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.
NEW Resource: UVAFinance by Department
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| Jessica Lenore |
In layman’s terms, what does this mean you do?
In the IT space, I'd say I'm a master puzzle solver. If we think of our IT needs as puzzle pieces, I help to investigate, negotiate, and analyze the necessary IT resources we need to keep UVA operational. From finding cooperative purchasing agreements to utilize, to performing market analysis, I ensure we are ethically sourcing our IT needs. By navigating through a maze of suppliers and negotiating contracts, I ultimately piece together the IT solutions for UVA's needs.
Who do you work with regularly?
I communicate with many departments and people across Grounds, but my most frequent internal customers include ITS, Darden, McIntire, and Batten.
What seasons are busiest, or what rhythms exist in your job?
My busiest season can be from late April until fiscal year end on June 30th. Around this time departments are usually thoroughly reviewing their budgets and spend data which can sometimes lead to increased purchases.
What might surprise people about the work you do/this role/your department or area?
I think the most surprising thing about the Procurement department is that we're truly here to help with your procurement needs. We are sometimes observed as the 'red tape' of making a purchase, but our overarching objective is to serve the University's long-term interests. So, while our process can sometimes slow down having your goods/services 'in hand’, we strive to contractually protect UVA, negotiate industry-relevant pricing, and foster relationships with quality suppliers.
What do you like best about working in UVAFinance?
The most enjoyable aspect of working in UVAFinance is the variety of challenges we can sometimes face. I'm always able to engage my heavy analytical mindset to approach an issue and work to find a solution. Additionally, UVAFinance plays a critical role in UVA's operational success.
How do you connect your work with the UVA Finance Values?
I hold each UVA Finance Value near and dear to my heart. Specific to my work I value my ability to be a collaborative partner and impeccable source of information. I appreciate my autonomy, but I have a deep understanding that working cross-functionally produces amazing results and provides our community with much-requested guidance and insight.
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Minh Nguyen, Senior Financial Analyst
Minh Nguyen
My area focuses on institutional cost recoveries such as calculating the indirect (facilities and administrative) cost proposal for reimbursements on research spending, overseeing internal service providers, ensuring Uniform Guidance compliance for F&A and recharge centers, and all things related to cost recoveries.
Who do you work with regularly?
Who do you work with regularly?
I work with consultants, schools, and departments across the university, especially those with research portfolios. Particularly, I collaborate with all 12 schools and their departments. I also work with the UVA College at Wise, Facilities management, HR, and my UVAFinance colleagues.
What seasons are busiest, or what rhythms exist in your job?
What seasons are busiest, or what rhythms exist in your job?
My workflow is consistent throughout the year with different cost studies, cost projections, F&A rate calculation reviews, and other implementation projects. Our F&A cost proposal to the Federal government typically happens every 4 years and that year is busier than others. It usually takes several months to finish an F&A cost proposal from planning to timeline space surveying, collecting, and analyzing different data sources to calculate the rates. After the proposal submission, the negotiation process will follow. Depending on the timeline of the F&A proposal, I’m generally busiest every 4 years.
What might surprise people about the work you do/this role/your department or area?
What might surprise people about the work you do/this role/your department or area?
Even though I work in the Business Assets & Cost Recovery, I don’t handle any asset portfolio. I only work on cost proposals and other cost recoveries.
What do you like best about working in UVAFinance?
What do you like best about working in UVAFinance?
There is such a plethora of great things about UVAFinance that I don’t even know where to start. Some of those factors are amazing people, supportive leadership, abundant professional development opportunities, and continuous improvements to name a few, that makes UVAFinance a special place. I also enjoy the variety of projects that I work on and every day is not the same for me. The ability to serve the university by solving complex problems provides a feeling of accomplishment that drives me to tackle competing projects each day.
How do you connect your work with the UVA Finance Values?
How do you connect your work with the UVA Finance Values?
I connect my work with all UVA Finance values from delivering accurate, consistent, and reliable cost recovery information, providing excellent service and timely support to all stakeholders when cost recovery-related questions arise, to bringing innovative solutions and pursuing continuous improvements for the work my team and I do. Besides that, I value the collaborative, respectful, and trusted relationships among the team as well as with stakeholders. Everyone here at UVAFinance works tirelessly to bring ideas into actions as well as to deliver the best possible results every day, and I take pride in being part of such an innovative and passionate team.
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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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