A. Chea Smith, CRA
Associate Controller at Rutgers University
Associate Controller - Cost Analysis, Reporting, & Property Management at Rutgers University
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
• Management of Cost Analysis/Accounting personnel, budgets, major projects, & financial reporting
• Extensive Accounting experience with specialization in University, Financial Services, and Research capacities
• Exceptional analytical, problem solving, organization, documentation and communication skills 
• Ability to identify, interpret, and resolve problems as an individual or a team player
• “Above & Beyond” mentality in customer service and value-added process improvement
Rutgers University
https://www.linkedin.com/company/rutgersu
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Associate Controller
Rutgers University
https://www.linkedin.com/company/rutgersu
• Provide Upper Management, Campus Business Officers, and University community with timely, accurate ad-hoc financial reporting on an ongoing basis.
• Lead Project Management for major projects such as Fringe Benefit & Indirect Cost Rate Proposals. 
• Supervise resolution and/or implementation of program-specific accounting procedures/systems 
• Manage Audit data requests received from Internal Audit or other external agencies
• Apply in-depth knowledge of research accounting principles (e.g. OMB Uniform Guidance-CFR 200 & Cost Accounting Standards) to resolve complex problems within the current GCA systems (Effort Reporting, Facilities & Administrative and Fringe Benefit Rates, Recharge Units & Service Centers). 
• Management of direct reporting personnel, including Performance Reviews, Team Meetings, and Task Assignment & Tracking
Greater New York City Area
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Director, Cost Analysis & Reporting
UNC Charlotte
https://www.linkedin.com/company/unc-charlotte
• Provided principal investigators and department administrators with accurate and timely information and reports.   
• Provided Department of Defense (DoD) sponsored contracts advice to Pre and Post Award service teams on Fixed Price, Cost Reimbursable, Time and Materials contracts and their unique billing and management issues. 
• Interpreted sponsor and university regulations and policies to faculty and staff. 
• Assisted Manager of Cost Analysis/Award Management with managing Recharge Centers, Effort Reporting System, and Fringe Benefit & Indirect Cost Proposals.
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Manager of Cost Analysis
Georgia Institute of Technology
https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgia-institute-of-technology
• Performed complex financial analysis and create complex reports with a high degree of accuracy and developed, wrote, and implemented the related policies and procedures.
• Prepared monthly and annual reports of sponsored program activities as well as other special reports and studies as required 
• Supported Federal and State audit activities and interpreted Federal and State sponsored program regulations
• Developed and implemented sponsored programs accounting and rate study policies and procedures.
• Managed of preparation for the Institute’s Facilities & Administrative Rate Study, including direct reporting from various campus representatives for data requests & confirmations.
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Cost Accountant II
Georgia Institute of Technology
https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgia-institute-of-technology
• Processed Cost Transfers, Budget Revisions, & Adjustments for project and general ledger balancing
• Invoicing, Electronic Payment Request, and maintenance for sponsored funding
• Reconciled Grants Management & GTRC project balances with the Institute’s Expense Ledgers
• Monthly Activity and Exception reporting for sponsored projects
• Managed Contract Closeout process, including monitoring & direct reporting from Accountants on Project Management team
• Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) project accounting
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Accountant III
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Economics
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University of Tennessee-Knoxville
https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-tennessee-knoxville/
Mathematics and Computer Science
Fort Valley State University
National Conference on College Cost Accounting (NACCA)
Associate Director
NCURA
FRA Collaborate Co-Chair
Society of Research Administrators
Affiliate Member
LinkedIn
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Creating a Culture of Collaboration
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/creating-a-culture-of-collaboration
LinkedIn
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Teamwork Foundations
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/teamwork-foundations-2020
LinkedIn
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Developing Your Emotional Intelligence
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/developing-your-emotional-intelligence
LinkedIn
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Motivating and Engaging Employees
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/motivating-and-engaging-employees-3
USF Corporate Training and Professional Education
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate
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Research Administrators Certification Council
Certified Research Administrator
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-behrend-115a5b8b
Charlottesville, VA
Angela Behrend
Senior Grants & Contracts Administrator at University of Virginia
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dace-ozolina-24239b1b7
Piscataway, NJ
Dace Ozolina
Accounting Supervisor, Rutgers School of Engineering - Dean's Office
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-durst-mba-5b1415126
McLean, VA
Dan Durst, MBA
Director of Federal Contracts and Grants Compliance
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-hiser-moe-rd-cnsc-fand-9265502b
New York City Metropolitan Area
Janet Hiser, MOE, RD, CNSC, FAND
Director of Nutrition Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition  at Fairfield University
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendonsoodeen
New York, NY
Brendon Soodeen
Research Finance Manager  at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
https://www.linkedin.com/in/preeti-bharaj-0663791a
Newark, NJ
Preeti Bharaj
BSL3 Director
https://www.linkedin.com/in/xiomaravargasrd
Miami-Fort Lauderdale Area
Xiomara Vargas
Dietetic Intern at Our Mustard seed Nutrition
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-macdonald-4786584b
New York City Metropolitan Area
Jason MacDonald
Chief Investment Officer at Rutgers University
https://www.linkedin.com/in/briana-hurst-6b4062166
Atlanta Metropolitan Area
Briana Hurst
IT Financial Analyst
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brincolbert
Boston, MA
Brinia Colbert
Finance Transformation Consultant at Deloitte
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikarobertsonagency
Campbell, CA
Erika Robertson
Marketing Strategist & Copywriter | Helping Artists and Tea e-Commerce Companies Sell Their Unique Stories Using Creative Content
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aminata-diabate-cieri-5594701a4
New York City Metropolitan Area
Aminata Diabate - Cieri
Dietetic Intern at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brennasleggs
Columbus, OH
Brenna Sleggs, MS, RD, LD
Assistant Football Performance Dietitian at The Ohio State University
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ru-lu-91905a51
Trenton, NJ
Ru Lu
Senior Psychometrician at ETS
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rolliecarencia
New York City Metropolitan Area
Rollie Carencia
Director at Columbia University in the City of New York
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramona-beltran
Irvine, CA
Ramona Beltran
Senior Manager, Compliance
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fendley
Ellensburg, WA
Scott Fendley
Director of Data Analytics at Central Washington University
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaselmo
Hoboken, NJ
Thomas Elmo
Executive Director | Financial Systems | Early Adopter | Project Manager | Team Builder | Solution Champion
https://www.linkedin.com/in/moti-volpo
New York, NY
Moti Volpo
Director, Pricing & Packaging Strategy at Salesforce
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darocha
Tinley Park, IL
Amauri DaRocha
Manager, Analysis at DeVry University
Angelo Chrisomalis
      
