Tonya Bell
New Orleans,LA
Summary
Financial Management Specialist with expertise in data analysis and compliance at Dept of Veterans Affairs. Enhanced fiscal controls and trained teams to resolve complex accounting issues. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite for process streamlining and operational efficiency improvement.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Financial Management Specialist (CXO) (GS-09)
Dept of Veterans Affairs
Remote
06.2024 - 09.2025
- Serves as enterprise-wide customer support of a variety of inquiries including but not limited to certified and matched payment processing, customer inquiries, vendor inquiry system, financial management system transactions, Tier 1 travel inquiries, quality control for customer interactions, and related functions.
- Monitors Automated Call Distribution for availability to reduce customer wait times and minimize abandoned calls.
- Provides a variety of support of fiscal nature, such as liaison with vendors and the appropriate Veterans Health Administration (VHA) station regarding the status of payments, initiating internal fiscal controls for processing or receiving and disbursing invoices/documents, or entering and maintaining financial data into an automated system.
- Evaluates complex problems and formulates solutions for the full range of customer support for vendor payments and other customer processes.
- Provides training to internal customers, external customers, and new team members for multiple systems and topics. Trains, instructs, and reviews the quality of work for the team.
- Assists in studies to determine the requirement for updated financial information.
- Compiles financial data, analyzes the data, and provides summarized financial advice on matters to program officials, supervisors, managers, and resource administrators.
Accounting Technician (GS-07)
South Arizona VA Health Care System
Tucson, AZ
06.2023 - 06.2024
- Serves as an expert source of information and advice for employees, supervisors, personnel office staff, and organizational liaisons on all operational areas of accounting tech.
- Perform comprehensive audits, analyses, evaluations, and related procedures for the purchase card system, as required.
- Review records to determine the accuracy of costing, timeliness of reconciliations, and appropriateness of purchases. Evaluate the internal controls to detect weaknesses in control procedures and recommend actions.
- Ensure proper accounting procedures are enforced to accurately financial transactions.
- Assist fiscal staff with researching and processing expenditure transfers, certifying travel orders, and performing research within VISTA or FMS.
- As a trainer I provide user financial information (Running Balance training, Budget Object Class, Cost Center, etc.) training to any employee within the medical center.
- Provide internal Fiscal training by creating Standard Operating Procedures on current and new tasks and providing direct training and mentoring to employees within the accounting team.
- Participated in numerous interview panels, in addition to rating and ranking potential interviewees and resume package submissions.
- Supported the supervisor by providing expert technical advice on resolving complex accounting transactions, made recommendations to balance workload across a team of 3 Accountants and 3 Accounting technicians, and performed additional accounting duties as needed.
- Routinely utilize a myriad of Veteran Affairs financial and support systems including Invoice Payment Processing System (IPPS), Intergovernmental Payments and Collections (IPAC), Office of Financial Management (OFM), Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VISTA), VHA Support Service Center (VSSC), Financial Management System (FMS), Proforma, and the Financial Reports System (FRS).
- Responsible for reviewing and approving regulations for services, supplies, equipment, and adjustments for all appropriations for the medical center.
- Responsible for obligating and reviewing documents that are received, processed, and transmitted.
- Review and approve all receiving reports for transmission.
- Monitors obligations, bill of collections (accounts receivable) audits.
- Research all daily rejects for miscellaneous orders, service orders, contracts, orders, receiving reports and amendments.
- Make corrections to resubmit transactions. Audit payment documents received from vendors, employees, beneficiary travel, patient funds, and the agent cashier for correctness.
- Forward invoices to services that require certification.
- Routinely utilize MS Excel to extract and manipulate data to prepare reports.
- Answered and greeted all customers via email and phone calls.
- Processed travel and assisted travelers with the Concur Travel System.
- Maintain clear communication between the Service Lines and the Fiscal Department.
Accounting Technician (GS-08)
FLARNG
St Augustine, FL
11.2022 - 06.2023
- Perform a broad in-depth analysis of multiple management systems and apply this information to complicated precedent-type cases.
