This June, UVAFinance welcomes a familiar face back to the University as Katie Walker takes up the role of Executive Director of Financial Planning & Analysis.
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| Walker and family |
Walker, who has spent the past few years at the University of Colorado, Boulder, most recently as their Director of Budget Management, previously worked with UVA’s School of Education & Human Development in a variety of financial roles that culminated in her role as budget director.
In her new position, Walker emphasizes the importance of collaborative problem-solving and transparency. “My goal is to provide a consistent connection between OFP&A and our partners across Grounds,” she says.
Walker says she’ll lean on the many relationships she has at UVA, as well as her training and education, to hit the ground running from day one. In addition to her wealth of experience, Walker brings a Master of Teaching, a Doctor of Philosophy, and a ProSci certification in Change Management.
She’ll have ample opportunity to put her change management training to use in the year leading up to go-live of Workday Financials. Walker acknowledges that she’s joining the finance team at a challenging moment in the change process.
“The Finance Transformation project is what some change management professionals call ‘the groan zone,’” she says, noting that this is the phase in the project where everyone is down in the weeds, working out details and uncovering issues that haven’t been examined in a long time. This period of time is difficult, she notes, but very worth it.
“There’s a light at the end of the tunnel! We wouldn’t be doing FST if the changes weren’t going to yield great results. It may be painful right now, but it’s much better than staying in a legacy system.”
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