          



            
              
        
              
  

    
        I’ve had the pleasure of working with Chea for many years and in that time I’ve known her to be a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic colleague.  Many of the issues we worked on together were incredibly challenging (both the tasks themselves and navigating the normal institutional roadblocks) and I could always count on her to be professional and poised.  She is extremely dedicated and will do whatever it takes to get the job done.  I know the massive hours she put into tasks such as a recent F&A proposal - effectively rebuilding the entire process from the ground up with minimal resources and shepherding the institution through that process all the way to successful negotiation.  She is also simply amazing at analyzing and interpreting data.  
In addition to her technical skills, Chea possesses soft skills that are an integral part of her success. The most basic challenges we face in research administration are simply explaining what we do, why we do it and why it’s important.  Chea has an innate ability to break down complicated topics and make them accessible and compelling to any audience, regardless if that audience is research administrators or executive leadership.  Chea’s participation in our industry groups such as NCURA and NACCA, to name a few, demonstrate her desire to give back to our community and share her knowledge. I know I’ve learned much from her.  I still ask her questions when I’m stumped.  She also is just plain fun to work with, making some of the more tedious projects a breeze and definitely creating a more pleasant work environment.  
It is truly a pleasure to work with Chea. I am so appreciative of her talent and character.
 Jaquion Gholston
      
          



            
              
        
              
  

    
        If you are new to Research Administration and have been tasked with learning the fundamentals of cost analysis, I strongly encourage you to give Chea a call. She has served in the field for over 15 years and has developed a remarkable command for the discipline. I’ve had the luxury of co-presenting with her and I continue to be amazed at her ability to use current/everyday business concepts and models to reinforce the cost analysis framework within the higher education setting. After attending one of her sessions, trust me when I say you will never think about costing the same! 
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Our Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC)  board of directors are attending NCURA: National Council of University Research…
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Treasury Institute for Higher Education
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International Financial Reporting Standards(IFRS) / XBRL
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