Thali Guerrero
Houston
Summary
Experienced Business Administrator with a strong background in financial affairs, budgeting, payroll, and personnel management. Successfully ensures compliance with university and federal guidelines while overseeing daily office operations and managing financial processes. Proven ability to lead special projects, improve processes, and provide staff training. Skilled in managing and reconciling budgets, coordinating contracts, and offering guidance on fiscal matters to internal and external stakeholders. Committed to continuous improvement and operational efficiency.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Business Administrator, Financial Affairs
University of Houston-Downtown
09.2024 - Current
- Provides financial accountability by performing and monitoring monthly verifications of cost centers to ensure compliance with federal, state and university guidelines to include research administration
- Administers personnel and payroll activities to include reconciliation of payroll reports and processes all HR related documents to include posting of positions, payroll reallocation, and process electronic position requests (ePRs) and personnel action requests (ePARs)
- Reviews and assists with travel, vouchers, expense reports and reconciles university business credit card statements to include procurement
- Assists with short and long-term budgetary planning for of the units and oversees budgets for operational, general appropriations, scholarships, endowments, and other funds; participates in planning the annual budget and monitoring it throughout the year to ensure that expenditures are within authorized budgets
- Administers the administration of departmental contracts, scholarship memos, and various request as part of the Office of the Provost financial affairs operations
- Provides expertise to division personnel related to university policies and procedures, training staff as necessary
- Serves as the liaison for financial and administrative matters to internal units and external vendors
- Leads special projects under the direction and guidance of Financial Affairs leadership to include process improvements
- Reviews and approves electronic documents in the absence of the Director of College Administration
Assistant Business Administrator, Financial Affairs
University of Houston-Downtown
06.2023 - 09.2024
- Provides financial accountability by performing and monitoring monthly verifications of cost centers to ensure compliance with federal, state, and university guidelines
- Administers personnel and payroll activities, including reconciliation of payroll reports and processes all HR-related documents
- Reviews and assists with travel, vouchers, and expense reports and reconciles university business credit card statements
- Assists with budget planning, projections, and analysis; supervises annual budget preparations for the units
- Interprets university policies and procedures and trains staff as appropriate
- Serves as university liaison with vendors and contractors
- Supervises support staff and student workers as assigned to the Office of the Provost units
- Develops and maintains the informational database for the division
- Establishes the work assignments of staff and provides guidance and training as needed
- Serves on a variety of committees within the division as well as university-wide
- Leads special projects under the direction and guidance of Financial Affairs leadership
- Assists with process improvement projects
Department Business Administrator I
University of Houston-Downtown
01.2023 - 05.2023
- Evaluates, authorizes and monitors budgetary, payroll and personnel expenditures on departmental accounts
- Administers daily office operations, including the coordination and oversight of staff members
- Monitors all financial accounts for the department, including reconciliation of financial and payroll reports, evaluation of discrepancies and tracking of expenditures
- Manages and provides oversight of the maintenance of departmental database for all expenditures, personnel and payroll records
- Monitors procedures for the compilation of reports in compliance with applicable university policies and procedures
Sponsored Research Administrator
University of Houston-Downtown
02.2021 - 01.2023
- Assists with all activities, including, but not limited to, providing support to principal investigators, assisting with grant budget preparation, performing cost center reconciliations, setting up cost centers, and processing conflict of interest documentation
- Manages departmental databases and emails
- Maintains the CPHS and ORSP websites
- Coordinates and assigns IRB applications to CPHS members; ensures reviews are returned in a timely fashion
- Establishes and maintains department records, reports, presentations and proposals policies, procedures etc
- Processes travel requests, journal vouchers, contracts, and financial transactions for the department
- Processes EPRF's, EPAR's, and additional compensation
- Supervises student workers and allocates resources to projects and individuals in the department
- Provides guidance to department and college business administrators and faculty members on fiscal and administrative grant-related matters
- Assist in monthly department cost center verifications
Teacher
Oak Forest Academy
09.2020 - 02.2021
- Developed strong relationships with parents and caregivers, providing regular updates on their child''s progress and addressing any concerns proactively.
- Developed weekly lesson plans and activities to engage children and promote learning.
- Maintained organized, fun and interactive classroom to help children feel safe.
- Designed creative lesson plans that incorporated hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences to foster curiosity and engagement in young learners.
- Ensured a safe and nurturing environment for all students, adhering to health and safety guidelines in the classroom.
Temporary Staff
University of Houston Downtown
02.2016 - 05.2020
- Answered multi-line phone system, routing calls, delivering messages to staff and greeting visitors.
- Maintained confidentiality of sensitive information by adhering to strict privacy policies and implementing secure filing systems.
- Improved document organization with thorough file maintenance, archiving outdated records as necessary for efficient retrieval when needed.
- 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.
Education
MBA - General Business
Lamar University
08-2025
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN
12.2019
Skills
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Financial reporting
- Business plan development
- Schedule management
- Executive support
Certification
The 4 Essential Roles of Leadership Knowledge Certificate, 12/01/24, Present
Timeline
Business Administrator, Financial Affairs
University of Houston-Downtown
09.2024 - Current
Assistant Business Administrator, Financial Affairs
University of Houston-Downtown
06.2023 - 09.2024
Department Business Administrator I
University of Houston-Downtown
01.2023 - 05.2023
Sponsored Research Administrator
University of Houston-Downtown
02.2021 - 01.2023
Teacher
Oak Forest Academy
09.2020 - 02.2021
Temporary Staff
University of Houston Downtown
02.2016 - 05.2020
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN
The 4 Essential Roles of Leadership Knowledge Certificate, 12/01/24, Present
MBA - General Business
Lamar University
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