Rebecca Pauley receives 2014 President's Award for Excellence
Rebecca Pauley, payroll accountant in the Office of the University Controller at Virginia Tech, has received the university's 2014 President's Award for Excellence.
The President's Award for Excellence is presented annually to up to five Virginia Tech staff employees who have made extraordinary contributions by consistent excellence in the performance of their job or a single incident, contribution, or heroic act. Each recipient is awarded a $2,000 cash prize.
Pauley has worked at Virginia Tech for 35 years. She began her career at the university in 1979 and moved to the Payroll Department in 1983. She held various payroll positions over the past 31 years when the Payroll Department was initially part of Human Resources and later moved to under the Chief Financial Officer umbrella in the Office of the University Controller.
“Becky Pauley works tirelessly to ensure that all employees are paid timely and correctly; she has an excellent work ethic and strong customer service skills,” wrote Leisa Shelor, payroll manger in the Office of the University Controller, in her letter of nomination. “She always demonstrates a dedication to her job and to the university that is exceptional.”
“She has a well-rounded knowledge of payroll and human resources issues as well as an understanding of university culture,” Shelor added. “She is insightful and analytical in her approach for addressing and resolving complicated issues. She has high professional standards for herself and takes the responsibility of her position very seriously. She takes initiative to address problems as they arise and can be trusted to handle even the most sensitive issues. She is a valuable member of the payroll team.”
“Becky is one of the most dedicated members of our staff,” wrote Associate Controller Wendell L. Vest in his letter of support. “Many department employees have an excellent working relationship with her and rely on her knowledge and guidance. She has dedicated her career to Virginia Tech and she takes pride in what she does.”
“I have great respect for all the knowledge she has and the speed and accuracy with which she does her job,” wrote Annie Connelly, assistant payroll manager in the Office of the University Controller. “She must coordinate with each department, as well as Human Resources, Parking, and the Bursar’s Office. She keeps up to date on the most recent tax regulations and the legal requirement that impact all payroll processes.”
“Becky is also the most knowledgeable payroll accountant on the sensitive process involved in the passing of an employee,” continued Connelly. “She works directly with the family members of the employees to navigate the steps required by the commonwealth to get the final payments made to the family or estate of the deceased.”
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
