 |
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 a team member or two 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
__________________________________________________________________
Sara Johnson-Ward, Senior Sourcing Specialist
What do you do as Senior Sourcing Specialist?
 |
| Sara Johnson-Ward |
Buyers solve problems. We identify the needs of our clients and search for the best solution at a reasonable cost to fulfill their demands. We negotiate on behalf of our clients and continually seek to improve processes. Some examples of solutions I have sourced are editorial services and book design, licensing agreements with museums and furniture makers, buses, office moving services and furniture, signage, conference services, computers and software, and shot glasses and big nickels for Monticello. It’s never dull, forever changing, and always a challenge.
Who are the people/departments you work with regularly?
The Services and Athletics Strategic Sourcing team works with many departments across grounds. I work with Travel UVA, the Darden School, the School of Education and Development, the Sorensen Institute, Virginia Humanities, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Medical Center, the University Physicians Group, Kluge-Ruhe, the Batten School, the McIntire School of Commerce, and Athletics. As you can see, our team services a wide range of departments at UVA.
What seasons are busiest, or what rhythms exist in your job?
The beginning and the end of the fiscal year are usually the busiest. After new budgets are released, projects begin and by the end of the fiscal year, departments are trying to wind down their budgets. Both seasons drive peak workloads for Procurement and Supplier Diversity Services. Our request for proposal process usually kicks off in spring and is spread over the summer and fall.
What might surprise people about the work you do/this role/your department or area?
Most people do not realize that public Sourcing Specialists need a basic understanding of procurement laws in Virginia. We want to help staff and suppliers adhere to those requirements, and we want to help solve problems. No buyer would stay in the profession if they didn’t enjoy the challenge of problem-solving.
What do you like best about working in UVAFinance?
I have always enjoyed the team that I work with at UVA. Every member is committed to serving the University to the best of their ability and knowledge. I also enjoy the variety of requests for purchasing and getting to know staff in other departments.
How do you connect your work with the UVAFinance Values?
I strive to provide great service to UVA faculty, staff, and suppliers, and to be a supportive and reliable colleague for my team. During the RFP process, I research and provide information to the Evaluation Committee with the goal of helping them clearly define the solution they seek. Finally, I am always looking for opportunities to improve processes.
__________________________________________________________________
What do you do as Finance Manager for Data & Technology? 
Michelle Gregory
As the Manager of Finance Data and Analytics, I help develop reports built in a suite of reporting technologies and manage/improve the systems we use to handle financial data and reports. This involves working with various business partners to make sure the data is accurate and useful, fixing any issues that come up, and leading initiatives and projects to enhance our financial tools and processes. Additionally, I lead a team and we work together to transfer knowledge to ensure we can support each other through peak times or when a team member is out of the office.
Who are the people/departments you work with regularly?
I collaborate regularly with FP&A (Budget Office), various school/department finance units, and other UVAFinance departments.
What seasons are busiest, or what rhythms exist in your job?
UBI work maintains a steady workload with a consistently large queue for new and change requests. Earlier this year, we started collaborating with the OSP team to implement a release model for our RAD apps, encompassing development, testing, and deployment. This evolving process has enhanced the stakeholder’s understanding of each release, deployment time, and the purpose of the change.Our work with Adaptive Planning, our financial planning and analysis tool, follows a cyclical pattern. The business period spans from September to March, while the sprint to late summer is dedicated to continuous improvement and new year maintenance efforts.
Workday Financial reporting has transitioned into continuous improvement efforts, ensuring ongoing enhancements and optimizations.
What might surprise people about the work you do/this role/your department or area?
The unpredictability of each day, which keeps the work engaging and dynamic.
What do you like best about working in UVAFinance?
What I love most about working in finance is the people. In my 3 ½ years here, I’ve had the pleasure of working with wonderful colleagues who are always supportive. Whether I need assistance from other UVAFinance units or collaboration with our business partners, I find everyone to be incredibly helpful and great to work with. Additionally, our finance leaders prioritize work/life balance and provide opportunities for professional development, which makes this a truly rewarding environment.How do you connect your work with the UVAFinance Values?
In my role, I connect with the UVAFinance values while delivering innovative solutions that ensure accuracy, reliability, and consistency. By collaborating closely with partners and colleagues, I support continuous improvement initiatives. These priorities have allowed me to build respected and trusted relationships, all while maintaining a commitment to excellent service. _____________________________________________________________________________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
No comments
Post a Comment