What are you waiting for? Visit the Community!

Have you visited the online Finance Community yet?  

Here's what you may have missed: 

• Our inaugural "Ask Me Anything" event:  Visit the Questions tab to see what community members asked, as well as the answers given by the Finance Strategic Transformation leadership team.
• Professional Development content about Crucial Conversations and Getting the Most out of Training.
• An introduction to Continuous Improvement 
• And much more!

Here's what you HAVEN'T missed:

Your opportunity to ask questions: Sure, we started off with an "Ask Me Anything" event, but you can and should ask questions about FST any time!  You can even post things you've heard others ask.  Visit the Questions section and ask away -- we're standing by to answer.

Your chance to submit ideas:  Our Ideas section is waiting for your thoughts on what processes might be candidates for improvement, whether it's in the eventual scope of FST or just a good continuous improvement project.  

The Community isn't the same without you . . . log on today!

What are you waiting for? Visit the Community!

Have you visited the online Finance Community yet?  

Here's what you may have missed: 

• Our inaugural "Ask Me Anything" event:  Visit the Questions tab to see what community members asked, as well as the answers given by the Finance Strategic Transformation leadership team.
• Professional Development content about Crucial Conversations and Getting the Most out of Training.
• An introduction to Continuous Improvement 
• And much more!

Here's what you HAVEN'T missed:

Your opportunity to ask questions: Sure, we started off with an "Ask Me Anything" event, but you can and should ask questions about FST any time!  You can even post things you've heard others ask.  Visit the Questions section and ask away -- we're standing by to answer.

Your chance to submit ideas:  Our Ideas section is waiting for your thoughts on what processes might be candidates for improvement, whether it's in the eventual scope of FST or just a good continuous improvement project.  

The Community isn't the same without you . . . log on today!

Please Stand By: The Beauty of a Standup Meeting

Shorter meetings.
Easier coordination of efforts.
Understanding of shared goals.
Stronger team bonds.
Quicker fixes to problems and roadblocks.
Sharing of ideas.
Keeping everyone in the loop.
Fewer emails.

Don't all those things sound great, like things we definitely would want? (Especially that email one!?) What if I told you that in many cases, these things are achievable through the removal of chairs?

Okay, it may be a bit of an overstatement to say that just getting chairs out of your meetings will be the answer to all your woes, but Standup Meetings deployed correctly, can be a very effective way of making the most of your team's time, reducing confusion, and getting things done.

Standup Meetings reduce the lethargy that can come with having a comfy seat under you. The mood of a standup meeting is energetic, fast-thinking, and often fun. It's easier to connect with colleagues, and definitely easier to identify problems and make decisions. 

Read more after the jump!

Click the image for a larger view.

Here's how they work:

• Standups usually last about 15 minutes (30 minutes max)
• They can be held daily or weekly, or just in response to a particular question or issue
• They usually involve team members sharing accomplishments, goals, and obstacles
• Longer discussions can be moved offline, but those conversations are easier to have because everyone has the information and is in the same place!

Where do we have Standup Meetings? Carr-Collab 2 is now designated as a Stand Up Meeting space (this change is being made in Outlook, so folks won't be unsure of what they're getting when making room reservations). The chairs are gone, and it's outfitted with a fully-stocked laptop cart!

Still not sure about the concept? Want to see a stand up in action? Pop by the ASG Weekly Standup (10 -10:30 every Tuesday in the VPF Suite) to check it out (or ask a member of the ASG Team how it works).

Who else is using Standups? Please email Judy DiVita (or drop by to see her in Office 265) to share how your team has used this format.

________________________________________________

Read more about Standup Meetings: https://www.planday.com/blog/daily-standup-meetings/

Please Stand By: The Beauty of a Standup Meeting

Shorter meetings.
Easier coordination of efforts.
Understanding of shared goals.
Stronger team bonds.
Quicker fixes to problems and roadblocks.
Sharing of ideas.
Keeping everyone in the loop.
Fewer emails.

Don't all those things sound great, like things we definitely would want? (Especially that email one!?) What if I told you that in many cases, these things are achievable through the removal of chairs?

Okay, it may be a bit of an overstatement to say that just getting chairs out of your meetings will be the answer to all your woes, but Standup Meetings deployed correctly, can be a very effective way of making the most of your team's time, reducing confusion, and getting things done.

Standup Meetings reduce the lethargy that can come with having a comfy seat under you. The mood of a standup meeting is energetic, fast-thinking, and often fun. It's easier to connect with colleagues, and definitely easier to identify problems and make decisions. 

Read more after the jump!

Click the image for a larger view.

Here's how they work:

• Standups usually last about 15 minutes (30 minutes max)
• They can be held daily or weekly, or just in response to a particular question or issue
• They usually involve team members sharing accomplishments, goals, and obstacles
• Longer discussions can be moved offline, but those conversations are easier to have because everyone has the information and is in the same place!

