Stephanie Howell

Experienced and results-driven leader with over 20 years optimizing stakeholders' interests and providing day-to-day operational oversight of various departments, providing support for projects/ programs and providing IT support. Skilled in strategic planning, change management, HR, financial oversight, conflict resolution in a unionized and non-union environment.

Director of Operations / People Operations Manager at Friends of Irgun Nechei Zahal (2023-09 – Present)

• Own day-to-day HR operations; new hire setup; offboarding, employment verifications, and status changes
• Administer benefits in partnership outside vendor
• Maintain compliance with federal and multi-state employment law requirements for a remote and non-remote workforce
• Own and run multi-state payroll, track staff PTO
• Ensure compliance with EEO, FLSA, ERISA, ACA, HIPAA and federal/state statues, including wage and hour requirements and required notices
• Identify compliance risks
• Manage record retention and I-9 compliance
• Maintain HRIS accuracy and serve as the primary system administrator for all people systems
• Coordinate with office vendors, maintain accurate vendor records and W-9 records for such vendors
• Lead employee relations responsibilities and serve as primary point of contact for employee questions, concerns, and policy interpretation
• Independently handle employee relations matters, including advising various department leaders on conduct issues and resolving workplace concerns with limited oversight
• Exercise judgement in identifying and escalating highly complex or high-risk matters to CEO and/or outside counsel
• Ensure transparency and consistency in people-related policies and practices
• Serve as advisor to CEO and regional Directors
• Collaborate with senior leadership to execute regional strategies supporting business growth and operational efficiency
• Manage and monitor financial accounts of $14M+; operational account, restricted and non-restricted donations account
• Process domestic and international wire transfers
• Liquidate stocks and provide financial reporting to CFO
• Process and review all operational receivables for accuracy and process payment via ACH or wire
• Serve as point of contact for external accountants and auditors, assist with audits and YE-tax reports
• Review staff expense reports and process reimbursement

HRIS Financial Analyst (Contract Assignment) at Ahold Delhaize (2022-06 – 2023-08)

• Worked directly with I.T. reporting team to troubleshoot issues and determine data discrepancies
• Tested resolutions for defects and document findings in tracking SAP migration
• Success Factors Employee Central update and review union deduction, payroll, member personal information as outlined in Collectively Bargained Benefits (CBB) contracts
• Worked with IT team to define approaches for mass updates/ validate load files in Success Factor
• Collaborated with a variety of internal and external contacts including Union vendor auditor
• Assisted in data configuration of between $300k weekly and $2+ million monthly vendor fringe benefits payment for 60,000 union employees
• Prepared and updated training materials and cross-trained peers on HRIS Software

Program Manager at UFT- Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund (2016-05 – 2020-11)

• Implemented effective communication techniques and manuals to lead and motivate staff
• Managed special projects and cross-functional priorities
• Implemented operational systems, SOPs and created program training manuals
• Implemented timely lead flow, scheduling, documentation, and pipeline readiness
• Led a team that distributed $1+M in yearly scholarship awards
• Managed outreach recruitment process; created promotion and registration packets
• Created a financial search program for students needing additional financial assistance
• Implemented account reconciliation to ensure allocated funds were distributed each semester
• Processed weekly payroll through Kronos and maintained staff accrued time accounts
• Worked with Salesforce Project Manager to create flow chart for migration

Compliance Officer / Operations Manager at UFT Welfare Fund (1997-11 – 2016-05)

• Oversaw day-to-day operations of organization
• Lead subject expert in HIPAA Privacy and HIPAA Privacy guidance
• Maintained processes for receiving, documenting, tracking, investigating, and resolving members, and employees' requests and complaints regarding Personal Health Information
• Coordinated with internal /external departments such as legal counsel, accountants and vendors
• Identified operational bottleneck achieving a 25% increase in administrative Assistants productivity through effective leadership and motivational strategies
• Administered and processed new hire/ terminated employees' medical benefits
• Processed and ran weekly payroll, tracked vacation/sick pay, and input exceptions
• Negotiated with staffing recruiters as needed for qualified temporary/ temp-to-perm roles
• Decreased supply chain costs by 20%

Master of Business Administration in International Business – American Public University System

Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration – CUNY John Jay College