Isatta B. Mead

US Citizen

PROFILE

Bilingual Bonner Scholar committed to the Bonner Foundation's core value of community engagement through community service. Fluent in Krio; a mixture of English, French, and several Sierra Leoneian tribal dialects. Internationally educated. Well versed in international policies and business relations. Experienced international facilitator with a solid background in leading international forum discussions. Seasoned, progressive, effective, and respected Auditor with more than 10 years of concrete experience in performing fiscal compliance audits and program performance audits. Branded by supervisors and colleagues as an effective investigator and analyst with outstanding communication, adaptation, and multi-tasking skills. Demonstrated sustained history of providing superior customer service in high-profile, politically-sensitive, deadline-driven environments.

EDUCATION

Master of Arts, Public Administration, candidate 2015
Pennsylvania State University, World Campus

Master of Arts, Criminal Justice, 2006
Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Science, Justice and Policy Studies, 1998
Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina

Semester-Abroad Program, 1997
University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

OVERVIEW OF EXPERTISE

Extensive experience in the day-to-day management and coordination of programs, which involve the discussion of changes in auditing or investigatory procedures and policies, communicating with different Maryland and Pennsylvania State headquarter and field office staff, coordinating with interagency staff, and advocating the program's interest in both internal and interagency forums.
Proven track record of successfully utilizing government databases to upload and maintain inter and intra-agency communications and communications appropriate for public consumption and to conduct statistical and other routine data retrievals.
Extensive experience in identifying critical data sharing areas and developing and presenting proposed balanced solutions to appropriate management officials.
Highly skilled in statistical methodology; including qualitative and quantitative analysis for analyzing issues; conducting system and program analysis; recommending and providing oversight for internal controls implementation and presenting facts and findings to agency officials both orally and in writing.
Expert in performing Organizational SWOT-Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats Analysis with a goal of operational performance improvement.
Highly skilled in interpreting laws, regulations and procedures; including those that pertain to information access, which lead to government transparency, such as; the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Electronic Amendments to the FOIA (E-FOIA), the Privacy Act, Executive Order 12958, and OMB Circular A-130.
As a performance improvement officer, successful in assessing an organization, developing a Gap Analysis and exhibiting the necessary skills to persuade senior leadership to provide resources (Human Capital and Financial) identified through the Gap Analysis exercise.
Skilled in communicating, liaising, consulting and collaborating with a diverse cadre of individuals to include different ranks and areas of expertise and individuals of different cultures and countries. And, at the same time interact effectively with the diverse group of individuals.
Outstanding ability to engage in fact finding and information gathering, respond to ad hoc data requests, compile data, provide information for and logging annual reports and any related duties that aid in providing oversight of regulatory compliance.
Having lived, traveled, and studied abroad; keenly aware and knowledgeable of the roles that visas, passports, and immigration play in foreign affairs and international relations. And, extremely knowledgeable of the role of the Department of State in visa, passport and immigration matters.
Proven experience in policy formulation, interpretation, and implementation. And a proven track record of leveraging, developing, and deploying best practices, policies, procedures, and processes to access overall effectiveness in programs.
Extensive skill in applying expert project management knowledge, while possessing the ability to lead projects; including methods, metrics, tools, and techniques of business process re-engineering.
Documented experience working in teams that require analyzing and solving complex problems collectively, inspiring others, building cohesiveness among diverse members, and reaching solutions to controversial issues.

EXPERIENCE

Staff Auditor, February 2013 - Present
Maryland Department of Legislative Services
Baltimore, MD 21201
40+ hours per week

Supervisor: Nichole Becker, (443) 262-5935, contact me first
Perform policy compliance audits to include; collecting, reviewing, verifying, and analyzing audit evidence to determine the State agencies' compliance with established fiscal policies, State laws, rules and regulations. Utilize technical skills and knowledge of appropriate auditing standards and State laws, rules, and regulations. Develop audit findings that are significant and relevant to the audit objectives and make recommendations for improvement. Professionally author working papers, which accurately document audit procedures performed.

Accomplishments:

