JUAN BRETON
Nashua
Summary
Versatile financial professional with over 8 years of experience in finance. Expertise in managing grants, contracts, and funding from private sponsors and federal agencies, including NSF, NIH, DoD, and DOE. Proven track record of overseeing multimillion-dollar portfolios while optimizing costs and mitigating risks in compliance with OMB Circulars and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200). Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to drive financial success through effective reporting, budgeting, compliance, and proficiency with systems such as Salesforce, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Concur, and Banner.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Financial Research Administrator
UMass Lowell
01.2023 - Current
- Lead strategic and financial oversight for a $60M+ research grants and contracts portfolio, serving as a principal liaison to faculty, department heads, and executive leadership for post-award financial operations.
- Conduct training sessions for staff on grant management best practices and tools.
- Lead strategic initiatives to improve research administration workflows across departments.
- Direct the full lifecycle of post-award administration, ensuring compliance with institutional and sponsor policies, with measurable improvements in efficiency and reporting accuracy.
- Collaborate with pre-award teams and principal investigators to support proposal development, budget preparation, and seamless award transition processes.
- Oversee complex financial transactions, including billing, invoicing, and receivables, while proactively resolving funding discrepancies ensuring timely and accurate project execution.
- Conduct detailed financial analyses, forecast spending trends, and provide data-driven insights to senior leadership for decision-making.
- Process journal entries for cost transfers, cross-campus payments, tuition reimbursement, and internal project funding, while maintaining precise financial records.
- Spearhead grant and contract close-out procedures, including revenue/expense reconciliation and accelerated spending plans to optimize funding utilization.
- Oversee financial reporting and invoicing for Army-funded contracts, using Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) for reporting, ensuring precise cost recovery and compliance.
- Approve high-value reimbursements, procurement requests, personnel actions, and equipment purchases for sponsored research projects, aligning expenditures with contractual obligations.
- Provide leadership to cross-functional research administration staff, mentoring junior team members and promoting continuous training and development.
- Lead projects aimed at reducing outstanding closeouts and pending accounts receivable balances across departments.
- Increase compliance with regulatory requirements through diligent monitoring and timely reporting of research activities.
Assistant Director of Student Affairs Financial Administration
University of Massachusetts Lowell
08.2021 - 01.2023
- Directed budgeting and compliance for 175+ student organizations and 20 administrative divisions, managing a collective budget exceeding $1M.
- Implemented strategic financial planning models that enhanced tracking, forecasting accuracy, and risk management.
- Led procurement, vendor management, accounts receivables, and accounts payables processes for 5 departments, ensuring compliance with Massachusetts procurement standards and competitive bidding practices.
- Trained and mentored staff and student leaders on financial planning, cash management, and internal control systems, fostering a culture of fiscal responsibility.
- Monitored the quality of purchasing processes, pricing accuracy, purchase orders, and check/payment requests.
Financial Wellness Specialist
Middlesex Community College
07.2019 - 08.2021
- Designed interactive financial literacy curriculum on budgeting, credit card management, student loans, and other financial wellness topics to improve student retention.
- Managed end-to-end budgeting, tax compliance, and vendor payments, while developing risk mitigation strategies.
- Collaborated with program administrator to track spending, reconcile accounts, and ensure appropriate use of $150k in grant funds.
Teller
Washington Savings Bank
08.2016 - 08.2021
- Provided exceptional service by assisting customers in a friendly and professional manner.
- Provided high-level banking services, handling high-volume cash and transaction processing.
- Posted credits and debits to the bank’s general ledger, collaborating with accounting teams to ensure accurate financial records.
Office Assistant
UMass Lowell, Centers for Learning
06.2018 - 07.2019
- Managed payroll data for $400k+ in funding, providing data-driven analysis and budget allocation recommendations.
- Supervised a team of 8 student workers in front-desk operations.
- Performed grant accounting functions, including budgeting, financial reporting, cost allocations, and expenditure monitoring for NSF LSAMP Grant.
Volunter Financial & Logistics Coordinator
Lowell H&L Festival
04.2022 - 08.2024
- Advised the committee on strategic decision-making to host a festival with a $40k+ budget.
- Oversaw all aspects of festival finances, including forecasting, record-keeping, tax compliance, financial risk management, accounts receivables, and accounts payable.
- Completed all necessary logistical needs for each program activity, including space reservations, work orders, catering requests, transportation, marketing, and contracts.
- Managed grant applications, sponsorships, and fundraising initiatives, driving a 50% increase in event funding.
- Coordinated and recruited food, arts & crafts, sound, and stage vendors.
Education
MBA - Finance Concentration
UMass Lowell
Lowell, MA07.2022
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Finance and MIS Concentration
UMass Lowell
Lowell, MA05.2021
Skills
- Budget forecasting
- Microsoft Excel and SQL proficiency
- Cost monitoring
- Trend forecasting
- Expense monitoring
- AP and AR management
- Account reconciliation
- GAAP and Uniform understanding
- Leadership and mentoring
- Compliance management
- Data cleaning
- Analytical problem solving
Certification
- Associate Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official | Fall 2022
- MASFAA Financial Wellness Certification Program | Spring 2021
- Ethical Leadership Certification, NASBA Center for the Public Trust | April 2020
- Bloomberg Core Market Concepts | April 2022
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Financial Research Administrator
UMass Lowell
01.2023 - Current
Volunter Financial & Logistics Coordinator
Lowell H&L Festival
04.2022 - 08.2024
Assistant Director of Student Affairs Financial Administration
University of Massachusetts Lowell
08.2021 - 01.2023
Financial Wellness Specialist
Middlesex Community College
07.2019 - 08.2021
Office Assistant
UMass Lowell, Centers for Learning
06.2018 - 07.2019
Teller
Washington Savings Bank
08.2016 - 08.2021
MBA - Finance Concentration
UMass Lowell
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Finance and MIS Concentration
UMass Lowell