La’retta A. Castro
*************@*****.***
Summary:
Over 7 years’ of grants management experience preparing budgets, drafting grants, negotiating budgets and managing sponsored agreements.
7 years of proposal writing experience.
Perform accounts payable/receivable functions, cash/financial forecasts, and projections.
Experience monitoring and preparing domestic and international academic partnership and agreements as well as various government and other agencies and organizations.
Knowledge of OMB guidance and OMB circulars A-21, A-110 and A-133.
GAAP, FAR, SOX and government compliance knowledge.
Complete reconciliations.
Experience with preparing tax forms and audit information.
Worked with Board Members to develop strategic plans and missions.
Experience reviewing and preparing payment vouchers and ledgers to report expenditures for billing and accounting purposes.
Able to work in a fast paced changing environment and handle frequent deadlines.
Software Skills:
Highly proficient in computer applications and software with the ability to learn new software packages quickly; Type over 65wpm.
Advanced use of Microsoft Excel to analyze and present data using various functions such as standard deviations, VLOOKUP’s, and pivot tables. Experience using MSWord to prepare reports, agendas, budgets, memos, proposals, letters and other correspondences. Prepared PowerPoint slideshows to present information. Use Access to combine various data reports to present data analysis reports.
Other Software Experience includes: Peoplesoft, Discover, COEUS, Oracle, Fastlane, Windows, Adobe, Internet Explorer, Grants.gov, eRACommons and agencies software.
Memberships:
NCURA (National Council of University Research Administrators)
Fundamentals of Sponsored Project Administration
SRA International (Society of Research Administrators)
Education:
Masters of Business Administration
Le Moyne College, August 2010
Studied Abroad in Warsaw, Poland
Experience:
April 1st, 2015 - Present
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, – Princeton, NJ
Budget Analyst / Strategic Partnership Projects Administrator
Work with various departments to prepare grant proposals for submission to sponsors.
Track cost against funding for projects issued on a monthly status report for the Strategic Partnership Projects.
Draft reports and policies for department heads.
Perform monthly reconciliations.
Monitor funding projects; work specifically with departments to assure that funds are being allocated according to sponsors and Princeton University’s terms.
Assist with monitoring international and domestic sponsorships, partnership proposals and research agreements.
Perform closeouts for proposals that have ended and prepare expense reimbursements to return any unused funds.
Liaison between government and other agencies and Principle Investigators.
Prepare FTE reports for departments.
Produce reports, analyses, charts and pivot tables for department heads and sponsor’s.
Maintain Business Operations website.
October 2013 – April 2015
Department of Human Services, NJ – Trenton, NJ Contracts Administrator (Term Position)
Assigned to administer and review contracts and grants related to funding awarded as a result of SuperStorm Sandy related to health care needs for individuals with rehabilitation needs.
Manage customer interface, proposal development, competitive research and analysis. All agreements executed with the goal of maximizing financial and operational performance with minimum risk.
Provide technical assistance to agencies in preparing and submitting financial contract documents ensure that contract documents were complete, accurate and complied with DHS contracting policies and procedures, review and approve ROE's for assigned contracts and prepare payment instructions to payment unit.
July 2011 to September 2012
The Research Foundation of SUNY Upstate, NY – Syracuse, NY Grants Administrator
Tracked electronically submitted applications to assure all requirements were meet and reviewed just in time documents, progress reports via eSNAP, no cost extensions, Fastlane submissions, IRB and IACUC information.
Prepared and developed proposals, budget documents, reports and cost sharing reports for P.I.’s.
Utilized federal circulars such as A-21, A-110 and A-133 to assure contract and grant proposals budgets meet federal regulations.
●Utilized various Microsoft Office programs, COEUS, Discover, NIH and other software programs to prepare budgets, spreadsheets and reports.
●Identified funding opportunities’ through COS, Grants.gov, NIH, DOH and NSF.
●Tracked subcontracts to assure contracts were extended.
●Prepared notices of awards for Post Award once funding was approved.
Agency’s signing official, submitted proposals on behalf of the agency.
September 2010 – July 2011
Onondaga County Public Health (Medicaid), NY – Syracuse, NY Income Maintenance Worker
Responsible for determining financial and categorical eligibility for a variety of programs administered by the Onondaga County Department of Social Services Medicaid Unit.
Reviewed documents and performed determinations regarding program eligibility.
Reviewed budgets, made changes in program benefits when indicated; recommended emergency grants on an as needed basis.
Mar 2007 to September 2010
Syracuse Housing Authority, NY- Syracuse, NY Grants Management Assistant
Secured over $35,000,000 annually in competitive and non-competitive sponsored funds.
Responsible for identifying funding sources, researching the application process, compiling application data, and coordinating deadlines to assist with new program development for low income residents.
Reviewed SuperNofa annually to review what funding the agency would be eligible for.
Maintained grant applications from the beginning to closing, prepared application documents, completed logic models, submitted budget reports, reviewed notice of funding, worked with the accounting department to verify disbursement of funds meet federal guidelines and regulations (CFR).
Prepared and coordinated communications such as the newsletter, press releases, brochures and various materials for communication, event and marketing purposes.
Assisted senior staff with securing and managing funding agreements for low income individuals the
required medical, and other support services offered by The Syracuse Community Health Center
Various Tasks include file maintenance and preparation from the start to the finish of the grant application
Prepared reports when requested by senior staff
Used computer based data systems to assist in the preparation, maintenance and closing of grant proposals