Where do we have Standup Meetings? Carr-Collab 2 is now designated as a Stand Up Meeting space (this change is being made in Outlook, so folks won't be unsure of what they're getting when making room reservations). The chairs are gone, and it's outfitted with a fully-stocked laptop cart!

Still not sure about the concept? Want to see a stand up in action? Pop by the ASG Weekly Standup (10 -10:30 every Tuesday in the VPF Suite) to check it out (or ask a member of the ASG Team how it works).

Who else is using Standups? Please email Judy DiVita (or drop by to see her in Office 265) to share how your team has used this format.

________________________________________________

Read more about Standup Meetings: https://www.planday.com/blog/daily-standup-meetings/

FOC Welcomes Nasima Andesha

Finance Outreach and Compliance is pleased to announce that Nasima Andesha has joined their team. Many people will know Andesha from her time in Human Resources, where she worked for 16 years. Her background has encompassed a little bit of everything, from keying tax and direct deposit forms and approving UVA staff, faculty, and student salaries, to working with Discoverer for audit purposes.

In her new role as an Administrative Technician, she will primarily handle requests for responsibilities in eSharp so that requests move smoothly to the training team and supporting procurement by working with purchasing hierarchies. Andesha says she looks forward to learning more about eSharp in this new capacity.

When not at work, Andesha enjoys reading, gardening, movies, and spending time with her husband and their five-year-old twin girls.

From President James Ryan

Sharing your stories, getting your steps in. 

Did you miss these two announcements from President Jim Ryan? 

Check them out after the jump!

Submit a video story for Double Take

As part of the upcoming inauguration weekend, I am asking for your help with a special event we’re holding called “Double Take: Stories That Make You Think Twice.”

I have always believed in the power of a story. Good stories can teach us, persuade us, or help us see the world in ways we didn’t before. And when we tell stories about ourselves, they help other people understand who we really are.

Good stories can also reveal something about a community, which is why, as part of my inauguration, I want to invite anyone affiliated with the university to tell their stories. We will listen, offer coaching, and ultimately choose 10 people to share their experiences in front of an audience.

The theme of this event will be one you may have heard me talk about before: building bridges. To me, building bridges is about establishing connections. Just like the brain builds connections across neurons as it develops and grows, a community is only as strong as the connections within it. We want to hear stories about bridges you’ve built—either here or at some other point in your life—and what happened as a result. Your story can be funny, sad, or anything in between. Whatever you want to share, we want to hear.

To ensure this is a meaningful experience for all involved, we will offer several different opportunities to share your story, both digitally or in person. You can submit a video (limited to five minutes or less) through your UVA Box account to inauguration@virginia.edu by October 1st. You can also visit a Story Stream trailer we’ll have parked next to Newcomb and Monroe Halls next week on September 24-28th – or, for a limited number of slots, you can sign up here to record your story at Madison Hall. In either case, you will have an opportunity to receive coaching or peer feedback.

The culmination of this experience will be an event on October 20th where a group of students, faculty, and staff will tell their stories publicly in Old Cabell Hall. I will be sharing one of my own, as will Dr. Vivian Pinn, and I encourage anyone who is interested to attend. I promise it will be worth your time.

Thanks in advance for your participation. I hope you are as excited as I am for this opportunity to end the inauguration weekend by listening with open hearts and minds to the many stories that make up UVA.

Register for the Jim Ryan Community Bridges 5K Run/Walk

The Jim Ryan Community Bridges 5K Run/Walk will raise funds for the Center for Nonprofit Excellence and hundreds of local charities. Faculty and staff have the opportunity to join teams affiliated with their School or unit. Students have the opportunity to join teams affiliated with student organizations or their School. Teams with the highest participation and most raised will receive special recognition at the awards ceremony.

Every dollar raised will go to these local organizations. All those registered by September 30 will get a commemorative t-shirt!

For those interested, you can register at https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Charlottesville/CommunityBridges5K.

More details on the Run/Walk can be found here:

https://news.virginia.edu/content/your-marks-community-bridges-5k-runwalk-set-inauguration-weekend

https://news.virginia.edu/content/qa-learn-more-about-community-bridges-5k-benefitting-local-nonprofits

Thank you in advance for helping make the Jim Ryan Community Bridges 5K Walk/Run a success.

From President James Ryan

Sharing your stories, getting your steps in. 

Did you miss these two announcements from President Jim Ryan? 

Check them out after the jump!

Submit a video story for Double Take

As part of the upcoming inauguration weekend, I am asking for your help with a special event we’re holding called “Double Take: Stories That Make You Think Twice.”

I have always believed in the power of a story. Good stories can teach us, persuade us, or help us see the world in ways we didn’t before. And when we tell stories about ourselves, they help other people understand who we really are.

