Valerie Polyakov Email & Phone Number

Fairfield, Connecticut, Us

Working as an SME, I am supporting the global transformation project called "USG Contracts" which aims to put in place the strategy, people, policy, process, and system change required to successfully compete for and implement USAID contracts in line with Save the Children's' iNGO peers and corporate competitors. This requires change across the entire movement including in Save the Children U.S. (SCUS), Save the Children International (SCI), Regional Offices (ROs) and Country Offices (COs) to build capacity and capability to win acquisition awards and deliver results.

Bethesda, Md, Us

Bethesda, Md, Us

• Led over 20 start-up engagements for newly awarded contracts overseas ensuring projects are fully operational within 3-6 months of contract award. Focus areas were business registration, purchasing/procurement office space and initial goods/services, establishing financial and accounting operations, human resources (recruitment, training, onboarding of new staff), and establishing policies and procedures for the new subsidiary. • Conducted international, client billable assignments ≥ 50% of the time internationally.

Pasadena, Ca, Us

• Managed a $148 million USAID-funded contract in the power and energy sector in Sub-Saharan Africa covering 15 countries in the areas of contract administration, project compliance and procurement. • Directly communicated with Contracting Officer (CO) and Contracting Officer Representative (COR) drafting and submitting approvals, consents, and waiver requests. • Drafted, reviewed and publicized Requests for Proposals & Quotations (RFPs & RFQs) and oversaw bid evaluations. • Managed 75 subcontractor relationships and issued subcontract agreements. • Advised on contractual terms, FAR and AIDAR regulations. • Supervised two Contracts Administrators.

Durham, Nc, Us

• Led 10 audit engagements reviewing financial, operational, and compliance aspects of multi-million-dollar programs in accordance with internal audit program, corporate policies and procedures, and federal regulations such as CFR, ADS, and FAR.• Wrote in-depth reports conveying internal audit findings, recommendations and risk ratings based on engagement results; and conducted post-engagement follow-up on recommended actions, achieving a 95% rating of closed audit findings within the target due date. • Conducted international travel 35% of the time globally.

Washington, District Of Columbia, Us

• Managed every aspect of organization's 30-person business unit; supported executive team, strategized portfolio structure, and assessed training and skill development needs. • Led financial management and analysis for a $198 million portfolio and provided project implementation guidance to meet corporate profitability targets. • Contributed to business development efforts, including proposal preparation, strategic writing, budget preparation (cost volume), and recruitment for hard to fill positions (Chief of Party, technical specialists, etc.)• Supervised and mentored staff on professional development opportunities. • Directed home office staffing and recruitment of qualified staff to fill vacant positions at all levels. • Served as the primary relationship manager with technical staff and project managers across multi-functional departments in the organization.

Washington, District Of Columbia, Us

• Managed a $420 million portfolio consisting of 32 contracts providing finance and accounting guidance through monthly reviews of expenses incurred by overseas project offices. Reconciled field office trial balances, reviewed bank reconciliations, and recommended resolutions for unreconciled amounts. • Ensured all costs were in accordance with corporate policies and federal regulations; provided support for external audits; and trained and mentored new staff, HQ project teams and field finance managers on project financial management and accounting processes.• Served as a financial start-up specialist on a USAID -funded project in Mongolia implementing a field accounting system and training field-based finance team on financial policies and corporate accounting procedures.

Washington, District Of Columbia, Us

Recruitment Management:- Led full life-cycle corporate recruitment for Eastern Europe and Asia business units by strategizing staffing needs with hiring managers; negotiating salaries; and composing acceptance and rejection letters.- Co-managed the Entry Level Professional (ELP) program by leading and coordinating cohort meetings and serving as a career guidance advocate to new hires.- Coordinated, organized and lead outreach events including corporate informational sessions, informational interviews, on and off-site visits and career fairs.- Composed position descriptions and job advertisements on various venues (electronically and in print).Management and Leadership:- Led budget management process and prepared monthly pipeline reports to management executives. - Proposed solutions for increased efficiency and accuracy to meet departmental and company-wide goals.- Provided customer service by responding to client requests within 24 hours or less.

Washington, District Of Columbia, Us

• Managed daily cash applications of payments• Processed a high-volume of transactions, logged payments, and distributed and/or mailed checks to appropriate individuals and vendors. Prepared and submit deposits, ACH, wire transfers, and foreign draft requests to the bank.• Reviewed and processed expense reports, travel, and per diem transactions in accordance with USAID, FAR, and Chemonics regulations• Coded and inputted transactions into the Microsoft Dynacom Solomon VI financial system.

Boston, Ma, Us

- Calculated figures for the 2007 Monthly Merchant Loss Report and computed and budgeted sales figures for the 2007 Monthly Sales Report- Conducted industry researches to determine financing status of merchants- Reviewed daily Visa and MasterCard transactions for suspicious, fraudulent activity- Performed merchant review calls to verify cardholder purchases- Attained White Belt certification through the Lean Six Sigma Quality Training

Bachelor Of Science, Business Administration With A Finance Focus

N/A; Semester Study Abroad, European Cultural Heritage