which included AP, Acquisition Strategy, QASP, FITARA, Certification Memo, Severability to name a few
- Independently apply technical and procedural expertise regarding contract administration
- Independently establish tasks and statement of work for projects; managing of contracts, provide oversight, and technical direction of projects, planning and participating in contract meetings and continuously monitoring and evaluating projects to ensure that acquisitions are compliant with applicable laws and regulations
- Collaborated with program, contractors, and grants staff in determining the fiscal viability of grantees
- Reviewed Audit Determination Letters to ensure that audit findings are consistent with Head Start regulations
- Worked closely with the Office of Legislative Affairs and Budget in providing congressional responses to various congressional offices
- Provided technical advice to colleagues regarding determining potential disallowances
- Perform cross-functional tasks to support work across OHS divisions, for example, reviewing and commenting on documents and materials related to contracts, communication with OHS twelve (12) Regional Offices on program and fiscal issues, and participated as the Lead in the Monitoring Disallowance Review Board (MDRB)
- Collaborated with program, contractors, and grants staff in determining the fiscal viability of grantees
- Served as a subject area manager (SAM) and priority area manager (PAM) for competitive grant review processes through the Designation Renewal System (DRS)
- Worked with other divisions within the Office of Head Start and other departments within the Administration for Children and Families to improve Head Start effectiveness
- Served as both a panel member and chairperson for contracts and assertively contribute to critical discussions involving the capability criteria for the Sources Sought notice submitted for contracts
- Reviewed monitoring data to determine consistency of fiscal findings and assist in the creation of review plans for special review types to include the framework as presented in graphs, guides, reports and Uniform Guidance
- Participated as a federal lead (subject matter expert) and shadow on fiscal monitoring reviews providing fiscal knowledge to contracting staff
- Lead follow-up reviews for OHS grantees by applying fiscal knowledge to determine whether corrections were made or if additional documentation is required
- Lead discussions on determining potential disallowances with both OHS and contracting staff
- Prepared materials for fiscal training for over 100 employees as well as facilitate the trainings
- Participated as a presenter/subject matter expert on fiscal matters for webcasts, seminars, and trainings
- Assisted in revising the Head Start Act, the Head Start Performance Standards and the Uniform Guidance for the Office of Head Start
- Provided written suggestions and high-level analysis to assure successful improvements to the database of information found within the Head Start Enterprise System
- Investigated OHS fiscal complaints and provide a recommendation to Planning, Operations and Policy Division Director
- Provided written and verbal report of feedback that will improve onsite review analysis
- Represent the Office of Head Start at briefings and other meetings to provide, obtain and/or exchange information
- Federal Government, Administration for Children and Families – Office of Head Start (OHS)
- Certified as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) Level III
- Decreased potential disallowances log for the Monitoring Disallowance Review Board and became the lead in monetizing potential disallowances (approx
- $7.4m) for the MDRB
- Established project goals and objectives for participating on the Hurricane Recovery Team for the first part of 2018
- Managed audits to ensure the Office of Head Start (OHS) met their suggested goal according to Division of Fiscal Integrity (DFI)
Accountant/Negotiator
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
08.2006 - 11.2008
- Company Overview: Federal Government, Program Support Center - Division of Cost Allocation
- Responsible for reviewing, approval and negotiating indirect cost rates, facilities and administrative cost rates, research patient care rates, and fringe benefit costs for non-profit organizations, colleges and universities
- Assist other negotiators in meeting their requirements with regards to their reviews with colleges and universities
- Review financial statements and proposals to ensure that they are following OMB guidelines (i.e., OMB Circulars A-21, A122 and A133)
- Identify and resolve issues relating to the allowability, allocability, reasonableness and/or treatment of costs
- Perform on-site operational reviews to support the government position
- Identify problems in management or grant administration
- Represent the Federal government in meetings and conferences to present the official HHS/Federal position and points of view, persuading grantee officials to understand the Federal position
- Federal Government, Program Support Center - Division of Cost Allocation
Director of Accounting
SIMMONS MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC.
