Introducing UVAFinance is a recurring blog feature created to introduce our team to our team, a couple of members at a time. Every other week, we present readers with two team members to get to know. To understand how these colleagues are situated within the greater UVAFinance structure, check out this resource on the UVAFinance website. (Keep in mind that it's not an org chart, but rather a map of what functions of central finance exist in which general areas.)
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Who do you work with regularly?
We work closely with Sponsored Programs, Procurement, Payroll, and of course, our team in Financial Accounting on a regular basis.
What seasons are busiest, or what rhythms exist in your job?
Our workflow remains consistent throughout the year other than a slight increase around tax season when we receive a larger amount of tax payments from the Virginia Tax Department’s Set-Off Debt Program.
What might surprise people about the work you do?
People would probably be surprised by the variety of situations we assist with in receivables outside of everyday invoicing and collection of payments. We receive payments for many departments which require a lot of research to identify who the payment belongs to. We also work with customers to create payment plans if the customer is unable to pay their invoice in full by their 30-day due date to avoid write-offs and possible third-party collections.
What do you like best about working in UVAFinance?
My favorite part of working in UVAFinance is the people I work with. We have a great team who support each other and are always willing to assist whenever needed. Schools and departments look to Central Finance for answers to sometimes complex issues and having the support of your co-workers and leaders to assist really makes all the difference.
How do you connect your work with the UVAFinance values?
There are several ways that I can connect my work in Accounts Receivable with the UVA Finance Values. We strive to be a collaborative partner and impeccable source of information to both our internal and external partners. Departments that invoice in Workday look to us to provide accurate and timely information and solutions when they need assistance. Billing and collecting are integral parts of our institution, and we must assist our partners throughout the university by providing a high level of support, so they can perform their job as effectively as possible. The Finance value that I think we most connect with is our service excellence. Accounts Receivable is very customer-oriented. We feel that customer service is not only a top priority but also an opportunity to positively impact the enterprise from both a financial and reputation perspective.
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What do you do as a program analyst?
I help to manage both the TravelUVA and Expense programs, which go hand in hand. This includes answering customer emails in Salesforce, managing over 50 travel contracts, tracking unused airline tickets, reviewing expense reports, and working closely with the Workday Support team to test and implement changes to the Expenses app.
Who do you work with regularly?
We work with departments across the university since all departments have expenses, and many departments have some type of travel, whether it be for research, conferences, guest speakers, etc. It is really nice to make connections with so many people across Grounds. We also work closely with the Workday Support team on fixes and improvements to Expenses and with the Strategic Sourcing team on our travel contracts.
What seasons are busiest, or what rhythms exist in your job?
Spring and Fall tend to be busier since that’s when most University travel and expenses occur. However, we’re busy year-round working on continuous improvement projects, setting up the Travel & Expense Expo, and supporting departments and suppliers related to all things T&E.
What might surprise people about the work you do?
Much of our team comes from a travel background, so we have in-depth knowledge of the travel industry, which really helps us support and understand our customers and suppliers.
What do you like best about working in UVAFinance?
I enjoy the variety of tasks that we encounter and that no two days are alike. I am always learning something new. I also really enjoy the supportive nature of our team- everyone is willing to help brainstorm and work as a team to come up with the best possible solutions.
How do you connect your work with the UVAFinance Values?
My main focus each day is to provide exceptional customer service to all of our departments and suppliers so they feel valued and supported. I strive not just to answer a question at the surface level but to provide the “why” behind the “how” and send resources that customers may need but didn’t know existed. To do this, I spend time diving into our contracts, the expense system, and our policies/procedures to ensure that I fully understand them and can be an impeccable source of information for our customers. I also enjoy brainstorming new processes and ways to continuously improve the status quo, and our diverse teams across Grounds also provide excellent suggestions on which we can collaborate.UVAFinance Mission & Values / UVAFinance Organizational Structure / Past Introductions can be found on our site under "Resource Shelf"
Would you like to be featured in Introducing UVAFinance? Want to suggest a colleague to be featured? Email bv8h@virginia.edu
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