- Resolve especially difficult and sensitive, out-of-balance conditions associated with processing actions within accounting systems.
- Reconcile accounting and budget data with Program Managers and the USPFO Deputy Financial Manager/Budget Officer.
- Balance all Program Managers' accounts with the federal database of record.
- Perform fact-finding, research, and investigations to identify, analyze, and recommend solutions regarding fiscal accounting activity; analyze particular facts of fiscal transaction problems/issues.
- Verify, evaluate, and interpret considerable amounts of data; obtains additional information to reconcile discrepancies or inconsistencies; and apply pertinent fiscal laws, regulations, precedent decisions, and procedures to determine appropriate action for resolution.
- Apply many different and unrelated processes and methods associated with fiscal transactions to analyze complex and unusual accounting transactions.
Lead Accounting Technician (GS-08)
S. E. Louisiana Veterans Hospital Center
New Orleans, LA
12.2017 - 11.2022
- Serves as an expert source of information and advice for employees, supervisors, personnel office staff, and organizational liaisons on all operational areas of accounting tech.
- Perform comprehensive audits, analyses, evaluations, and related procedures for the purchase card system, as required.
- Review records to determine the accuracy of costing, timeliness of reconciliations, and appropriateness of purchases. Evaluate the internal controls to detect weaknesses in control procedures and recommend actions.
- Ensure proper accounting procedures are enforced to accurately financial transactions.
- Assist fiscal staff with researching and processing expenditure transfers, certifying travel orders, and performing research within VISTA or FMS.
- As a trainer I provide user financial information (Running Balance training, Budget Object Class, Cost Center, etc.) training to any employee within the medical center.
- Provide internal Fiscal training by creating Standard Operating Procedures on current and new tasks and providing direct training and mentoring to employees within the accounting team.
- Participated in numerous interview panels, in addition to rating and ranking potential interviewees and resume package submissions.
- Supported the supervisor by providing expert technical advice on resolving complex accounting transactions, made recommendations to balance workload across a team of 3 Accountants and 3 Accounting technicians, and performed additional accounting duties as needed.
- Routinely utilize a myriad of Veteran Affairs financial and support systems including Invoice Payment Processing System (IPPS), Intergovernmental Payments and Collections (IPAC), Office of Financial Management (OFM), Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VISTA), VHA Support Service Center (VSSC), Financial Management System (FMS), Proforma, and the Financial Reports System (FRS).
- Responsible for reviewing and approving regulations for services, supplies, equipment, and adjustments for all appropriations for the medical center.
- Responsible for obligating and reviewing documents that are received, processed, and transmitted.
- Review and approve all receiving reports for transmission.
- Monitors obligations, bill of collections (accounts receivable) audits.
- Research all daily rejects for miscellaneous orders, service orders, contracts, orders, receiving reports and amendments.
- Make corrections to resubmit transactions. Audit payment documents received from vendors, employees, beneficiary travel, patient funds, and the agent cashier for correctness.
- Forward invoices to services that require certification.
- Routinely utilize MS Excel to extract and manipulate data to prepare reports.
- Maintain clear communication between the Service Lines and the Fiscal Department.
- Answers and greets all customers through email and telephone calls.
- Process travel and assist travelers with the Concur Travel System.
Human Resource Technician: (GS-07)
DOD – Military Funeral Honors
Atlanta, GA
03.2015 - 05.2017
- Assisted in developing the annual budget within the programmed guidance from the National Guard Bureau (NGB).
- Created updates and submitted monthly obligation plans through the state.
- Received, inputted, monitored, and recorded all expenditures; also, responsible for reconciliation and auditing of all accounts.
- Resolved problems, issues, and conflicts within MFH budgets.
- I conducted and observed the written test for the Soldiers in the Military Funeral Honors Training Program.
- Scheduled meetings, maintained files, prepared travel vouchers, and reserved conference rooms. Assisted with graphics preparation and presentations. Completed reports and other general office duties as assigned.
- Transmitted facsimiles, answered phones, replenished supplies, and assisted with various special projects, as needed.