09.2004 - 07.2006
- Company Overview: Property Management
- Full management responsibility for a four-person accounting department, financial statement preparation for fifty (50) community associations which included bank reconciliations for 200 bank accounts using Jenark Accounting software, general ledger analysis, prepare cost accounting data for special projects, record journal entries, oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable, provide assistance to outside auditors, prepare tax returns, prepare budgets, provide monthly recommendations regarding investments for the associations, meet with board members of associations to discuss financial matters, prepare reserve reconciliations, insurance reconciliations, respond to residents of the associations regarding account matters, provide technical support regarding accounting systems, planning and generating reports and provide financial assistance to property managers
- Provide recommendations on employee/labor relations matters; develop policies and procedures for human resource matters; update management on changes in policies, guidelines and laws regarding employee/labor relations and provide support on employer-employee relationships
- Property Management
- Established internal processes that produced a more sufficient system of processing payables and receivables in a more timely manner
- Created a more responsive accounting department by developing cross-training sessions on a quarterly basis
- Established better communications with board members by including them in all transactions regarding association finances
Business Manager and Accountant
COMMUNITY EQUITY EMPOWERMENT PARTNERSHIP
09.2002 - 09.2004
- Company Overview: NonProfit
- Serve as Business Manager and Accountant of community-based non-profit organization with an operating budget of $1.2M
- Full responsibility for overall daily management of financial accounting processes, cost analysis reports pertaining to projects, record journal entries, preparation for audit while providing assistance to auditors, prepare bank reconciliations, accounts payable (expenditures and disbursements) and accounts receivables, perform monthly financial evaluation of company budgets for ten departments, profit and loss reports and balance sheets using Quick books accounting software
- Provide monthly management reports to management team on costs related to program offerings
- Provide quarterly reports on any changes in federal and district laws as related to nonprofit organizations
- Provide recommendations on human resource matters, oversee and maintain payroll reports and time sheets, oversee arrangements and budgets for fundraising events, assist with applying for grants and private funds, assist President in monitoring staff's adherence to policies and procedures, and maintain vendor relations
- Provide strategic management decisions on contracts and direct all operations for installation of accounting systems
- Provide assistance to Department of Labor auditors
- NonProfit
- Created a more responsive organization resulting in increased funding from $565K to $1.2 million in one year
- Substantially improved productivity while cutting operational costs by 15%
- Established strategic alliances with other community-based organizations
- Returned company to high profitability through strategic restructuring
Education
Doctor of Management - Business Administration
University of Phoenix
Arlington, VA12.2026
Masters of Science - Management, Business Management/Human Resources Track
University of Maryland University College
College Park, MD05.2004
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
University of Maryland University College
College Park, MD05.2000
Skills
- Contract Administration
- Financial Analysis
- Nonprofit Financial Management
- Risk Assessment Expertise
- Training in Grant Review Process
- Audit Compliance Resolution
- Typing: 80 words per minute
- Experienced in Microsoft Word
- Experienced with Microsoft Teams Collaboration
- Invoice Processing Platform (IPP)
- Advanced Excel Skills
- Power Point
- MRI Accounting System
- Microsoft Access
- Solomon IV
- GEAC Accounting System
- People Soft Database
- Intuit Quick Books Pro
- Microsoft Outlook
- Head Start Enterprise System (HSES)
- Unified Financial Management System (UFMS)
- Audit Resolution Tracking and Management System (ARTMS)
- OHS Monitoring System
- Grant Solutions
- Business Plan Pro Software
- Peachtree
- Jenark Residential Accounting Software
- CAMIS
- IRIS
- Business analysis
Citizenship
U.S Citizen
Timeline
Management Analyst – Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR-Level III)
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
11.2008 - Current
Accountant/Negotiator
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
08.2006 - 11.2008
Director of Accounting
SIMMONS MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC.
09.2004 - 07.2006
Business Manager and Accountant
COMMUNITY EQUITY EMPOWERMENT PARTNERSHIP
09.2002 - 09.2004
Masters of Science - Management, Business Management/Human Resources Track
University of Maryland University College
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
University of Maryland University College
Doctor of Management - Business Administration
University of Phoenix
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