Carie O’Brien
Canton
Summary
Project manager with extensive experience at Geographic Solutions, specializing in agile methodologies and stakeholder engagement. Led successful software implementations that improved service delivery and client satisfaction. Expertise in risk management and team leadership, driving process improvements for timely project completions and enhanced operational efficiency.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Manager
Geographic Solutions
Palm Harbor
01.2024 - Current
- Managed software development lifecycle (GRID methodology), coordinating technical teams and stakeholders, overseeing project plans, mitigating risks, and ensuring client satisfaction.
- Managed project schedules, ensuring timely completion of key milestones.
- Coordinated with stakeholders to define project scopes and objectives clearly.
- Led implementation of unemployment insurance software, enhancing service delivery for state clients.
Manager - IT
Sagitec Solutions
Saint Paul
01.2019 - 01.2024
- Functioned as the Functional Business Lead for the Texas Unemployment Insurance Tax and Benefits Modernization Project.
- Using agile methodologies, work with multi-functional teams to define, estimate, and document the overall scope of software projects with significant complexity.
- Managed the creation of SDLC artifacts, converted business requirements into technical specifications, and coordinated the SDLC process.
- Developed business cases, formulated project plans, and identified resource requirements to support project objectives.
- Established project team roles, conducted team meetings, promoted healthy team dynamics, assessed present-state, created alternative future-state strategies, and enabled implementation.
- Acted as primary liaison for senior client stakeholders, facilitating communication and project updates.
- Oversaw project delivery and approvals, addressed action items, resolved issues, and managed risks and contingency plans.
- Monitored project progress against the project plan and communicated variances to stakeholders.
Tax Bureau Chief
State of Iowa
Des Moines
01.2013 - 01.2019
- Planned, directed, and administered US Department of Labor unemployment insurance programs, enhancing compliance and collection processes for tax and benefits, taxpayer assistance activities, and employer benefit charging.
- Ensured the effectiveness of programs and oversaw compliance with applicable federal and state laws, rules, policies, standards, and regulations.
- Established, implemented, and monitored program and bureau goals and objectives, ensuring alignment with legislative and judicial guidelines.
- Directed the development of policies and other documents used in executive decision-making and provided technical consultation to the Division Administrator and Director.
- Hired, trained, and directed 70 staff and evaluated their performance.
- Identified resources needed and developed and controlled budget and expenditures.
- Program sponsor for an integrated tax, benefit, and appeals unemployment insurance system.
- Identified and implemented new technology/tools, improving operational strategies to enhance program efficiency.
- Proposed administrative rule and Iowa Code changes to effectively administer the UI program with available new technology.
- Prepared, addressed, and responded to State, Federal, and IRS audits, including IRS safeguards.
Regional Operations Manager
State of Iowa
Des Moines
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Provided leadership and direction to the tax operations while establishing and maintaining principles, policies, practices, and initiatives.
- Ensured the effectiveness of programs and oversaw compliance with applicable federal and state laws, rules, policies, standards, and regulations.
- Championed process improvements throughout project management life cycle, enhancing overall effectiveness.
- Managed MyIowaUI project scope, ensuring compliance with quality standards and adherence to timelines.
- Supervised project timelines and monitored all aspects of project management, including progress, communications, and risks.
- Researched and provided well-thought-out input to enterprise project management decisions and participated in the creation and implementation of standards and practices.
- Developed employee performance metrics and dashboards, conducted annual evaluations, managed rewards and discipline, and resolved personnel issues.
- Acted as a mentor/coach to other managers.
Unemployment Insurance Manager
State of Iowa
Des Moines
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Managed one of three Field Audit Units in the Unemployment Insurance Tax Bureau.
- Led a team of fifteen field auditors and one accounting clerk II to ensure effective audit operations.
- Oversaw staff located in the administration office in Des Moines and multiple field offices statewide.
- Recommended personnel actions for selection, performance evaluations, and attendance regulation to maintain compliance and operational standards.
- Conducted training sessions for staff on relevant laws and organizational policies to ensure compliance.
- Utilize internal reports of work production to assess progress toward meeting U.S. Department of Labor and Iowa Workforce Development standards.
- Recommend changes to current practice to improve performance and translate standards into performance expectations.
- Collaborated with other units in the Tax Bureau and divisions within Iowa Workforce Development to evaluate and resolve operational problems.
Field Auditor
State of Iowa
Des Moines
01.2010 - 12.2010
- Performed tax audits of accounting records of business organizations, individuals and partnerships.
- Determined employer tax liability and ensured timely filing of reports to maintain compliance.
- Investigated changes in business ownership to determine liability of successor employer for transfer of experience rating and to update and correct agency records.
- Investigated delinquent employers for wage report filings and payment of contributions to correct omitted wage credits.
- Interpreted Iowa Employment Security Laws as a representative of the department for accountants, CPAs, attorneys, political subdivisions, and employers in the area.
- Represented department to clarify legal points and provide factual support for liability determinations and appeals.
- Reviewed assignments of field auditors for coverage of law violations and accuracy of reports.
Revenue Examiner II
State of Iowa
Des Moines
01.2005 - 01.2009
- Examined sales and use tax returns to assess taxpayer liability and ensure compliance with state revenue code.
- Evaluated tax returns for accuracy and compliance with state regulations.
- Conducted audits to verify taxpayer information and financial records.
- Prepared detailed reports on audit findings for review by management.
Child Support Recovery Officer
State of Iowa
Des Moines
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Located and engaged absent parents to initiate support recovery procedures, motivating them to discuss child support payment frequency and amounts while submitting financial information.
- Determined appropriate legal actions for referral to County Attorney by assessing party locations, original court order venues, enforceable order availability, and paternity status.
- Evaluated a caseload to refer to the County Attorney those cases which are likely to result in greater recovery.
- Attended court hearings to provide testimony and recommend the hearing's disposition.
- Explained and provided Child Support Recovery Unit policies and procedures to clients, Income Maintenance Staff, law enforcement agencies and others to generate program interest, acceptance, and cooperation.
- Developed program goals and objectives to align with statewide Child Support Recovery Unit initiatives.
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Accounting and Business Administration
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IASkills
- Project management
- Project planning
- Agile methodologies
- Scope management
- Requirements gathering
- Quality assurance
- Risk management
- Schedule management
- Project scheduling
- Process improvement
- Cross-collaboration
- Stakeholder engagement
- Client communication
- Customer relations
- Time management
- Conflict resolution
- Team leadership
- Effective communication
- Written communication
- Problem solving
- Root-cause analysis
- Scope analysis
- Risk management
- Agile methodologies
Licenses Certificates Training
- 07/01/22, Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute
- 06/01/13, Certified Public Manager, Drake University
Timeline
Project Manager
Geographic Solutions
01.2024 - Current
Manager - IT
Sagitec Solutions
01.2019 - 01.2024
Tax Bureau Chief
State of Iowa
01.2013 - 01.2019
Regional Operations Manager
State of Iowa
01.2011 - 01.2012
Unemployment Insurance Manager
State of Iowa
01.2010 - 01.2011
Field Auditor
State of Iowa
01.2010 - 12.2010
Revenue Examiner II
State of Iowa
01.2005 - 01.2009
Child Support Recovery Officer
State of Iowa
01.2001 - 01.2004
Bachelor's Degree - Accounting and Business Administration
Coe College