Good stories can also reveal something about a community, which is why, as part of my inauguration, I want to invite anyone affiliated with the university to tell their stories. We will listen, offer coaching, and ultimately choose 10 people to share their experiences in front of an audience.

The theme of this event will be one you may have heard me talk about before: building bridges. To me, building bridges is about establishing connections. Just like the brain builds connections across neurons as it develops and grows, a community is only as strong as the connections within it. We want to hear stories about bridges you’ve built—either here or at some other point in your life—and what happened as a result. Your story can be funny, sad, or anything in between. Whatever you want to share, we want to hear.

To ensure this is a meaningful experience for all involved, we will offer several different opportunities to share your story, both digitally or in person. You can submit a video (limited to five minutes or less) through your UVA Box account to inauguration@virginia.edu by October 1st. You can also visit a Story Stream trailer we’ll have parked next to Newcomb and Monroe Halls next week on September 24-28th – or, for a limited number of slots, you can sign up here to record your story at Madison Hall. In either case, you will have an opportunity to receive coaching or peer feedback.

The culmination of this experience will be an event on October 20th where a group of students, faculty, and staff will tell their stories publicly in Old Cabell Hall. I will be sharing one of my own, as will Dr. Vivian Pinn, and I encourage anyone who is interested to attend. I promise it will be worth your time.

Thanks in advance for your participation. I hope you are as excited as I am for this opportunity to end the inauguration weekend by listening with open hearts and minds to the many stories that make up UVA.

Register for the Jim Ryan Community Bridges 5K Run/Walk

The Jim Ryan Community Bridges 5K Run/Walk will raise funds for the Center for Nonprofit Excellence and hundreds of local charities. Faculty and staff have the opportunity to join teams affiliated with their School or unit. Students have the opportunity to join teams affiliated with student organizations or their School. Teams with the highest participation and most raised will receive special recognition at the awards ceremony.

Every dollar raised will go to these local organizations. All those registered by September 30 will get a commemorative t-shirt!

For those interested, you can register at https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Charlottesville/CommunityBridges5K.

More details on the Run/Walk can be found here:

https://news.virginia.edu/content/your-marks-community-bridges-5k-runwalk-set-inauguration-weekend

https://news.virginia.edu/content/qa-learn-more-about-community-bridges-5k-benefitting-local-nonprofits

Thank you in advance for helping make the Jim Ryan Community Bridges 5K Walk/Run a success.

Fall Blood Drive at Carruthers Hall

Click image for larger view.

Fall Blood Drive at Carruthers Hall

Click image for larger view.

New in November from OE: Moving Agendas in the Clunky University

Who they calling clunky? :)  Click image for larger view.

• Topic: Moving Agendas in the Clunky University
• Presenter: Samuel Bacharach, McKelvey-Grant Professor at Cornell University
• Date: Nov. 8, 2018
• Time: 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
• Location: Holloway Hall in Bavaro Hall
• Info/Registration: For more info and to register, go to https://at.virginia.edu/move_agendas.
• Why Attend: Take advantage of this opportunity to learn about a template that leaders at all levels can use to create agility and synergy for the continuous organized flow of information and the movement of new ideas.

We hope that you’ll join us for these or future monthly Quality CORE Network events. To see additional upcoming events as they are added, visit the Quality CORE Network page.

New in November from OE: Moving Agendas in the Clunky University

Who they calling clunky? :)  Click image for larger view.

• Topic: Moving Agendas in the Clunky University
• Presenter: Samuel Bacharach, McKelvey-Grant Professor at Cornell University
• Date: Nov. 8, 2018
• Time: 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
• Location: Holloway Hall in Bavaro Hall
• Info/Registration: For more info and to register, go to https://at.virginia.edu/move_agendas.
• Why Attend: Take advantage of this opportunity to learn about a template that leaders at all levels can use to create agility and synergy for the continuous organized flow of information and the movement of new ideas.

We hope that you’ll join us for these or future monthly Quality CORE Network events. To see additional upcoming events as they are added, visit the Quality CORE Network page.

Financial Planning & Analysis welcomes Andrew McGehee

Andrew McGehee

Andrew McGehee has joined FP&A in the role of Senior Financial Analyst. McGehee comes to FP&A from the Office of Sponsored Programs, where he served as a Post Award Accountant for over two years.

In his new role, he will work with our stakeholders in schools and units to perform cost analysis for the facilities and administrative rate (better known as the "F&A rate").

McGehee earned his BS in Business, Accounting and Information Systems from Virginia Tech in 2011, and is currently pursuing an MBA in Business Administration from James Madison University. He was spurred to pursue a spot on the FP&A team in order to use his financial background in public accounting a little more fully.

"Public accounting gave me a great base for understanding what goes into an organization's finances, and I'm glad I can use those skills in this role to help UVA Finance," he said.

McGehee had some exposure to the F&A process in OSP; in FP&A, he will help prepare the F&A rate proposal for the federal government, a task he looks forward to.

