Meet Finance and Administration’s Rod Smith, who works in the Division of Finance in the Office of University Controller.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love the fact that my job covers many facets throughout the University. I have the opportunity to work with folks all across campus and have the great fortune to work with UNC General Administration, folks throughout our State departments and with federal government agencies.
As part of your job, you write the IC Newsletter with several fraud tips. Do you have a favorite “fraud tip?”
There are no specific favorites – they’re all special in their own way. It’s usually a circumstance that makes the tips come to fruition.
We usually ask how many people are in your department, but it looks like you’re the Lone Ranger – working under Aimee Turner, the university controller. Is this true? If so, how do you do it?
I often joke that there are three folks in my department: me, myself and I. It helps when you really enjoy what you do, and I’m fortunate to be able to do that. I learned many traits and developed my work ethic at an early age as my family owned and operated a business – which gave me the foundation for my career. So, I’ve always had the ability to multitask and manage my time well. I’ve worked in this type of field for more than 20 years and taught as an adjunct professor and instructor for more than 15 years.
Can you describe a couple of key products (business facts/figures) that IC oversees?
Since we follow the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission’s ( COSO’s) Internal Control – Integrated Framework, I provide monitoring of the University’s purchasing card. I assist in remediating audit findings and am responsible for issuing, collecting and reporting the Business Compliance Programs and forwarding those results to be included in the quarterly dashboard reports that are distributed by General Administration. Also, we are required to complete and submit various assessments, including the Internal Control Certification and this is done annually via the Self-Assessment of Internal Controls over Financial Reporting and submitted to the State’s controller.
Fun fact: Is there anything about you personally that most folks don’t know, from your past, or from current hobbies?
Two things come to mind: the first is that my wife is a stage IV breast cancer patient and survivor. My wife was originally given about two months to live. However, we are blessed in that she is a one-and-a-half year cancer survivor. I share this in order to give folks hope and to share the importance of early detection. Unfortunately for my wife, she didn’t find out until the disease had spread to her bones and lymph system, but considering everything she goes through and has been through, she is doing amazingly well – she inspires us daily.
The second thing that comes to mind is that I had the honor of being scouted and I physically worked out for the Atlanta Braves – I never got drafted or signed to a major league contract, but having that experience was very memorable. I even had three home runs during my last work out with them. I did play on a couple of semi-professional baseball teams, and I remember my last game well! I went two for two at the plate, I had one run batted in (RBI), two stolen bases, I had a pair of put outs at third base, and when the game ended, I was walking back to the dugout and a bench clearance broke out! I just kept walking to the clubhouse and thought, I’m too old for this stuff!