VARONICA M. RICHARDSON
COLUMBUS,OH
Summary
A strategic and detail-oriented Business and Legal Operations Professional with extensive expertise in process optimization, administrative leadership, and compliance management across corporate, healthcare, and legal sectors. Skilled in leveraging analytical insights, data reporting, and contract negotiation to drive operational excellence. Adept at bridging communication between financial, legal, and executive teams to implement cost-efficient solutions and improve organizational productivity.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Case Management Associate II
Aetna Healthcare
Columbus, OH
02.2023 - 01.2024
- Screened patients and identified their service needs by utilizing targeted intervention state rules and regulation processes.
- Made appropriate referrals to medical services and coordinated the required services based on the patient’s benefit plan.
Contract Specialist
Molina Healthcare
Columbus, OH
12.2021 - 01.2023
- Directed the full lifecycle of provider and vendor contracts, from negotiation through renewal and compliance auditing. Spearheaded reimbursement rate evaluations and financial modeling to optimize provider agreements and cost efficiency.
- Collaborated with legal and finance teams to research and resolve complex contractual issues and ensure regulatory alignment. Strengthened vendor relationships, improved contract turnaround time by 30% and enhanced network quality.
- Delivered executive-level reports and analytics to support budgeting and strategic decision-making.
Unemployment Claims Specialist II
State of Ohio Unemployment
Columbus, OH
07.2020 - 11.2021
- Provided efficient and professional assistance to claimants regarding unemployment compensation programs by managing inbound and outbound calls. Interacted extensively with claimants to address inquiries and verify the accuracy of information and records.
Tax Examining Assistant (seasonal)
Internal Revenue Service
Baltimore, MD
08.2020 - 04.2021
- Improved resolution of taxpayer concerns by analyzing tax issues and initiating necessary actions. Ensured data integrity while obtaining applicable returns, schedules, and information to correct taxpayer accounts and records.
Administrative Coordinator
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Buffalo, NY
05.2019 - 06.2020
- Maintained directors and managers calendar, scheduled appointments, coordinated travel, assist outside visitors. Reviewed Medicaid and Medicare contracts, uploaded contracts into system, processed expense reports.
Human Resource Administrative – Purchasing Assistant
Unifrax
Tonawanda, NY
04.2018 - 04.2019
- Elevated employee satisfaction by processing and distributing employee pay while maintaining updated and accurate human resources records. Enabled accurate record-keeping and efficient scheduling by effectively tracking employee vacation, sick, and personal time.
Legal Administrative Assistant
Seeger Weiss LLP
Newark, NJ
05.2016 - 11.2017
- Provided comprehensive litigation and administrative support to senior attorneys in high-profile cases. Managed document discovery, client correspondence, and digital records to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Coordinated with external counsel, clients, and vendors to facilitate smooth trial preparation and case coordination. Streamlined electronic filing systems, reducing retrieval time by 40% and improving workflow efficiency.
- Acted as a liaison between clients and attorneys, fostering effective communication and maintaining positive client relationships.
- Drafted pleadings, exhibits, and legal memoranda while strictly adhering to court deadlines. Optimized scheduling and organization by managing business calendars, contact lists, and appointments for senior counsel attorneys. Delivered excellent customer service by answering and transferring calls professionally and efficiently.
Administrative Municipal Clerk III
Rochester Public Safety Dept
Rochester, NY
01.2015 - 12.2015
- Ensured timely issuance of permits and seamless financial transactions by applying efficient permit payment processing procedures. Streamlined invoice management by entering bill and Family Medical Leave of Absence (FMLA) forms into the system.
Intake Housing Clerk III
Housing Authority
Rochester, NY
03.2014 - 12.2014
- Explained Rochester Housing policies and procedures with respect to eligibility for subsidy housing, vacant units and rent supplements. Date stamp mail answered and routed phone calls, updated computer records with client information. Reviewed application for processing, identified missing or incomplete information and documentation.
Radiology Secretary
St. Michael’s Hospital
Rochester, NY
12.2010 - 03.2012
- Maintained meticulous records of invoices, debits, credits, and posted payments by carefully verifying and accurately entering transactions.
- Improved financial accuracy and efficient processing of payments by keeping accurate financial records and supporting timely procedure of payments for requested x-rays.
Financial Administrative Assistant
UBS Financial Service
Weehawken, NJ
07.2008 - 09.2010
- Facilitated account management, compliance reviews, and reconciliation for high-value investment portfolios. Assisted analysts in auditing client data, ensuring financial and regulatory standards adherence.