"I am excited to analyze the financial data and work on such a big project," he said.

"The work we do has a tremendous impact on the research community and the University as a whole."

When he's not focused on work or school, McGehee enjoys spending time with his wife and their 11-month-old, as well as fishing, hiking, and kayaking.

Financial Planning & Analysis welcomes Andrew McGehee

Andrew McGehee

Andrew McGehee has joined FP&A in the role of Senior Financial Analyst. McGehee comes to FP&A from the Office of Sponsored Programs, where he served as a Post Award Accountant for over two years.

In his new role, he will work with our stakeholders in schools and units to perform cost analysis for the facilities and administrative rate (better known as the "F&A rate").

McGehee earned his BS in Business, Accounting and Information Systems from Virginia Tech in 2011, and is currently pursuing an MBA in Business Administration from James Madison University. He was spurred to pursue a spot on the FP&A team in order to use his financial background in public accounting a little more fully.

"Public accounting gave me a great base for understanding what goes into an organization's finances, and I'm glad I can use those skills in this role to help UVA Finance," he said.

McGehee had some exposure to the F&A process in OSP; in FP&A, he will help prepare the F&A rate proposal for the federal government, a task he looks forward to.

"I am excited to analyze the financial data and work on such a big project," he said.

"The work we do has a tremendous impact on the research community and the University as a whole."

When he's not focused on work or school, McGehee enjoys spending time with his wife and their 11-month-old, as well as fishing, hiking, and kayaking.

Looking for something?

For those of you who still haven't found what you're looking for.

Have you lost something recently or within the last year, hoping it has been found?

Well, look no further!

The front desk ‘Lost then Found’ box has everything from shoes, umbrellas, jewelry, notebooks, and more.

Stop by the front desk in Carruthers Hall to see if what you have lost has been found!

Looking for something?

For those of you who still haven't found what you're looking for.

Have you lost something recently or within the last year, hoping it has been found?

Well, look no further!

The front desk ‘Lost then Found’ box has everything from shoes, umbrellas, jewelry, notebooks, and more.

Stop by the front desk in Carruthers Hall to see if what you have lost has been found!

UVAFinance is looking for your suggestions: What's on your reading list?

Please share your book/website/blog/podcast suggestions to finance_engagement@virginia.edu 

UVAFinance is looking for your suggestions: What's on your reading list?

Please share your book/website/blog/podcast suggestions to finance_engagement@virginia.edu 

There's always room to improve: Continuous Improvement in UVAFinance

Probably nobody would argue with the idea that we can always strive to become better, and that focusing on improvement is a positive thing to do. What we don't always think about is how, if we really want to see tangible improvement results, we have to have a strategy.

That's where a culture of Continuous Improvement comes in.

Read more after the jump!

What is Continuous Improvement?

It's a way of life, a mindset that we all must adopt -- a commitment to positive change. In our respective roles, we are in the best position to identify what improvements need to be made to the processes we work with. 

The basics of Continuous Improvement

Start at the top and the bottom: Leadership reinforces and models the approach and assists by supplying resources and removing barriers. Everyone in the organization sees identification of opportunities for improvement as their job.

Identify Standard Work: You can't identify what should be improved and measure the impact of the improvement if you don't know what the process is. Define the process best practice first, then look for improvement opportunities.

Control the Process of Change: Make changes in a gradual, systemic way to avoid chaos and "change for the sake of change."

Document the Change: Document the results and impact of the change, as well as the process used to achieve it. This speeds the pace of improvement at the organization because we can build upon our successes.

Recognize Engagement: Recognizing and rewarding employees who are engaged in improvement efforts is vital if a culture of improvement is to thrive. Suggestions and ideas for improvement are to be welcomed!

The 1099 Process: An example of Continuous Improvement

During the process of preparing for the implementation of Total Supplier Management in Procurement and Supplier Diversity Services, the project team realized that the process for handling 1099s could use some improvement.

Because of confusion in the schools and units about the types of vendors and services the University pays, Accounts Payable was spending a lot of time, reviewing every payment request in certain categories line by line, to make sure everything was coded correctly in accordance with IRS rules about 1099-MISCs.

One of the problems is with the expenditure types, which are not intuitive nor obvious to those in the field. With some dedicated work and feedback from schools and units over three months, Linda Mayo and Brenda Nalley, partnering with Tanya Rahman and Shelly Winston Bowers, clarified and presented instructions on choosing the correct expenditure type and the 1099-MISC process.

Now expenditure types are easier to understand: stakeholders have a greater understanding of how 1099-MISC information links to the overall procurement process and can more easily choose the correct type. This will streamline the review required by the AP team and getting 1099-MISC forms out to vendors.

In the light of continuous improvement, the material has been made an online class both on the PSDS website and in the employee self-service learning (OLM). Additionally, more work is being done so the expenditure type information such as the best way to process payments through PSDS, if an expenditure type must first be addressed with the Fixed Asset Accounting group or if the type will produce a 1099-MISC for the vendor will be available in one central location.

