Research Analyst Data
Resume:
Shirley A. Cotton
**** ****** ****** ****: 301-***-****
Camp Springs, Maryland 20746 Cell: 301-***-****
*******@***.***
PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE
Currently pursuing employment as a Data Analyst or Operations Research Analyst (ORSA) within the cyber and intelligence communities.
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
TOP SECRET/SCI CI POLY (DIA) October 2019
30-plus years of successful leadership experience including
A.Process Improvement and Information Technology
B.Financial Management
C.Budgeting
D.Auditing and Accounting Procedures
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Lead STEM Instructor 05/2024 – Present
Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS), Upper Marlboro, MD
As a Lead STEM Instructor, collaborates with teachers to determine instructional requirements, establish learning objectives, and develop effective teaching strategies.
Providing resources to support students' success in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Organizing displays, equipment, and materials related to STEM coursework.
Operation Research Analyst 05 / 2020 – 12 / 2021
US AIR FORCE Manpower Analysis Agency (AFMAA), Arlington, VA
Develop mathematical models and computer program solutions to respond to customer needs. Develop an advanced understanding of relevant methodologies, data processing, and data validation. Review process evaluation and participate in business meetings related to future initiatives.
Supported the AFMAA Directorate by linking processes, resources, and information to its enterprise's strategies and objectives, enabling the enterprise to maximize opportunities to gain advantages over its competitors.
Maintained technical proficiency by studying Operations Research concepts, including languages and software platforms that can be applied to meet Air Force manpower assessments. Interpret analytics innovatively, utilizing tools such as Tableau and Python to perform analysis and research tasks.
Provided technical guidance and advice via Operational Research methods on the practical and economical management of manpower resources. Also, develop mathematical models and computer program solutions in response to customer needs.
Operation Research Analyst 06 / 2018 – 04/ 2020
US ARMY Cyber Command Fort Belvoir, VA
Pivotal in establishing ARCYBER Army Studies programs and activities in accordance with the organization’s mission and goals. Assist Directorates in developing new studies requirements and/or proposals to support the strategic direction of the organization.
Instrumental in developing a budget and operating plan for the ARCYBER Army Studies programs.
Facilitate the acquisition of funding for the ARCYBER Army Studies programs to guarantee uninterrupted delivery of services.
Provide focus for developing evaluation methods to assess program strengths and identify areas for improvement.
Manages stakeholders with diverse talents and responsibilities for implementing changes and interventions of studies to ensure goals are achieved.
Central to organizing meetings with stakeholders as well as providing transparency in communicating studies issues and decisions.
Provide accurate and timely reporting of a study program's status throughout its life cycle.
Prepare executive summaries, information papers, charts, graphs, briefs, and other correspondences, on an ongoing basis identifying requirements, timelines, and deliverables for the ARCYBER Studies Program Working Group. Coordinate internal resources and third parties/vendors (Federally Funded Research and Development Centers – FFRDC and commercial firms through contract) for the execution of studies as well as ensuring that all studies are delivered on time, within scope, and budget.
Assist in defining study scopes and objectives, involving all relevant stakeholders. Ensure technical feasibility to validate resource availability and allocation. Develop a detailed project plan to monitor and track progress. Manage changes to the project scope, schedule, and costs using appropriate verification techniques. Track studies performances, specifically to analyze the successful completion of short- and long-term goals, meet budgetary objectives, and adjust based on financial analysis and proposed constraints.
Budget Analyst 05 / 2016 – 05 / 2018
US ARMY Inspector General Agency Arlington, VA
Provides financial oversight, and budget guidance within the Budget Office concerning all DAIG Division Programs. Assists in the budget build SAIG appropriation portion of the Planning Program Budget Execution (PPBE) database. Requires detailed budget knowledge to review, defend, and build input based on known historical trends, Congressional guidance, and the capability to track the SAIG Future Year Defense Plan (FYDP). Assembles and/or develops background data, information, and documentation to support required program budgets for reference and evidence in agency budget hearings.
Research, complies, and summarize data involving obligations, expenses, and object class/line-item information, narrative information, and quantitative budgetary data for use in preparing budget estimates. Review organizational historical data and/or match funding requests or projected costs of selected line items with past records to determine trends in spending to forecast annual funding needs. Prepares and edits narrative justification for projected funding needs and ensures requests are formally and accurately documented in a wide variety of unrelated forms, schedules, and reports.
Performs budget development, formulation, and execution of functions for assigned programs and administrative budget areas. Works with senior management and staff on the development of annual work plans and schedules for the execution of proposed budgets.
Monitor and track obligations and expenditures for mission support functions throughout the execution phase of the annual operating budget. Ensures accurate and timely maintenance of commitments ledger to preclude over-obligation of funds and assures proper documentation is on file. Reviews STANFINS reports from the Defense Accounting Office, balancing and reconciling accounts with commitment ledgers. Centrally maintains DAIG budget and financial records to include backup documents for commitments, obligations, and disbursements.
Maintain complex database registers and other budgeting processes. Interprets regulations, directives, and policies and provides authoritative advice pertaining to the budget process.
Complies data and prepares a variety of ad hoc and reoccurring reports and/or analyses related to financial management. Serves as DTS (Defense Travel System) Administrator, and primary point of contact for DTS. Plans and implements DTS deployment. Serves as organizational authority for DTS and maintains up-to-date traveler information. Authorizes official data within DTS.
Budget Analyst 10 / 2014 – 02 / 2016
USARC Legal Command Gaithersburg, MD
Performs budget development, formulation, and execution of functions for assigned programs and administrative budget areas. Works with senior management and staff on the development of annual work plans and schedules for the execution of proposed budgets.
