Mery Dalila Alfaro de Cañas
Calle Circunvalación, #230, Residencial Terranova, San Jacinto,San Salvador, El Salvador
Summary
I possess a strong background in administrative roles, particularly in managing projects funded by the U.S. government. With 16 years of experience at the U.S. Peace Corps, where I served as a sub-cashier, I have extensive expertise in processing complex invoices and payments. Additionally, I have a proven track record in overseeing logistical operations and contracting services for both local and international events.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Administrative Assistant
IREX/International Research & Exchanges Board Inc./USAID Project
San Salvador
10.2022 - 02.2025
- Assist in all procurement process for IREX office
- Prepare the bid evaluations, conducting a vetting process review and analyze every quotation for the best offer
- Follows-up on purchase orders and requisitions
- Request payment of goods/services received supported by appropriate documentation
- Assist in the preparation of VAT report
- Coordinate and book travel arrangements for IREX Visitors, including flights, accommodations, transportation, and other necessary arrangements
- Manage and track travel expenses, including reconciling invoices, receipts, ensure compliance with IREX policies
- Manage all petty cash payments, controls and reporting
- Assist in the preparation of internal meetings
- Coordinates logistics for meetings, including room setup and catering
- Manage life and health insurance benefits for IREX staff
- Serves as liaison with insurance company and IREX
- Help in Logistics for various training events as required
- Prepare all documentation for onboarding of new employees
- Maintain employee records in both electronic and digital formats and Adhere to IREX policies and procedures, guaranteeing the security and confidentiality of all files
- Coordinate rooms meeting, projector for staff uses
- Works with sensitive information with discretion to maintain confidentiality and security and ensure compliance with privacy policies and regulations
- Perform other administrative tasks as assigned
Regional Administrative and Logistics Assistant
Foundation for Food and Nutrition of Central America and Panamá (FANCAP)
09.2021 - 06.2022
- Company Overview: Guatemala/USAID
- Support in the logistics, planning and organization of meetings, events, forums and local and/or regional workshops (El Salvador, Honduras and Panama) including sending out invitations to participants, contract food, venue, accommodations, purchase fly ticket and others
- Support representative in the logistics of organizing seminars, workshops and training in terms of documentation, manuals and logistical materials
- Manage the approval of funding requirements for purchases of the Region
- Review and ensure that the purchasing processes meet all requested requirements, prior to processing them for signature and approval
- Keep a digital record of the administrative processes generated in El Salvador, Honduras and Panama
- Request quotes for goods and services for the development of activities in El Salvador, Honduras and Panama in accordance with the guidelines established in the FANCAP Procurement and Contracting Manual
- Supplier validation through the OFAC, SAM GOV and UN systems
- Review of the payroll of El Salvador, Honduras and Panama
- Guatemala/USAID
Country Administrative Assistant
Foundation for Food and Nutrition of Central America and Panamá (FANCAP)
08.2020 - 08.2021
- Company Overview: Guatemala/USAID
- Conduct in-country procurement processes in accordance with USAID and FANCAP policies
- Prepare purchase orders from El Salvador, Honduras and Panamá
- Execute logistical processes of activities planned by the country team
- Carry out procurement processes and request for quotations
- Preparation of purchase orders for local goods and services in accordance with FANCAP
- Review of monthly payroll
- Prepare minutes, meetings, workshops and other activities requested by the Country Advisor
- Support in the translation of documents
- Coordinate meetings, technical workshops and other project activities requested by the country advisor
- Archive and organize digital documents
- Guatemala/USAID
Administrative Assistant
Counterpart International
04.2017 - 08.2019
- Company Overview: USAID Rights and Dignity Project
