Dana Zellers
South Williamsport,PA
Summary
Dynamic Audit Manager with expertise in audit management, risk assessment, and compliance. Proven track record of leading teams to enhance operational efficiency and ensure regulatory adherence.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Audit Manager
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - Bureau of Audits
03.2024 - Current
- Led audit team in evaluating compliance with state and federal regulations and policies on 50+ evaluations, performance audits and mandatory agreed-upon audits in the last 2 years.
- Experienced with working with the Pennsylvania Department of Education on audits with the main objective to ensure auditees met regulatory and financial compliance with federal and state requirements.
- Developed and implemented audit plans to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.
- Trained and mentored junior auditors (7+) on best practices and methodologies.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to address audit findings and improve processes.
- Presented audit results to senior management, ensuring clarity and actionable insights.
- Utilized auditing software for data analysis, improving accuracy of reports and findings.
- Managed a team of auditors, ensuring accurate and timely completion of audit projects (2+ years).
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge on accounting standards and best practices to ensure high-quality audit results were delivered consistently.
- Implemented risk-based auditing strategies, resulting in better identification of potential issues.
- Enhanced audit efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing new auditing software.
- Coordinated, managed and implemented auditing projects and prepared for evaluation.
- Evaluated effectiveness of internal controls by testing key controls across various state agencies and external auditees.
- Improved client relations by maintaining open lines of communication and addressing concerns promptly.
- Gathered and analyzed financial data to determine improvement efforts.
- Provided valuable insights to senior management on potential risks identified during audits.
- Facilitated internal audits and prepared detailed reports on findings.
- Developed comprehensive audit plans outlining scope, goals, timelines, and resource requirements for each project.
- Ensured compliance with federal and state regulations by conducting regular reviews of auditees policies and procedures.
- Collaborated with external auditors to provide accurate information needed for successful annual audits (GAAP Single Audits).
- Consistently met deadlines for audit reports, helping maintain company reputation for reliability and professionalism.
- Interpret federal and state regulations and monitor for updates.
Audit Specialist 3
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - Bureau of Audits
05.2014 - 03.2024
- Lead a variety of engagements including audits, agreed-upon procedures engagements (AUPS), evaluations and review of various types of entities.
- Ensured audits were conducted in accordance with generally accepted government audit standards.
- Continually monitored for regulatory and financial compliance with federal and state requirements.
- Improved risk assessment capabilities by incorporating data analytics tools into the audit process, enabling precise identification of high-risk areas warranting further examination.
- Assisted external auditors with different sections of the Commonwealth's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) audit.
- Assisted other Commonwealth agencies and external auditors in single audit requests.
- Contributed to the ongoing evolution of the organization's audit program by participating in regular process evaluations and suggesting areas for enhancement.
- Efficiently managed multiple concurrent audit projects, ensuring timely completion without sacrificing quality or attention to detail.
- Safeguarded sensitive information throughout the audit process by adhering to strict confidentiality protocols.
- Developed strong relationships with key stakeholders, fostering open communication channels necessary for successful audit engagements.
- Prepared working papers, reports and supporting documentation for audit findings.
- Maintained professional knowledge by achieving 80+ training hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) bi-annually.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Central Penn College
Harrisburg05-2014
Skills
- GAGAS and AICPA standards and compliance
- Federal and State regulatory compliance
- Audit Planning
- Audit documentation
- Client relationship management
- Risk assessment
- Data analytics
- Internal Controls (GAO Standards)
- Audit management
- Monitoring adherence to regulations
- Report preparation
- Corrective action implementation
Timeline
Audit Manager
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - Bureau of Audits
03.2024 - Current
Audit Specialist 3
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - Bureau of Audits
05.2014 - 03.2024
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Central Penn College