Staff Profile of Kenetheia Reed: Accountant’s Job, Usher Duties Good Fit for ‘People Person’
Posted on 5/29/2009
Kenetheia Reed is an accountant in the College of Education and Health Professions. She is also a mother, a student and an usher for Razorback games.
She was born in southern Arkansas and is a true Razorback fan. As an usher, Kenetheia is at most of the Razorback football and basketball games as well as the Gymback meets.
"I love Razorback sports," she said. "I'm a people person and I love getting to be around other Razorback fans."
Kenetheia also likes sports, camping, horseback riding and romantic comedies when she has time for hobbies. But her favorite pastime is being with her family.
Kenetheia has three children and two grandchildren. Kenetheia's eldest, Sarah, is a mother of two and works for the urology clinic at Washington Regional Medical Center and also attends NorthWest Arkansas Community College. Hannah, the middle child, is currently working at Wal-Mart. Wyatt, Kenetheia's youngest child, is in the second grade at West Fork Elementary and plays baseball.
Kenetheia is a junior at the UA and majors in personal finance. Because of work, she usually takes an average of two classes per semester and one class during the summer. But, because of where she is in her education, she will take two classes for the '09 summer.
Luckily, Kenetheia gets to utilize her people personality at both of her jobs – as usher and as an accountant.
"I get to meet and deal faculty and staff members," she said of her job in the college. "I get to know each as an individual and not just a professional. Communication skills help in this position."
Kenetheia has worked seven years at the university. She worked in the math department as an accounting tech and at Research Support and Sponsored Programs before she became an accountant in the college. Prior to working for the university, Kenetheia was the loan officer and collection agent for the UARK Credit Union. She has been in her accounting position for 3 1/2 years.
"This is accounting, but I don't handle any money here, it is all numbers," she said.
A typical day in Kenetheia's shoes includes "going through the work process." She does the receiving and reporting for grant and foundation accounts for the whole college. This means she checks to see whether invoices have been paid or need to be paid, researches why unpaid invoices are not paid, verifies e-charges and close accounts with a $0 balance for the nearly 200 COEHP reports.
Kenetheia said that her job is a lot more than she thought it would be and that she's learned a lot.
"My job is very detailed-oriented, which is much like my personality," she said. "It's very much me."
Kenetheia has been on committees in the past, one being PEP – the Personal and Professional Enhancement Program, the staff development program for the college.
She also does A21 certifications and troubleshoots reports, which includes revisions and extensions. And, if she cannot help the professors, she directs them to someone who can get the process started.
"I'm not just stuck in an office," Kenetheia said. "I get to relate with people around the university."
Kenetheia said that she loves her job and doesn't plan on leaving the college.
"I love the people I work with and for," she said. "That makes it so much easier to do a better job."
By Jessica Powviriya, University Relations intern
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