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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| Lorraine Keuling |
What do you do as a Senior Financial Analyst?
The focus of my position is all expenses that use state funds. I create reports on our expenses and reconcile our state cash.
Who do you work with regularly?
The Department of Accounts and Department of Planning & Budgeting (the State), my colleagues in Financial Planning & Analysis, and Yvonne Metheny.
What seasons are busiest, or what rhythms exist in your job?
The beginning of the fiscal year and the end of the fiscal year are the busiest for state reporting. However, at the beginning of each month, I have just a few days to send our state expenditures. So, every beginning of the month is busy for me!
What might surprise people about the work you do?
I think how busy it is monthly. I have a short time frame to get to the state every month, rather than a yearly cycle.
What do you like best about working in UVAFinance?
The supportive atmosphere. I know my directors have my back. When we have issues, we solve them together. It's never a blame game, it's always a solution game. Also, I'm not afraid to speak up, even if it may be a silly question or opinion.
How do you connect your work with the UVAFinance Values?
My focus on accurate information helps keep us in compliance with the Department of Accounts so that we can continue getting state funds and also helps ensure our office overall is successful in its pursuits.
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| Shannon Wampler |
In layman’s terms, what does this mean you do?
I’m part of Supplier Diversity, which works towards ensuring that the University spends as much as possible with Local, Small, Woman-owned, or Minority-owned businesses. We can’t do that unless we know which businesses we’re currently working with, what businesses are out there that we’re not working with, where they’re located, and where the opportunities are for either new or existing small businesses. I look at our spending data to answer those questions, and I use my knowledge of how the University buys and pays for goods and services to help those small businesses succeed.
Who do you work with regularly?
We get to work with many different people from all over the University, with non-profits, and with entrepreneurs from all over Virginia and the country. It’s our job to understand how our colleagues in purchasing and disbursements do their jobs, and to know in general how all of the other schools and units at the University work, and what they’re purchasing, so that we can inform and connect the suppliers we do business with. It’s pretty cool to learn how a building is built one day and what a lab is working on the next!
What seasons are busiest, or what rhythms exist in your job?
Much of what I do is in sync with how the rest of UVA Finance works – by fiscal quarters and fiscal years.
What might surprise people about the work you do?
Buying from local businesses and from small and diverse businesses – especially those in Virginia -- makes a huge impact on communities and our economy. These businesses are usually competitive on price, and they are also hungrier to work with the University, so we tend to get better, more personalized levels of service.
What do you like best about working in UVAFinance?
I love how what we do in UVA Finance makes us uniquely connected to the mission of the entire University, and, as an alumna, I really enjoy getting to learn how everything works at the University, from the steam tunnels to the research labs.
How do you connect your work with the UVA Finance Values?
- I deliver accurate, consistent, and reliable information in the reporting I provide to the Commonwealth and to our suppliers.
- I provide excellent service and support to our faculty and staff looking for suppliers to use, and to suppliers looking for help wading through all of the policies and departments we have at UVA
- I create innovative solutions and pursue continuous improvement every time I try to come up with new ways to spread the word about how great our suppliers are.
- I build collaborative and trusted relationships between our suppliers and departments
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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