It was a small, incremental change that made work easier for everyone and improved a process in which it was easy to make mistakes.

Pioneers of Continuous Improvement

UVAFinance's Administrative Services Group is currently pioneering the Continuous Improvement mindset with their kanban board in the VP Finance Suite. 

The ASG Team and their Kanban board

Judy DiVita, the Senior for Finance and Administration and leader of the ASG team, says the team felt it was especially important to model Continuous Improvement because of their work to support all of UVAFinancel, with a goal of seamless behind-the-scenes service.

The Kanban board is not only a way to track their processes, identify improvements, and measure their outcomes, but it's also a transparent look into their processes that anyone can view.

Find out more

The Finance Online Community is a great place to learn more about Continuous Improvement and get engaged in the process. A good place to start is this post by DiVita: https://ubicommunity.virginia.edu/community/uva-finance-transformation/blog/2018/08/27/what-is-fcic

You can also check out these episodes of the UVAFinance Podcast, Finance Matters:

Improving the Way We Work https://everydaygrace.podbean.com/e/improving-the-way-we-work-finance-matters/

Lean Concepts: https://everydaygrace.podbean.com/e/lean-concepts-finance-matters/

There's always room to improve: Continuous Improvement in UVAFinance

Probably nobody would argue with the idea that we can always strive to become better, and that focusing on improvement is a positive thing to do. What we don't always think about is how, if we really want to see tangible improvement results, we have to have a strategy.

That's where a culture of Continuous Improvement comes in.

Read more after the jump!

What is Continuous Improvement?

It's a way of life, a mindset that we all must adopt -- a commitment to positive change. In our respective roles, we are in the best position to identify what improvements need to be made to the processes we work with. 

The basics of Continuous Improvement

Start at the top and the bottom: Leadership reinforces and models the approach and assists by supplying resources and removing barriers. Everyone in the organization sees identification of opportunities for improvement as their job.

Identify Standard Work: You can't identify what should be improved and measure the impact of the improvement if you don't know what the process is. Define the process best practice first, then look for improvement opportunities.

Control the Process of Change: Make changes in a gradual, systemic way to avoid chaos and "change for the sake of change."

Document the Change: Document the results and impact of the change, as well as the process used to achieve it. This speeds the pace of improvement at the organization because we can build upon our successes.

Recognize Engagement: Recognizing and rewarding employees who are engaged in improvement efforts is vital if a culture of improvement is to thrive. Suggestions and ideas for improvement are to be welcomed!

The 1099 Process: An example of Continuous Improvement

During the process of preparing for the implementation of Total Supplier Management in Procurement and Supplier Diversity Services, the project team realized that the process for handling 1099s could use some improvement.

Because of confusion in the schools and units about the types of vendors and services the University pays, Accounts Payable was spending a lot of time, reviewing every payment request in certain categories line by line, to make sure everything was coded correctly in accordance with IRS rules about 1099-MISCs.

One of the problems is with the expenditure types, which are not intuitive nor obvious to those in the field. With some dedicated work and feedback from schools and units over three months, Linda Mayo and Brenda Nalley, partnering with Tanya Rahman and Shelly Winston Bowers, clarified and presented instructions on choosing the correct expenditure type and the 1099-MISC process.

Now expenditure types are easier to understand: stakeholders have a greater understanding of how 1099-MISC information links to the overall procurement process and can more easily choose the correct type. This will streamline the review required by the AP team and getting 1099-MISC forms out to vendors.

In the light of continuous improvement, the material has been made an online class both on the PSDS website and in the employee self-service learning (OLM). Additionally, more work is being done so the expenditure type information such as the best way to process payments through PSDS, if an expenditure type must first be addressed with the Fixed Asset Accounting group or if the type will produce a 1099-MISC for the vendor will be available in one central location.

It was a small, incremental change that made work easier for everyone and improved a process in which it was easy to make mistakes.

Pioneers of Continuous Improvement

UVAFinance's Administrative Services Group is currently pioneering the Continuous Improvement mindset with their kanban board in the VP Finance Suite. 

The ASG Team and their Kanban board

Judy DiVita, the Senior for Finance and Administration and leader of the ASG team, says the team felt it was especially important to model Continuous Improvement because of their work to support all of UVAFinancel, with a goal of seamless behind-the-scenes service.

The Kanban board is not only a way to track their processes, identify improvements, and measure their outcomes, but it's also a transparent look into their processes that anyone can view.

Find out more

The Finance Online Community is a great place to learn more about Continuous Improvement and get engaged in the process. A good place to start is this post by DiVita: https://ubicommunity.virginia.edu/community/uva-finance-transformation/blog/2018/08/27/what-is-fcic

You can also check out these episodes of the UVAFinance Podcast, Finance Matters:

Improving the Way We Work https://everydaygrace.podbean.com/e/improving-the-way-we-work-finance-matters/

Lean Concepts: https://everydaygrace.podbean.com/e/lean-concepts-finance-matters/

UVAFinance, meet your Wellness Champions!