Provides technical support on the budget formulation process.
Maintain complex database registers and other budgeting processes. Interprets regulations, directives, and policies and provides authoritative advice pertaining to the budget process.
Complies data and prepares a variety of ad hoc and reoccurring reports and/or analyses related to financial management.
Reviews and edits agency budget submissions for reasonableness, accuracy, and conformance to procedures and guidelines. Negotiates budget funding amounts, timing, and changes with senior management.
Senior Budget Analyst 05 / 2009 – 11 / 2013
US Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM)
Serves as a Senior Budget Analyst for the HQ Resources Management office. Analyses/formulates all segments of the command's budget requests.
Complies, extracts, reviews, verifies, and consolidates a variety of narrative information and statistical data in relation to the formulation and presentation of budget requests.
Analyzes budget estimates submitted by program managers and provides an analysis and recommendation to assure compliance.
Compares current year estimates through budget automated systems verifying prior year expenditures and bringing significant variations to the attention of management.
Monitors expenditure of funds as well as cross-checks the accuracy of budget and program data in related budgetary forms, schedules, systems, and reports.
Advises assigned staff of the status of funds in managed budget accounts and all aspects of the command budget process as applicable to their program.
Provides guidance and serves as a liaison between Program Managers and others. Interprets program and dollar guidance and advises staff.
Prepares a variety of reports, charts, and analysis requests covering all aspects of funding, expenses, and obligations of each activity.
Review and interpret regulations, directives, and policies to ensure appropriate procedures are followed ensuring no statutory violations occur.
Financial Manager/Analyst 01 / 2007 – 01 / 2009
Northrup Grumman – TASC Defense Intelligence Agency/Bolling AFB
Review the Intelligence community financial plans and budget formulation, analysis, and justification as well as assist in the automation process
Provides accounting expertise including accounting reconciliation, financial reporting, and budget execution using current Intelligence community accounting and support systems in collecting, describing, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting budget data in support of PPBE activities.
Assesses the validity of financial information, research anomalies, and resolves financial information issues to facilitate cost tracking and payments as well as interface with accounting for accounts payable and accounts receivable charges
Performs analysis of customer’s financial systems and reports corrective actions directly to the customer within prescribed timeframes
Senior Financial Management Analyst 02 / 2006 – 01 / 2007
Secretary of the Air Force - Internal Programming and Budget Branch
Performed duties as Senior Financial Representative for SAF/XC, which included ensuring accurate processing of funding for travel, supplies, and programs
Prepared organizational financial plan – provided program requirements, and organizational impact statements, and explained deviations from prior submissions of operations and maintenance funding
Supported the Internal Programming and Budget branch throughout the PPBE process by tracking, monitoring, and forecasting funds obligations and expenditures using the Commander’s Resource Integration System
Responsible for providing budgeting, and financial analysis for the APO Mail program
Prepared reports and briefs for the presentation of funds status briefing to SAF/XCX
Prepared funding documents in the Automated Business Services System
Used Executive Web view for Tri-Annual Reviews of various funding documents—validated obligations
Planned, projected, and executed funds for SAF/XC budget proposal and support service contracts funding as well as interfaced with cost, schedule, and control staff to provide information to the Program Managers
Staff Auditor 01 / 2001 – 05 / 2005
United States Property & Fiscal Office, Washington, DC
Audits are performed in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS/yellow book) in providing oversight, accountability, transparency, and improvement of government programs and operations.
Accomplished audit steps by applying Comptroller General Standards and a wide range of audit techniques (interviews, computer-assisted techniques, statistical analysis, and questionnaires) in gathering, documenting, and summarizing data
Staff Auditor tasked with serving as Senior Financial Representative during the initial Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) phases of the budget process, providing financial advice and consultation to management officials on complex and sensitive budget matters.
Conducted audits of the Property & Fiscal Office cost accounting functions ensuring proper and timely accounting of inventory and cost of sales transactions and reporting
Prepared cost estimates as needed for the automation processes of financial management systems
Conducted audits of financial transactions relating to technician pay, military pay, bonus payments, and travel voucher payments/settlements. Interfaced with Defense Finance Accounting Systems (DFAS) representatives to resolve problems
Performed audits of the Government Purchase Card (GPC) vendors’ transactions as well as Commercial Accounts monthly status reports
Performed audits of contracts detailing contractual billings to identify erroneous or invalid cost
EDUCATION
Previously pursued a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with Cambridge College, Falmouth, MA - December 2023
Masters of Science - Quality Systems Management, National Graduate School, Falmouth, MA - February 2002
Bachelors of Science - Finance, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS - August 1982
Associate of Information Technology (IT) – Strayer University, Alexandria, VA - June 2024
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
R Programming Statistical Computer Language – October 2019
Operation Research Analyst (ORSA) Familiarization Course – December 2018
Action Officer Integration Course – August 2018
DoD Financial Management Certification Level 2 – March 2017
Qualified/ Ethical Hacker Certification Q/EH – February 2014
CompTIA Security Plus Certification (SY0-301) – December 2013
Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) Course - December 2013
Certified Defense Financial Manager CDFM-A - June 2010
TECHNICAL SKILLS
• Software: MS Access, MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OUTLOOK, PYTHON, TABLEAU
• Financial Accounting and Corporate Tracking System (FACTS), Defense Travel System (DTS Systems, ATTARS, RM Online, Resource Management Tool (RMT), Wide Area Workflow (WAWF), General Funds Enterprise Business Systems (GFEBs)
• Databases: Oracle, Defense Travel System, Operational Data Storage (ODS), Structured Query Language (SQL)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Society of Military Comptrollers
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