Jessica Brockmeyer is an accounting manager in the UF Health Cancer Center’s finance office.
Q: What is your hometown?
A: I grew up in Keystone Heights, Florida, but have lived in Gainesville for 20+ years.
Q: Describe your educational and professional background.
A: I always knew whatever I did, I wanted to touch health care. I started my career as a dental hygienist, believe it or not. After about seven years in dentistry, I decided I was better suited for administrative functions than direct patient care. I went back to school and received a bachelor’s degree in health services administration. I then spent eight years at the Department of Health in admin/finance/program logistics before coming to the UF Health Cancer Center.
Q: How did you get into your current career path and how many years have you been in the role?
A: I have been at the center for a little over three years. Honestly, I just needed a change and was excited by the job description for the center. Being a financial approver appealed to my “eagle-eyed” nature. Plus, the UF Health Cancer Center does important work, so I am grateful to have been invited to be a part of it.
Q: What is a typical day like in your job?
A: Every day is a little different, but they all involve spreadsheets. On any given day, I move mostly between approving expenses, reviewing the previous week’s expenses for accuracy and monitoring our finance email. I monitor cash-based funds for the center to ensure they are appropriately distributed for upcoming expenditures and make fund transfers where needed. I respond to audit requests by gathering documentation. I collaborate with other departments to resolve discrepancies and ensure expenses are coded properly. I tend to operate in a no-nonsense/straight-to-the-point fashion when there is an issue. I don’t spend a lot of time on how it happened, but rather focus on what we need to do to correct the problem and get it done so we can move on to the next. I have a good eye for spotting things that don’t look quite right, so I am pretty well-suited for my role with the team.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of working for the UF Health Cancer Center?
A: The most rewarding part of working for the UF Health Cancer Center is knowing that the behind-the-scenes support I provide allows others to work toward the research mission of beating cancer. This was underscored when I very suddenly lost my best friend to cancer two years ago (big thank you to my UF Health Cancer Center family for all the support during that time).
“The most rewarding part of working for the UF Health Cancer Center is knowing that the behind-the-scenes support I provide allows others to work toward the research mission of beating cancer.”
Q: How do you keep your skills current and continue to learn and grow?
A: I seek out training opportunities when available. Also, new situations are always arising that give me a chance to research directives for solutions.
Q: Describe how you would spend your ideal day off from work.
A: My favorite thing to do is spend long weekends in Daytona. Spending the first half of the day sitting by the pool (or the tiki bar next to the pool) people watching. Followed by an afternoon nap and then getting all dressed up for a fancy dinner out.
Q: You’ve been recognized by colleagues across different areas of the Cancer Center for your willingness to help and your prompt support. How do you balance the demands of your finance role while supporting different teams across the Cancer Center?
A: Multi-tasking is an important part of every position. I tend to prioritize assisting others because if I can provide a quick answer to a question, it gives people time back to focus on other things. UF financial policies and systems can be daunting for people who don’t work with them every day. If I know the answer, I am happy to assist and if not, I try to point people to the best people to help. Plus, it serves me too at the end of the day to help you. I am a financial approver for the center, which means 95% of the transactions that occur pass through me first. The other 5% I touch during my weekly review of all expenses. So please always feel free to reach out.
