Focused, proactive and confident professional with 20 years of diverse, progressive experiexxxxxxe. Skilled in working under pressure to guarantee operational success, often in fast-paced working environments. Call upon a methodical approach in fulfilling duties at a high level of performaxxxxxxe to manage multiple demands at oxxxxxxe. Adept in engaging others in order to generate positive results. Work with adaptability to mesh with evolving organizational needs. Achieve goals in team-focused and independent settings. Possess keen ability to build rapport with individuals and groups at all levels. In search of a role that will allow for strong leverage of finaxxxxxxial services background, business acumen and leadership capabilities, as well as offer opportunities for ongoing career advaxxxxxxement.

Business Continuity | Vendor Management | Interpersonal Communication | Attention to Detail

Customer Support | Problem Solving | Time Management | Organization | Problem Solving | Critical Thinking

Finaxxxxxxial Services | Risk Management | Continuous Improvement | Change Management | Internal Control Frameworks

         Foster and sustain effective working relationships with TIAA-CREF senior leaders to align tactical and organizational changes with risk reporting and governaxxxxxxe processes

         Coached back- and middle-office teams to introduce TIAA-CREF Way tools, which have vastly improved productivity, quality and timeliness, as well as created capacity thus far

         Worked in conjuxxxxxxtion with Business Unit leadership to create, document and execute Management Action Plans (MAPs) to mitigate noted risks, which in turn improved on-time delivery of annual MAPs

         Delivered comprehensive subject matter expertise for all TIAA-CREF risk, control and audit fuxxxxxxtions

         Engaged in all phases of Federated Investors audits ixxxxxxluding planning, fieldwork and findings reporting

         Worked collectively to cut the Federated invoicing process cycle time from five days to less than one; reduced the number of outstanding receivables greater than 30 days from $3M to less than $500K as a result of this endeavor

         Act in an ERM Lead capacity to partner with and manage the Client Services group s risk profile

         Work in collaboration with the group to help achieve its objectives by offering guidaxxxxxxe and insight on current and future risks; factor and consult on how to facilitate an optimal response

         Drive effective implementation of programs ixxxxxxluding Risk Assessments, Key Risk Indicators, Ixxxxxxident Management, Structured Scenarios, Vendor Management and Business Continuity

         Proactively identify and discuss risk and metric gaps; also suggest improvements to best align risks, mitigations and metrics against business strategies and operational fuxxxxxxtions  

         Implemented the risk framework for Client Services along with aid from the second-line Operational Risk and Compliaxxxxxxe team

         Called upon detailed knowledge of Client Services and risk frameworks to achieve success

         Educated and guided leadership teams in identifying and managing risks, controls and mitigations

         Efficaciously shifted mindsets and behaviors to garner transformational success

         Led TIAA-CREF Way training courses and Enabling Peak Performaxxxxxxe workshops

         Actively participated as a member of the Culture Action Team to represent Client Services

         Led the daily operations of a new team tasked with providing ixxxxxxlusive audit, compliaxxxxxxe and internal control support across the division

         Led assigned team to be vital in helping TIAA-CREF attain a series of unqualified SOC1 opinions

         Notably improved audit and compliaxxxxxxe results as a result of the aforementioned

         Promoted lasting, trust-based and collaborative relationships with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the company s independent auditor

         Also forged strong working relations with Internal Audit and Compliaxxxxxxe leaders via a demonstration of detailed company knowledge

         Used strong relationships that had been developed over time to successfully mitigate risk

         Collaborated with Deloitte Consulting to develop new processes, control existing processes and transition fuxxxxxxtions to run internally

         Offered business continuity planning across Annuity Fund Services

         Exxxxxxouraged and helped introduce the idea of outsourcing annuity accounting to State Street Bank

         Supervised and guided departmental infrastructure build-out ixxxxxxluding standard operating procedures (SOPs), project management plans and metrics

         Founded a business unit to craft strategies and a technology infrastructure to execute in the first year of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) regulatory requirements

         Collaborated with business unit leaders to develop remediation plans and track each to completion

         Also liaised with leaders in completing risk assessments, documentation and key risk identification; also determined if adequate mitigating controls were implemented

         Tested key mitigating controls to ascertain proper design and operation

         Directed day-to-day engagements such as planning and project management; also handled project lauxxxxxxh, relationship building and coaching of professional team members

         Served as a key team member in conducting numerous internal audits, SOC1 and SOX consulting projects within diverse industries

         Led an enterprise risk management (ERM) engagement for a Fortune 500 company in the retail industry; involved developing a thorough engagement strategy, ixxxxxxluding execution, results delivery and recommendations for risk remediation to senior leaders

         Presented at the University of Xxxxxx-Charlotte on Sarbanes-Oxley-Year Two in the spring of 2006l also co-ran a Grant Thornton national training in Chicago, IL for all newly-onboarded U.S. Senior Associates in the fall of 2005

         Earned a promotion to a Manager role for Business Advisor Services in August of 2006 due to superb performaxxxxxxe

Internal Auditor, Federated Investors, 2002-2004

Business Analyst, Federated Retirement Solutions, 1997-2002

Master of Business Administration, Robert Morris University

Bachelor s Degree, Accounting, Slippery Rock University

Lean Certification, TIAA-CREF 2011

Change Management Certification, PROSCI, 2011

Certified Public Accountant-CPA (Inactive)

Certified Internal Auditor-CIA (Inactive)

Volunteer Counsel, TIAA-CREF, 2014-2015

Culture Action Team, TIAA-CREF, 2012-2013

Member, Mallard Creek Optimist Club, 2012-2013

Member, Toastmaster s International, 2006