The digits signify something to Amy Collett.

They signify timely payment for individuals. They signify rapid approval of transactions. They signify smooth data transfer.

“I genuinely appreciate numbers,” stated Collett, senior financial analyst and Accounts Payable and Expenses functional lead. “The operational aspect is fascinating because you grasp how everything functions.”

Collett obtained her bachelor’s degree in economics from the Terry College of Business and commenced her career at the University of Georgia seven years ago as an assistant supervisor during the transition to OneSource and One USGConnect. She has held her present position for six years.

Joining the Finance Division during that transformative period offered Collett numerous learning opportunities. She took pleasure in exploring the new system and understanding its mechanics. Collett cultivated a talent for problem-solving that paved the way for her current role.

“The majority of our staff are processing payments — keeping operations running, so to speak. I’m the person they approach when issues arise. When problems occur, they come to me, and I serve as the liaison between technical and functional,” Collett mentioned.

Acting as that connector enables Collett to learn the details of UGA’s financial management system while observing their interconnections. Requests begin in Procurement, move to her in Accounts Payable, and then proceed to the Accounting team. Throughout this process, she has collaborated with various teams across campus, providing her with a more comprehensive outlook and understanding of operations from the user’s perspective.

“We aim to make it so that even if this isn’t your regular task, it remains manageable,” she expressed.

Collett dedicates part of her day to ensuring that operations function seamlessly so that payments can be executed as needed. She also oversees the university’s daily pay cycle, which has become one of her favorite aspects of the job. Additionally, she might approve payment requests, handle service tickets, execute tests, or update modules and attend calls and meetings.

She also spends time experimenting in her “sandboxes” — sections of the financial management system where she can tackle issues and trial solutions without impacting the live system. In fact, it’s the problem-solving dimension of her role that Collett finds most rewarding.

“While some challenges are tougher than others, I relish having a puzzle to solve,” she remarked. “I adore figuring things out. I cherish the problem-solving element of this and then being able to resolve it and inform others that this solution will benefit them now.”

Looking ahead, all University System of Georgia institutions will transition to Workday as the upcoming financials and human capital management (HCM) system. Collett will again be involved in this transition as the university’s expenses subject matter expert. She’s eager to collaborate with new individuals and implement a new system.

In every facet of her role, Collett seeks ways to enhance the university’s financial procedures.

“I hope individuals recognize how much effort goes on behind the curtain to make their days a bit more manageable. I understand it doesn’t always seem that way, but we genuinely invest a considerable amount of effort. We want the system to function effectively for the campus as well and support them in their responsibilities,” she conveyed.

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