Financial Analyst Business Process

Nicholas R. Benson (Professional Resume) (*********@*****.***)

***** ********** ***** *****

Silver Spring Maryland 20904

Contact: 240-***-****

Judge Group

Financial Analyst

15+

Secret Clearance (Active 2023-2030)

Experience Summary

Financial professional with over 15 years of experience, including five years in management capacity, covering the field of audit, accounting, consulting, project analysis and evaluation.

Candidate Certified Public Accountant (CPA), MSc.

Mr. Benson has an excellent knowledge and understanding of principles, concepts and practices of Accounting. Over the last few years, he has focused on business process improvement, internal controls evaluation and testing, identifying control gaps and recommending remediation solutions for various Federal and corporate entities. Involved in audit preparation and planning of audit work product, assertion package preparation, resolution of material weakness and findings, development and execution of corrective action plan (CAP), and end-to-end business process documentation. Mr. Benson has performed many services such as Agreed upon Procedures, Performance Review, CFO Act Audit, OMB A-123 and A-136 audits. Subject matter expect (SME) for DOD Military pay and Civilian pay. Served prominent Federal agencies including the Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Defense (DLA, DCMA, Air force, Army National Guard, Defense Technical Information Center), and U. S. Department of the Treasury. Conducted several SAS 70 audits now SSAE 18 audit for the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Possess superior leadership, strong written and verbal communication skills.

Statement of Work Qualifications Met by Candidate

Qualifications:

Proficient in spreadsheet and word processing

Ability to work under pressure

Demonstrated ability to perform Financial analysis

Excellent knowledge and understanding of principles, concepts and practices of Accounting.

Skills/Experience:

15 years of experience, including five years in management capacity, covering the field of audit, accounting, consulting, project analysis and evaluation.

Knowledgeable in government accounting system

Education

Bachelor’s Degree, Accounting, University of Liberia Monrovia- 1986

Master of Science Professional Accounting, Strayer University 2004.

Candidate Certified public Accountant (CPA), MSc.

Candidate Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)

Work Experience

1/30/2024 – present – MDC Global Solutions, LLC

Audit Client: Defense Logistic Agency (DLA)

Hired as a senior Associate, Mr. Benson implemented the identification of control gaps and recommending remediation solutions for many work products including, Civilian pay, RWOA, served in audit preparation and planning of audit work product, assertion package preparation, resolution of material weakness and findings, development of corrective actions. Our work did not position us to serve as Auditor but is a team player in preparing DLA when they face the IPA (Independent Public Firm). Performed other assignments as were necessary under the contract.

5/2022 – 11/2023 – RMA Associates

Audit Clients - AmeriCorps.

Conduct audits to assess the effectiveness of controls, accuracy of financial records, efficiency of operations, and compliance with governmental regulations.

Works closely with internal clients at all levels in developing audit findings and recommendations regarding business process optimization, internal control and compliance. Reviews work papers. Performs complex testing procedures.

Participates in the development and implementation of risk assessments and audit plans.

Keeps abreast of internal control audit trends to assure audit processes remain effective.

9/2019 – 4/2022 - Keystone Advisors

Client – USAC

Conduct OMB Circular No. A-123, risk assessment, internal controls and/or compliance review.

Plan design and implement auditing procedures necessary to complete various audit assignments.

Ensuring standards of quality and accuracy are maintained in audits and other financial reports.

Allocate responsibilities to junior and staff auditors.

Review team members' work for accuracy and compliance.

Perform effective risk and control assessments.

Serves as resource person to client on accounting and auditing matters.

Judge Group Inc.

8/2018 - 11/2019

Client: Defense Technical Information Center

Conducted business process improvement analysis, Using the Financial improvement and Audit Readiness methodology (FIAR). Our work assignment also included but not limited to:

Provided technical audit support to DTIC by researching and making available professional audit support for the current ongoing OUSD FIAR audit.

Develop process narrative and Flow diagram for each accessible unit(AU), including but not limited to: Civilian Payroll, Contract Pay, RWO-A, and Vendor Pay.

Serve as Technical resource (subject matter expect) for Military pay and Civilian pay business processes to DTIC.

Involved in the development of the statement of Assurance for submission to the OUSD.

Tuba Group:

7/2015 – 7/2018

Client: U. S. Air force:

Client: Defense Logistics Agency

As Senior Associate with TUBA Group, Mr. Benson provided support in the Performance of an examination of the DLA General Fund Schedule of Budgetary Activities (SBA) in accordance with attestation standards established by the American Institution of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). This examination was intended to support DLA with the preparation of the schedule of appropriation received, obligations Incurred, Spending Authority from Offsetting Collections and operating effectiveness of the controls over the preparation of these schedules in accordance with the US Department of Defense (DOD) Financial improvement and Audit Readiness (FIAR) Guidance.

Client: DCMA (Defense Contract Management Agency)

Development of process narrative and flow chart over DCMA Civilian Payroll Process

Support DCMA in conducting OUSD Mock Audit on a monthly basis.

Help develop corrective action from NFR (Notice of Findings and Recommendations) from SSAE 16 review over DCMA’s service providers’ business processes conducted by IPAs (Independent Public Accountants).