UVAFinance is pleased to introduce your Wellness Champions!

Wellness Champions serve as a point of contact and liaison for UVA's Hoo's Well program and lead a healthy lifestyle by example.  Our new Wellness Champs will be involved with supporting and promoting Hoo's Well programming and will help keep us informed about events, offerings, and other announcements. 

Get to know your UVAFinance Wellness Champions after the jump!

Get to know your Wellness Champions

More on Hoo's Well:  http://www.hr.virginia.edu/other-hr-services/hooswell/

More about Wellness Champions:  http://www.hr.virginia.edu/other-hr-services/hooswell/wellness-champions/wellness-champion-faqs/

UVAFinance, meet your Wellness Champions!

UVAFinance is pleased to introduce your Wellness Champions!

Wellness Champions serve as a point of contact and liaison for UVA's Hoo's Well program and lead a healthy lifestyle by example.  Our new Wellness Champs will be involved with supporting and promoting Hoo's Well programming and will help keep us informed about events, offerings, and other announcements. 

Get to know your UVAFinance Wellness Champions after the jump!

Get to know your Wellness Champions

More on Hoo's Well:  http://www.hr.virginia.edu/other-hr-services/hooswell/

More about Wellness Champions:  http://www.hr.virginia.edu/other-hr-services/hooswell/wellness-champions/wellness-champion-faqs/

The Latest on BudgetUVA

The FP&A team recently led the Phase One launch of a new web form called BudgetUVA, designed to allow users to manage their operating budgets more easily and effectively. A cross-functional team with members from IT Enterprise Applications and CACS has been working together with FP&A for several months on this project, with many positive outcomes.

The project has also proven to be more complex than originally planned. BudgetUVA has interacted with both UBI and Recon@ in unexpected ways, as many of you may have encountered.

We realize that many of you rely on these tools daily to manage your fiscal activities, and are working quickly to resolve the issues you may have experienced. 

This is an opportunity for us to improve the way we coordinate and manage projects, especially as we approach Finance Strategic Transformation. We are planning a formal "lessons learned"/retrospective within the next few weeks. These meetings will include representation from UBI, Recon@, ITS EA/CACS teams, as well as functional leaders for Recon@ and school/unit representatives. We will share with you what we learn as a result of this process.

_______________________________________________________________

Updates, Info, and Questions: 

For the latest on  Recon@ impacts, please visit the ReconUVA website.

The UBI Community will post updates on budget reporting impacts.

For questions/concerns on BudgetUVA, please email budget@virginia.edu 

The Latest on BudgetUVA

The FP&A team recently led the Phase One launch of a new web form called BudgetUVA, designed to allow users to manage their operating budgets more easily and effectively. A cross-functional team with members from IT Enterprise Applications and CACS has been working together with FP&A for several months on this project, with many positive outcomes.

The project has also proven to be more complex than originally planned. BudgetUVA has interacted with both UBI and Recon@ in unexpected ways, as many of you may have encountered.

We realize that many of you rely on these tools daily to manage your fiscal activities, and are working quickly to resolve the issues you may have experienced. 

This is an opportunity for us to improve the way we coordinate and manage projects, especially as we approach Finance Strategic Transformation. We are planning a formal "lessons learned"/retrospective within the next few weeks. These meetings will include representation from UBI, Recon@, ITS EA/CACS teams, as well as functional leaders for Recon@ and school/unit representatives. We will share with you what we learn as a result of this process.

_______________________________________________________________

Updates, Info, and Questions: 

For the latest on  Recon@ impacts, please visit the ReconUVA website.
The UBI Community will post updates on budget reporting impacts.
For questions/concerns on BudgetUVA, please email budget@virginia.edu 

New Online Course Available!

Introducing PO Shopper’s Guide to Finance Fundamentals, an online version of the instructor-led Finance Fundamentals at UVA course.

With the addition of this new course, if you only need access to a PO Shopper responsibility, you will be able get this access faster without having to wait for the instructor-led class by completing PO Shopper’s Guide to Finance Fundamentals.

Finance Fundamentals at UVA is an important introductory course that helps finance and business professionals better understand UVA’s financial systems, accounting structures, and internal controls. 

PO Shopper’s Guide to Finance Fundamentals covers the same material, including information on procurement systems and policies, but in a condensed, online format. Anyone is welcome to take this online class, but it is specifically targeted to employees seeking PO Shopper responsibilities (UVA PO Shopper-$1 and UVA PO Shopper>$1). Individuals requesting Viewer responsibilities may also find this content helpful.

