NEW Resource: UVAFinance by Department
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| Lee Bobbio |
What do you do as an Accounts Payable Specialist?
As an AP specialist, I am responsible for ensuring that payment invoices are processed and paid in both a timely manner and in accordance with UVA policies.
Who do you work with regularly?
Mostly, I work very closely with the people in my department. Very frequently, I also work with our suppliers, specifically when I'm resolving issues with invoices or giving them updates. We reach out to folks across the University when there are issues with invoices or we need updates to a PO, or more information to share with the supplier.
What seasons are busiest, or what rhythms exist in your job?
Two busy seasons stand out to me: the two year ends. A lot of our suppliers are on a calendar year-end cycle. That means we get lots of requests for invoices that are still out there (whether they're unpaid for some reason or the supplier forgot to submit them), because they're trying to get their books as clear as they can be. Then of course there's fiscal year end. That's when we get lots of interaction from our UVA departments to help them resolve any issues so they can have clean books for year-end. \
What might surprise people about the work you do?
For one, we work with a wide array of people, from suppliers to our buyers out in the schools and units. For another, the volume of invoices we process is a lot. Each processor on our team averages 60 to 70 invoices per day just to keep up with our queue.
What do you like best about working in UVAFinance?
I like being part of a core function of the University. Finance is one of those things that, if it's not working efficiently, there is a cascade of things that don't work properly. Even when you're doing seemingly little things, everything you do has a ripple effect. You can see that, for instance, when there is an invoice backlog: if the suppliers aren't paid in a timely fashion, the department doesn't get their lab supplies. It feels good to be part of something bigger.
How do you connect your work with the UVAFinance values?
All of the values are important, but the two that resonate most for me are collaborative partnership and service excellence. We're at the core of UVA, so we need to collaborate with everyone, from grad students to suppliers to schools and units to our internal departments. A good partnership is necessary so that things can operate smoothly. Service excellence is also prominent in my day-to-day: we want to provide good customer service and support for anyone we work with.
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| Amanda Meares |
What do you do as a Senior Financial Analyst?
I get to dive into the financial data, systems, and processing structures to help identify and work toward continuous improvement opportunities. These improvements often revolve around ensuring financial and accounting compliance, increasing efficiency, and improving the knowledge and experience of our financial partners across Grounds. I am very fortunate to be able to work directly with so many people across the institution to implement solutions and keep things moving forward.
Who do you work with regularly?
Everyone! I work really closely with people within the Financial Reporting and Operations teams and others in UVAFinance including the Financial Planning and Analysis and the Change Enablement and Continuous Improvement teams. I also spent a lot of time collaborating with individuals and teams in other units across Grounds such as the Office of Sponsored Programs, Student Financial Services, Facilities Management, Business Services, as well as our financial partners in schools and departments across the institution.
What seasons are busiest, or what rhythms exist in your job?
I usually have a large portfolio on on-going projects keeping my busy throughout the year, but the months leading up to the fiscal year-end is the busiest time. A new fiscal year is a fresh slate which is perfect for new and updated processes and procedures to be implemented, so we are often striving to finish the final details of these new activities at the end of May and June. This time is also busy because we have large clean-up efforts prior to year-end close to make sure our financials are in ship shape as we prepare our financial statements and go through the audit process; so…right now is about as busy as it can get for my role!
What might surprise people about the work you do?
I think the extremely collaborative nature of my work is one of its most surprising aspects. Many people might think that financial analysts are only focused on spreadsheets and number crunching, but in practice, my role involves extensive interaction with colleagues across various units and functions (in addition to all those spreadsheets). I am frequently in calls, meetings, and problem-solving sessions with individuals across the institution and this collaboration is so essential to effectively address the diverse challenges we encounter daily.
What do you like best about working in UVAFinance?
I truly enjoy working with all the people in UVAFinance. Everyone is dedicated to making improvements and contributing great ideas which creates a dynamic and very enjoyable environment. There is a strong sense of camaraderie and shared purpose to collaborate effectively with our schools and units and to make things better across the institution. The collective enthusiasm and commitment to our common goals make UVAFinance a wonderful place to work.
How do you connect your work with the UVAFinance values?
I strive to provide top-notch information in a way that is easy to understand and I focus on teaching people how and why things work, rather than just telling them what they need to do. I see myself as a collaborative partner as I try to make myself available to help and to improve communications and relationships. Most of my work is about continuous improvement and finding ways to make our systems better for everyone. Of course, service excellence is key – I aim to ensure the decisions we make benefit as many people as possible while staying compliant and always working to communicate clearly the things we need to do.
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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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