- Responsible for procurement requests, records management, training requests, and personnel services.
- Also, responsible for organizing and planning activities related to assigned duties.
- Responsible for reviewing personnel documents for proper applications of pay regulations; also, responsible for data entry of actions such as appointments, promotions, and pay adjustments.
- Reviewed documents of authorization; adjusted leave balances; processed collections of debts; provided training to timekeepers.
- Conducted periodic audits to assure conformity to regulations; responded to all written and verbal inquiries; prepared all payroll reports and maintained payroll records.
- Received and accounted for all Government Property issued from the National Guard Bureau and purchases by the State.
- Maintained property book for all Military Funeral Honors Program material within the State and report any deficiencies to the chain of command.
- Managed all transportation assets and ensured Soldier safety policies were enforced; established follow-up procedures to ensure that all remedial actions were implemented promptly.
- Worked as a liaison with the funeral homes and family members.
Supply Technician / Purchase Card Holder
S. E. Louisiana Veterans Hospital Center
New Orleans, LA
02.2017 - 09.2016
- Serving as a fund control point official; with the procurement authority limited to the purchasing of medical supplies, up to $500,000 per fiscal year. Monitors processing of payroll on biweekly basis.
- Responsible for reconciling the payment and ensuring all purchase card reconciliations are completed.
- Monitors stock levels, revises replenishment frequencies, rotates stock, and performs assigned inventory management tasks.
- Regularly reviews and analyzes stock data to assure the most economic levels are maintained and to assure an acceptable accuracy level.
- Maintains files by the filing system, ensuring that all reports, circulars, and other pertinent data are posted and filed correctly; also, responsible for maintaining inventory control and accurate levels of inventory.
Front Desk Agent
New Orleans Marriott
Harvey, LA
09.2015 - 02.2012
- Processed all guest check-ins by confirming reservations, assigning room, and issuing and activating room key.
- Processed all payment types such as room charges, cash, checks, debit, or credit.
- Process all check-outs including resolving any late and disputed charges.
- Answered, recorded, and processed all guest calls, messages, requests, questions, or concerns.
- Coordinated with Housekeeping to track the readiness of rooms for check-in.
- Communicated parking procedures to guests/visitors and dispatched bell staff or valet staff as needed.
- Guests supplied directions and information regarding property and local areas of interest.
- I completed designated cashier and closing reports in the computer system.
- Counted bank at the beginning and end of shift. Balanced and dropped receipts per accounting specifications.
Education
Accounting Major -
Ashford University
San Diego, CAHigh School -
L.B. Landry High School
New Orleans, LASkills
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Data management and processing
- Expense reporting
- Military payroll systems
- Financial management
- Payment processing
- Invoice management
- Fiscal controls
- Accounting system auditing
- Compliance verification
- Financial data analysis
- Effective communication
- Problem solving
- Team training
- Analytical thinking
- Conflict resolution
Awards
- Army Commendation Medal (2)
- Army Achievement Medal (3)
- Army Good Conduct Medal (7)
- Louisiana War Cross
Special Training
- Victims Advocate, US Army, 2013
- Equal Opportunity, US Army, 2013
Military Service
U. S. ARMY/ ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, 09/01/90, 07/01/15
Timeline
Financial Management Specialist (CXO) (GS-09)
Dept of Veterans Affairs
06.2024 - 09.2025
Accounting Technician (GS-07)
South Arizona VA Health Care System
06.2023 - 06.2024
Accounting Technician (GS-08)
FLARNG
11.2022 - 06.2023
Lead Accounting Technician (GS-08)
S. E. Louisiana Veterans Hospital Center
12.2017 - 11.2022
Supply Technician / Purchase Card Holder
S. E. Louisiana Veterans Hospital Center
02.2017 - 09.2016
Front Desk Agent
New Orleans Marriott
09.2015 - 02.2012
Human Resource Technician: (GS-07)
DOD – Military Funeral Honors
03.2015 - 05.2017
Accounting Major -
Ashford University
High School -
L.B. Landry High School