Successfully conducted asset audits totaling more than seven million dollars; specifically, conducted interviews with Asset Managers to determine the proper procurement of assets, the performance of physical inventory of the assets and the reconciliation of the assets listed in the Capitol Equipment Inventory System (CEIS); to the asset details records. Obtained detailed asset records, performed testing and found that a lack of segregation of duties existed, which increased the potential for fraud and misappropriation. As a result of this finding, senior leadership amended the established asset management procedures.
Consistently and successfully handle the intricacies associated with performing cash receipts audits to determine the total amount of revenue received during selected fiscal periods. Utilize electronic database to compile cash receipt documentation and conduct compliancy test using existing policy criteria to determine fiscal compliance.
Utilize outstanding and effective communication skills to interview Controllers and Accounting Managers associated with each program audit.
Reviewed student financials against the general ledger to ensure reconciliation. In instances when the information did not satisfactorily reconcile; utilized effective communication skills to interview the Controller and communicate audit results to the Controller.
Quarterly extract data from the State Treasurer's Reports in an effort to successfully audit cash receipt financials. Compile and manage data for use while interviewing Accounting Manager to successfully audit the Maryland State Treasurer's financials.
Conducted a state Income Tax Review of returns filed for the 2013 Fiscal Year. The review included an evaluation of suspended and adjusted returns as well as Income Tax Cash Receipts. Performed testing to determine the appropriateness of the suspension, adjustment and the revenue remitted by the taxpayer. Found that the suspension and adjustments were valid and appropriate. The amounts for the suspended an adjusted returns and receipts were $25,000, $800,000 and 23 million dollars, thus making a substantial impact on the State's fiscal health.
Develop budget justifications and spend plans by accurately assessing the human and financial needs of the organization. Communicated the organizational needs to senior leadership and implemented effective persuasion techniques to encourage senior leadership to accept the justified budget recommendations.
Successfully and consistently analyze statistical information and narrative information.

Auditor, April 2005 – February 2013
Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General
Harrisburg, PA 17120
40+ hours per week

Supervisor: LeighAnn Weaver, (717) 787-2543, you may contact
Eagerly and successfully served as an Auditor by participating in complex and highly technical financial and performance audits and reviews of Commonwealth agencies, state owned institutions, entities that receive Commonwealth funding or other audits authorized by statute. The audits were conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards, Generally Accepted Auditing Standards, applicable laws and regulations, and departmental and bureau polices.

Accomplishments:

Successfully audited State Hospitals, State Prisons, Veterans Homes and Universities. Found in a State prison audit that a state-initiated program to have doctors provide care to inmates lacked significant internal controls. An evaluation of the financial records as well as the internal logs indicated that the doctors had received payments from the state without rendering adequate services. Recommended Corrective Actions to senior leadership, which were subsequently implemented; consequently, establishing sufficient and effective internal controls.
Utilized multi-tasking skills to ensure technical team deliverables were completed in a timely manner with a high degree of quality by providing substantive advice and assistance to managers and colleagues.
Regularly briefed status of activity, significant problems and solutions, and emerging issues to senior leadership; made presentations to employees covering technical and controversial administrative subjects and issues, and provided technical guidance to peer employees.
Ensured compliance and program effectiveness by appropriately analyzing, interpreting, and implementing applicable laws, regulations, policies, and management directives.
Detected fraud by using SAP Business Suite, a government database, to review procurement records, contracts, account transaction and financial data. Developed a Report of Findings and presented the evidence of fraud to senior leadership.
Improved the audit program by evaluating results and ensuring that conclusions were documented and summarized appropriately.
Conducted extensive research and analysis of data and records, interviewed audit subjects, and analyzed responses, capturing the combined information in a written Report of Findings.
Key team member of a special audit initiative tasked with auditing gas stations. Work resulted in a Report of Findings that exposed multiple gas stations for their failure to renew state inspection stickers and their participation in price gouging, thus, non-compliance to Federal regulations on gas.

Special Investigator, July 2001 – April 2005
Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General
Harrisburg, PA 17120
40+ hours per week

Supervisor: Kevin Collins, (717) 787-2543, contact me first
Initially served as an entry level investigator, Special Investigator I, and subsequently promoted to the position of Special Investigator II.

Accomplishments:

Organized and directed meetings with government officials regarding quality control and investigative audits.
Presented findings from investigations to senior leadership, while ensuring accuracy of procedures and performance outcomes.
Conducted a thorough and comprehensive investigation of a school board, which included interviews with school district personnel, researched and analyzed financial statements. Research disproved fraud allegations.
Uncovered and presented evidence, including a review and analysis of financial statements, to the Attorney General's office, which consequently led to the conviction of an individual charged with laundering money from a volunteer fire relief association.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, Bi-lingual Facilitating, Bi-lingual Public Speaking, Spreadsheets, Presentation/Graphics, Database Management, Internet Browsers, Program Management Tools, Desktop Publishing, White Papers, Charts, Graphs & Tables, Survey Development, Interviewer, Mediator

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

Tutoring: Elementary school students in Reading and Comprehension and prison inmates in Reading and Comprehension, Grammar and Writing and General Education (GED) Certificate PREP

AFFILIATIONS

Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges

REFERENCES

Gary Sharper, Business Manager, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, (215) 439-8720 (Professional)
Adrien Ruiz, Accountant, CompuMedics Limited, (610) 301-9828 (Professional)
Dr. Lesia M. Banks, Chief, Risk Management, DHS/FEMA, (202) 212-2220 (Personal)