Open To Work
Tonya R. Bell
New Orleans,LA
Summary
To obtain a position incorporating exceptional customer service, building a long-term career with opportunities for career growth, and utilizing my skills in the best viable way for achieving the company’s mission.
Professional accounting specialist skilled in financial analysis, ledger management, and regulatory compliance. Known for strong team collaboration and adaptability in dynamic environments. Highly dependable with focus on achieving accurate and timely results. Proficient in accounting software, problem-solving, and maintaining high standards of integrity.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Accounting Technician (GS-07)
South Arizona VA Health Care System
06.2023 - Current
- Serves as an expert source of information and advice for employees, supervisors, personnel office staff, and organizational liaisons on all operational areas of the 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
Financial Management Specialist (CXO) (GS-09)
Dept of Veteran Affairs
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.
- Developed financial reports to enhance decision-making processes and resource allocation.
- Analyzed budget variances, providing insights for strategic adjustments and compliance.
Accounting Technician (GS-08)
FLARNG
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.
- Supervisor: Lynetta Stonewall
- P: 904-823-0538
Lead Accounting Technician (GS-06)
Wilkes-Barre Veterans Hospital Center
11.2021 - 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 the 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
Lead Accounting Technician (GS-08)
S. E. Louisiana Veterans Hospital Center
11.2020 - 11.2021
- Serves as an expert source of information and advice for employees, supervisors, personnel office staff, and organizational liaisons on all operational areas of the 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
- Supervisor: Gwendolyn Willis
- P: 504-507-2000 Ext 66913
Accounting Technician (GS-07)
S. E. Louisiana Veterans Hospital Center
12.2017 - 11.2020
- 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.
- 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.
- Serves as an expert source of information and advice for employees, supervisors, personnel office staff, and organizational liaisons on all operational areas of the accounting tech.
- Perform comprehensive audits, analysis, 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.
- Answers and greets all customers through email and telephone calls.
- Process travel and assist travelers with the Concur Travel System.
- As a payor, I process payments for 1358s (Miscellaneous Obligations) in IPPS and process payments in FMS including monthly leases, Compensated Work Therapy (CWT), Beneficiary Travel, employee travel vouchers, and employee debt repayment requests.
- Supervisor: Gwendolyn Willis
- P: 504-507-2000 Ext 66913
Supply Technician / Purchase Card Holder
S. E. Louisiana Veterans Hospital Center
02.2016 - 12.2017
- 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 task.
- Regularly reviews and analyzes stock data to assure the most economical 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.
- Supervisor: David Anderson
- P: 504-565-4742
Human Resource Technician: (GS-07)
DOD – Military Funeral Honors
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.
- Supervisor: James McCoy
- P: 404-452-5011
Front Desk Agent
New Orleans Marriott
09.2015 - 02.2016
- 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.
- Supplied guests with 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.
- Supervisor: Rachel Lusk
- P: 504-581-1111
Education
High School Diploma - Accounting Major
Ashford University
San Diego, CAundefined
L.B. Landry High School
New Orleans, LASkills
- Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint; Internet, 45 wpm, Defense Military Pay Office (DMO) Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), VISTA, VA Financial Management Center (FMS), Gov-Trip, Concur (Government travel system inside of VHA), TAPS (the program used for Military Honors), FOSSE, and Micros Opera
- Expense tracking
- File maintenance
- Bank reconciliations
- Payment reconciliation
- Accounts payable processing
- Data entry
- Accounts receivable management
- Payroll administration
- Transaction management
- Purchase orders
- Invoice creation
- Financial records and reporting
SPECIAL TRAINING
- Victims Advocate, US Army – 2013
- Equal Opportunity US Army - 2013
MILITARY SERVICE
- U. S. ARMY/ ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
- 09/1990 – 07/2015
AWARDS
Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (3), Army Good Conduct Medal (7), Louisiana War Cross
Work Preference
Job Search Status
Open to workWork Type
Full TimePart TimeContract WorkLocation Preference
On-SiteRemoteHybridSalary Range
$45000/yr - $200000/yrTimeline
Financial Management Specialist (CXO) (GS-09)
Dept of Veteran Affairs
06.2024 - 09.2025
Accounting Technician (GS-07)
South Arizona VA Health Care System
06.2023 - Current
Accounting Technician (GS-08)
FLARNG
11.2022 - 06.2023
Lead Accounting Technician (GS-06)
Wilkes-Barre Veterans Hospital Center
11.2021 - 11.2022
Lead Accounting Technician (GS-08)
S. E. Louisiana Veterans Hospital Center
11.2020 - 11.2021
Accounting Technician (GS-07)
S. E. Louisiana Veterans Hospital Center
12.2017 - 11.2020
Supply Technician / Purchase Card Holder
S. E. Louisiana Veterans Hospital Center
02.2016 - 12.2017
Front Desk Agent
New Orleans Marriott
09.2015 - 02.2016
Human Resource Technician: (GS-07)
DOD – Military Funeral Honors
03.2015 - 05.2017
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L.B. Landry High School
High School Diploma - Accounting Major
Ashford University