- Carry out all receptionist functions including: answering and transferring phone calls, scheduling courier pick-ups; handling incoming/outgoing mail and greeting guests;
- Manage and handle petty cash funds
- Track and pay office expenses
- Organize and schedule meetings and appointments for COP/DCOP
- Manage the system of use of meeting rooms
- Manage the system of vehicle use
- Check and maintain attendance records, leave reports for Project personnel;
- Draft routine correspondence for COP/DCOP
- Book travel arrangements for visitors and COP/DCOP
- Assist in coordinating schedule of the contracted Program driver;
- Perform other duties as required within the multitask framework assigned by COP, DCOP and Finance and Administration Manager
- USAID Rights and Dignity Project
Training Administrative Assistant
Peace Corps-El Salvador
08.2000 - 10.2009
- Planned and designed and managed San Vicente, El Salvador every training cycle budget
- Managed petty cash of $2500
- Organized and coordinated the Trainee Arrival Event (TAE) and other training events
- Provided the host families with calendars of payments and logged the receipts of living allowance
- Managed bi-weekly timesheets for all full-time Peace Corps Staff
- Managed personal time and attendance
- Planned vehicle maintenance
- Coordinated of office maintenance and liaison between Peace Corps and the landlord
- Assisted in performing physical inventory
- Supervise the Receptionist, Driver and Guard
Training Administrative Assistant
Peace Corps-El Salvador
08.2000 - 09.2009
- Review and verify various types of complex vouchers, such as contract invoices, requests, and travel expenses
- Process liquidation of non-cashier vouchers
- Ensure that payments were eligible under PC guidance and had valid obligations and sufficient funds in ForPost
- Serve as liaison between Voucher Examiner in Headquarters and Peace Corps El Salvador
- Prepare calculation for all PSCs contracts
- Coordinated office maintenance and liaison between Peace Corps and the landlord
- Assisted in performing physical inventory
- Organized and coordinated the Trainee Arrival Event (TAE) and other training event
- Planned and designed and managed every training cycle budget
- Prepare the necessary documentation to open the trainees bank accounts
- Managed petty cash of $2500 (Training Center expenses)
- Organized and coordinated the Trainee Arrival Event (TAE) and other training events
- Pay of living allowance to host families
- Managed personal time and attendance
- Planned vehicle maintenance
- Responsible for Peace Corps staff biweekly payment as well as bonuses
- Work as liaison between Health Insurance Company and PC staff and process medical claims
- Monitor the inventory of medical supplies
Education
Candidate a Bachelor Degree - English as Foreign Language (EFL)
Universidad de El Salvador
01.1993 - 01.1996
Skills
FORPost platform
Work References
- Max Alfaro, Former Country Representative, IREX El Salvador, +503 7746-7130
- Claudia Rivera, Civil Society and Media Resiliency and Legal Representative, IREX, crivera@irex.org, 503 6037 3842
- Vadieh Mobasher, Former Director of Management & Operations, Peace Corps, integridad95@gmail.com, 503 6013 5835
- Alexia Alvarado, Country Advisor-El Salvador, FANCAP, alexia_alv@hotmail.com, 503 7180 2156
Awards
- Peace Corps- For contribution in the Implementation and Organization of Pre-Service Training for the new Peace Corps Trainees.
- Peace Corps- In recognition of 5 years of dedication as a staff member.
- American Embassy: Excellent performance and Initiative and superior management during a difficult time in closing the Peace Corps Training Center.
- American Embassy: Team Player Award.
Timeline
Administrative Assistant
IREX/International Research & Exchanges Board Inc./USAID Project
10.2022 - 02.2025
Regional Administrative and Logistics Assistant
Foundation for Food and Nutrition of Central America and Panamá (FANCAP)
09.2021 - 06.2022
Country Administrative Assistant
Foundation for Food and Nutrition of Central America and Panamá (FANCAP)
08.2020 - 08.2021
Administrative Assistant
Counterpart International
04.2017 - 08.2019
Training Administrative Assistant
Peace Corps-El Salvador
08.2000 - 09.2009
Training Administrative Assistant
Peace Corps-El Salvador
08.2000 - 10.2009
Candidate a Bachelor Degree - English as Foreign Language (EFL)
Universidad de El Salvador
01.1993 - 01.1996
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