This course is required for UVA PO Shopper>$1, and recommended for UVA PO Shopper-$1, and has been included as part of the Learning Path for both responsibilities. The instructor-led Finance Fundamentals at UVA is still a required course for access to the Integrated System for those requesting other Finance responsibilities, including PO Requester and PO Purchaser.

For more information on this class and other Finance training, visit http://foc.virginia.edu/finance-training 

If you have questions about either of these classes, email foc-training@virginia.edu.

New Online Course Available!

Introducing PO Shopper’s Guide to Finance Fundamentals, an online version of the instructor-led Finance Fundamentals at UVA course.

With the addition of this new course, if you only need access to a PO Shopper responsibility, you will be able get this access faster without having to wait for the instructor-led class by completing PO Shopper’s Guide to Finance Fundamentals.

Finance Fundamentals at UVA is an important introductory course that helps finance and business professionals better understand UVA’s financial systems, accounting structures, and internal controls. 

PO Shopper’s Guide to Finance Fundamentals covers the same material, including information on procurement systems and policies, but in a condensed, online format. Anyone is welcome to take this online class, but it is specifically targeted to employees seeking PO Shopper responsibilities (UVA PO Shopper-$1 and UVA PO Shopper>$1). Individuals requesting Viewer responsibilities may also find this content helpful.

This course is required for UVA PO Shopper>$1, and recommended for UVA PO Shopper-$1, and has been included as part of the Learning Path for both responsibilities. The instructor-led Finance Fundamentals at UVA is still a required course for access to the Integrated System for those requesting other Finance responsibilities, including PO Requester and PO Purchaser.

For more information on this class and other Finance training, visit http://foc.virginia.edu/finance-training 

If you have questions about either of these classes, email foc-training@virginia.edu.

Fresh new websites!

The Units formerly known as the Controller's Office and the Budget Office are pleased to announce their new sites.

We're happy to bring these updated sites to you, but it's about more than a fresh new look.

If you have suggestions on how our sites can be more useful and informative to you, please let us know!

Read on for a few highlighted features of each new site. 

More after the jump!

Financial Reporting & Operations 

https://fro.vpfinance.virginia.edu/

Featuring:

• Updated procedures and guidelines, forms and templates, filterable by area
• A new operational calendar
• An interactive image for processing funds

Financial Planning & Analysis

https://financialplanning.vpfinance.virginia.edu/ 

Featuring: 

• Quick links to frequently used tools and resources
• Featured news and updates
• Easier to navigate

Fresh new websites!

The Units formerly known as the Controller's Office and the Budget Office are pleased to announce their new sites.

We're happy to bring these updated sites to you, but it's about more than a fresh new look.

If you have suggestions on how our sites can be more useful and informative to you, please let us know!

Read on for a few highlighted features of each new site. 

More after the jump!

Financial Reporting & Operations 

https://fro.vpfinance.virginia.edu/

Featuring:

• Updated procedures and guidelines, forms and templates, filterable by area
• A new operational calendar
• An interactive image for processing funds

Financial Planning & Analysis

https://financialplanning.vpfinance.virginia.edu/ 

Featuring: 

• Quick links to frequently used tools and resources
• Featured news and updates
• Easier to navigate

Lots of upcoming dates for UVAFinance

Read on for a quick recap of what's coming up (better get your calendar handy!).

all the details after the jump!

UVAFinance Book Club

Join us at the next meeting of the UVAFinance Book Club on Tuesday, September 18, 12-1, in Carr-2, where we will discuss the fictional book All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Please mark your own calendar for this event if you plan to attend.

3rd Annual Employee Appreciation Breakfast

You will be receiving a calendar invitation for the 3rd Annual UVAFinance Employee Appreciation Breakfast on October 10, 2018, 9:00-10:30. Melody will speak at 9:30.

Please send a list of your work-related professional development accomplishments to finance_engagement@virginia.edu by September 28, 2018. Include certifications, degrees, etc. that you received (or will receive) between October 2017 and September 2018.

Annual CVC Cornhole Tournament

A date has not been selected yet for this year’s tournament (it has been in early November the past two years). We’ll send a calendar invitation when a date has been selected, but it’s never too early to start thinking about teams!

UVAFinance Annual Holiday Party

Hold the date for our annual Holiday Party! You will receive a calendar invitation for Tuesday, December 11, 2018, 2:00-4:30. The party will be held in Alumni Hall. We are seeking volunteers to be on this year’s planning committee. If you are interested, please email finance_engagement@virginia.edu. We have a lot of fun planning this event – please join us! Let us know if you can help ASAP, we need to start planning in September.

Employee Engagement Survey

Our last UVAFinance Employee Engagement Survey was conducted in the spring of 2016. We are interested in hearing your thoughts. Within the new few weeks, you will receive a link to complete another survey. Your responses will be anonymous and will help us to improve our employee experience in UVAFinance. Please take the time to complete this survey with honest and thoughtful feedback.