- Developed new organizational systems for document control, improving audit readiness and back-office efficiency. Provided operational support to enhance service delivery and maintain strong client satisfaction metrics.
Legal Administrative Assistant
Allstate Insurance
Yonkers, NY
11.2006 - 05.2008
- Supported litigation teams with discovery, trial preparation, and case documentation across multiple jurisdictions. Created tracking systems for active case files. Improved accessibility and cross-departmental coordination.
- Managed attorney calendars, deposition schedules, and compliance filings to maintain case readiness. Partnered with claims and compliance departments to ensure proper documentation and evidence handling.
Legal Administrative Secretary
Medical Malpractice Litigation Firm
New York, NY
01.2005 - 06.2006
- Coordinated legal documentation and client communication for medical malpractice and personal injury cases. Liaised with healthcare providers and insurers to obtain medical records and verify claim accuracy.
- Supported attorneys through all stages of litigation, maintaining confidentiality and case documentation integrity. Prepared and tracked case settlements, billing statements, and insurance correspondence with precision.
Education
Master of Science (M.S.) - Public Administration
Purdue Global University
West Lafayette, IN01-2026
Certified Tax Preparer (AFSP – 18 Hrs.) - undefined
Internal Revenue Service
01-2025
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Business Administration
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH01-2024
Professional Tax Specialist - undefined
Golden State Tax Training Institute
Wheeling, IL01-2024
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) - Business Administration
Schenectady Community College
Schenectady, NY01-2023
Skills
- Business Process Improvement
- Legal Administration
- Data Analytics
- Risk Management
- Contract Negotiation
- Strategic Planning
- Financial Analysis
- Operations Oversight
- Compliance & Governance
- Documentation Control
- Client Relations
- Team Leadership
- Lexis Nexis West Law
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Power BI
- Tableau
- Salesforce
- AS400
- PeopleSoft
- Concur
- Ariba
- Aravo
- Slack
- Zoom
- DocBuddy
Certification
- Emotional Intelligence
- Leading vs. Managing
- Identifying and Safeguarding Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
Timeline
Case Management Associate II
Aetna Healthcare
02.2023 - 01.2024
Contract Specialist
Molina Healthcare
12.2021 - 01.2023
Tax Examining Assistant (seasonal)
Internal Revenue Service
08.2020 - 04.2021
Unemployment Claims Specialist II
State of Ohio Unemployment
07.2020 - 11.2021
Administrative Coordinator
Blue Cross Blue Shield
05.2019 - 06.2020
Human Resource Administrative – Purchasing Assistant
Unifrax
04.2018 - 04.2019
Legal Administrative Assistant
Seeger Weiss LLP
05.2016 - 11.2017
Administrative Municipal Clerk III
Rochester Public Safety Dept
01.2015 - 12.2015
Intake Housing Clerk III
Housing Authority
03.2014 - 12.2014
Radiology Secretary
St. Michael’s Hospital
12.2010 - 03.2012
Financial Administrative Assistant
UBS Financial Service
07.2008 - 09.2010
Legal Administrative Assistant
Allstate Insurance
11.2006 - 05.2008
Legal Administrative Secretary
Medical Malpractice Litigation Firm
01.2005 - 06.2006
Certified Tax Preparer (AFSP – 18 Hrs.) - undefined
Internal Revenue Service
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Business Administration
Southern New Hampshire University
Professional Tax Specialist - undefined
Golden State Tax Training Institute
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) - Business Administration
Schenectady Community College
Master of Science (M.S.) - Public Administration
Purdue Global University
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Recognized for driving business process optimization and contract efficiency across healthcare and legal industries, achieving up to 30% faster execution timelines and stronger vendor compliance.
- Played a pivotal role in supporting C-suite and legal teams by coordinating complex workflows, developing documentation systems, and ensuring seamless communication across departments.
- Demonstrated excellence in data analysis and operational reporting, producing insights that informed leadership decisions and streamlined compliance monitoring.
- Advanced experience in policy development, contract negotiation, and risk mitigation, ensuring corporate, legal, and financial standards adherence.
- Excelled in litigation support, document management, and case coordination, enhancing accuracy and responsiveness in high-volume legal environments.
- Known for strategic relationship management with clients, vendors, and cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration and improving service delivery across business units.
- Proficient in leveraging Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce, PeopleSoft, Power BI, and Tableau to strengthen analytical reporting and organizational productivity.