Testing of DCMA’s CUECs (Complementary Users Entity Controls)

Provide support in the development of the Assertion package.

Conduct internal control testing for DCMA’s Assertion package

Help develop CAPs (correction Action Plan) where necessary.

Help develop RCA (Root Cause Analysis) for corrective actions over DCMA’s Civilian Payroll Processes.

Help support DCMA in her ongoing regular discussions regarding the improvement of her end-to-end business process.

Global Financial Services & Associates, LLC, CPA

10/10 – 8/2015

Consultant – Assurance Department

Audited Client: Defense Logistics Agency, Precious Care at Home Services Inc., Bethel Deliverance Ministries Inc., and United States Marshall, etc.

DOD (P2S TEAM)

Support client in completing financial statement Reviews.

Unliquidated order analysis, discovery, cleanup, and sustainment task completion.

Support the team in completing internal control testing over financial systems for purposes of Audit Readiness.

Document accounting processes circle to include AP accruals, JV processes, etc.

Document and recommend corrective action plans for identified control weaknesses during test of control effectiveness.

Attend, facilitate where necessary, meetings between clients and the FIAR directorate and DCFO

Interface and communicate with clients to build and maintain relationships and communicate task status for assigned areas

Perform ad-hoc accounting research.

Clifton Gunderson, LLP

07/08 – 7/10

Senior Associate– Assurance Department

Audit Clients include Universal Service Administrative Company, US Department of Transportation (DOT), The Government Accountability office (GAO), US Department of the Treasury etc. Performed audits of Federal government agencies including state and local government entities.

Supervised financial and compliance related audits at the Government Accountability office (GAO)

Performed CFO Act Audit on the Consolidated Financial Statements of the US Federal Department of Transportation (DOT)

Conducted compliance reviews of client’s internal control in complying with the requirements of FMFIA Act and OMB Circular A-123 Appendix A requirement

Conducted Grants testing to ensure obligations and expenditures for grants that occurred are recorded and were authorized in accordance with grant requirements.

Performed A – 136 audits. This Circular establishes a central point of reference for all Federal financial reporting guidance for Executive Branch departments, agencies, and entities required to submit audited financial statements, interim financial statements, and Performance and Accountability Reports (PAR) under the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990.

Booth Management Consulting 11/06-6/08

Senior Auditor: Audit Clients include: Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS,

Department of the Treasury

Managed team members during the audit assignments and facilitated conflict resolution meetings between audit staff and clients

Managed compliance and financial statement audit projects on CMS Programs and the department of the Treasury.

Facilitated planning meetings and trained audit team to develop risk assessment matrix and audit programs

Assisted CMS’s in assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of various provider program to determine that overpayment of clamed cost do not exist.

Assisted CMS in other activities related to the monitoring of contract performance.

Reviewed deliverables during audit assignment for timeliness of submission, quality and completeness

Conducted review of client accounting controls and procedures, identifying areas of weakness for improvement.

Conducted SAS 70 audit now SSAE 16 audit for various CMS service providers. These standards are intended to Report on Controls at a Service Organization.

Integrated Management resource group (IMRG)

8/04 –10/06

Client: Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation

Senior Auditor:

Performed auditing of pension plan assets including the reconstruction of data where pension plan records were missing or incomplete.

Prepared detailed audit reports that includes documented findings and conclusions for plan assets, plan documents, and participants data audits.

Conducts in-house operations review in accordance with laws, policies, and procedures.

Determined population of pension plan participants at date of plan termination, built participant database from source records using data elements as provided by client.

Review computer generated reports to determine if acceptable accounting procedure were followed in recording transactions.

Establish and maintained good client relationship.

Travel to different locations of participant files to secure records needed for benefit administration.

Performed record retrieval functions, pulling and sorting through documents.

KPMG

1/02 - 6/04

Senior Associate – Assurance Department – Audit clients – Montgomery County Government, The State of Maryland

Participated in the year-end full scope audit of the solid waste funds, parking lots districts funds, of the Montgomery County Government.

Tested the year-end balances to ensure that they were complete, accurate and that those balances as presented in the financial statements represented fairly the financial position of the County.

Tested to ensure that all transactions were approved by the appropriate authorities and reflected the aspiration of the county Government.

Ensure that eligibility requirement for Federal grant award are met by reviewing grant documentation and grand specific instructions.

Determine on a test basis if the Federal assistance financial statement are presented fairly in accordance with GAAP and most especially in accordance with GAAS.

Determine if the expenditure statements for Federal programs are presented fairly in relation to the financial statement taken as whole.

Conduct internal control testing to ensure low assessed risk for all program.

Ensure that the organization has complied with laws and regulations.

Continuing Professional Education (last 2 years)

Course

CPE Hours

Date

Accounting and System Internal Controls 9 10/18

Diversity & Inclusion: Bottom Line Impact 10 7/20

Ethics In Action: Part I & II 25 9/20

Federal Compliance Training and Certification 8 1/21

Professional Independence Standards and Your Responsibilities 10 3/21

The Power of One: Your Commitment to Compliance 11 3/21

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 10 4/21

Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) No. 1 – SOC 1 7 4/21

Contact this candidate