Questions or concerns?  Email finance_engagement@virginia.edu 

Lots of upcoming dates for UVAFinance

Read on for a quick recap of what's coming up (better get your calendar handy!).

all the details after the jump!

UVAFinance Book Club

Join us at the next meeting of the UVAFinance Book Club on Tuesday, September 18, 12-1, in Carr-2, where we will discuss the fictional book All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Please mark your own calendar for this event if you plan to attend.

3rd Annual Employee Appreciation Breakfast

You will be receiving a calendar invitation for the 3rd Annual UVAFinance Employee Appreciation Breakfast on October 10, 2018, 9:00-10:30. Melody will speak at 9:30.

Please send a list of your work-related professional development accomplishments to finance_engagement@virginia.edu by September 28, 2018. Include certifications, degrees, etc. that you received (or will receive) between October 2017 and September 2018.

Annual CVC Cornhole Tournament

A date has not been selected yet for this year’s tournament (it has been in early November the past two years). We’ll send a calendar invitation when a date has been selected, but it’s never too early to start thinking about teams!

UVAFinance Annual Holiday Party

Hold the date for our annual Holiday Party! You will receive a calendar invitation for Tuesday, December 11, 2018, 2:00-4:30. The party will be held in Alumni Hall. We are seeking volunteers to be on this year’s planning committee. If you are interested, please email finance_engagement@virginia.edu. We have a lot of fun planning this event – please join us! Let us know if you can help ASAP, we need to start planning in September.

Employee Engagement Survey

Our last UVAFinance Employee Engagement Survey was conducted in the spring of 2016. We are interested in hearing your thoughts. Within the new few weeks, you will receive a link to complete another survey. Your responses will be anonymous and will help us to improve our employee experience in UVAFinance. Please take the time to complete this survey with honest and thoughtful feedback.

Questions or concerns?  Email finance_engagement@virginia.edu 

Want to learn more about the new Online Finance Community?

It's even more awesome in person.  :)
Log on here and see for yourself:
  https://ubicommunity.virginia.edu/community/uva-finance-transformation/pages/home

The online Finance Community, your home for all things Finance Strategic Transformation, is now live and ready for you to visit!

Hosted on the Jive platform and adjacent to the UBI Community, our new online space is teeming with project info, upcoming events, and so much more.

• Have questions about Finance Strategic Transformation?  Post them as a part of our Ask Me Anything event!  Finance leadership will answer all questions between now and the end of September. 
• Want more info about the Community?  Come to the Lunch and Learn on September 19.  
• Just have a quick question?  Visit Office Hours!

See these and all other events here.  

Questions?  Concerns?  Trouble logging in?  Please contact financetransformation@virginia.edu -- we'll be happy to help!

Want to learn more about the new Online Finance Community?

It's even more awesome in person.  :)
Log on here and see for yourself:  
https://ubicommunity.virginia.edu/community/uva-finance-transformation/pages/home

The online Finance Community, your home for all things Finance Strategic Transformation, is now live and ready for you to visit!

Hosted on the Jive platform and adjacent to the UBI Community, our new online space is teeming with project info, upcoming events, and so much more.

• Have questions about Finance Strategic Transformation?  Post them as a part of our Ask Me Anything event!  Finance leadership will answer all questions between now and the end of September. 
• Want more info about the Community?  Come to the Lunch and Learn on September 19.  
• Just have a quick question?  Visit Office Hours!

See these and all other events here.

Questions?  Concerns?  Trouble logging in?  Please contact financetransformation@virginia.edu -- we'll be happy to help!

UVA Faculty/Staff Discounts Available!

http://www.uvauteam.com/uteam-discount-program.php

Have you checked out the benefits and discounts that UVA faculty and staff members receive? 

Visit http://www.uvauteam.com/uteam-discount-program.php  to see a full list of the offerings.  

Here are just a few: 

 

• 20% football season tickets


• UVA women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, baseball, and men's and women's lacrosse season tickets


• DIM Rec Gym Memberships


• JPJ Arena Tickets


• UVA Drama


• Weight Watchers


• CAVPool Carpool

Be sure and scroll all the way down, so you don't miss any of the great offers!

UVA Faculty/Staff Discounts Available!

http://www.uvauteam.com/uteam-discount-program.php

Have you checked out the benefits and discounts that UVA faculty and staff members receive? 

Visit http://www.uvauteam.com/uteam-discount-program.php  to see a full list of the offerings.  

Here are just a few: 

 

• 20% football season tickets
• UVA women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, baseball, and men's and women's lacrosse season tickets
• DIM Rec Gym Memberships
• JPJ Arena Tickets
• UVA Drama
• Weight Watchers
• CAVPool Carpool

Be sure and scroll all the way down, so you don't miss any of the great offers!

UVAFinance: Need a lanyard for your badge?

A big THANK YOU to everyone who has already started wearing your ID!