Welcome to the “award-winning” South Piedmont Business Office! We strive to ensure that the financial and accounting aspects of the College are safeguarded and maintained properly while providing courteous and helpful support to our students, colleagues, vendors, and community. We are committed to working until the job is complete. We work hard — but we play even harder! Note: We are the reigning Trunk or Treat team to beat!
The Business Office’s responsibilities
The Business Office’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Financial Reporting
Asset Management
Budgeting & Account Codes
Student Accounts
Student account management includes invoicing, collecting tuition and fees, disbursing financial aid funds/refunds, and 1098-Ts for Students
Accounts Receivable
Payments coming into the college (mainly from students).
Accounts Payable
Payments going out of the college (mainly to vendors and employee reimbursements; 1099 NEC and 1099-MISC for Vendors)
Purchasing
Service agreements, vendor contracts, purchasing cards.
Scheduling of Facilities
We manage use of our facilities by external stakeholders (except for the Building A Conference Center.)
Business Office Personnel
Richard Ashley
AVP of Finance and Auxiliary Services
I am the royal potentate of fund accounting at South Piedmont. I started at South Piedmont in 2014 with zero experience in fund accounting. I didn’t know account codes could be 18 digits long. I thought they would be 4 digits long. Surprise! Lucky for me, I had a very understanding and patient mentor in Michelle Brock. Now, fund accounting and general ledger account codes are a piece of cake. That’s good, because I love cake. My main aspiration is to teach South Piedmont employees how to understand general ledger account codes and what each part of the code means. My other aspiration is to help employees learn how to work with the Clarity program to understand their departmental budgets. Once employees know general ledger account codes and how to use Clarity, it’s like watching your children grow up and be successful.
My most impressive achievements is to have had clean financial audits for 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024. There were no audits on the in between years. Developing a program to annually reconcile capital assets and construction in progress also ranks very high on my list of achievements.
It has been my honor to have worked at South Piedmont Community College. I have been extremely blessed to have worked with such a fine group of employees in the Business Office.
- You need help with a general ledger account code
- You need a new account code set up or a new department code created
- You have questions about using Clarity
- You need to know the cash balance for an account
- You have questions about your budget
- You need a certain report
- You need me to research an expense
- You have general questions about anything. I may not know the answer, but I will try to direct you to someone who can help you.
Anthony Barbour
Director of Purchasing & Equipment
My goal is to partner with all faculty and staff to insure they have the needed resources to successfully do their jobs and help students be successful. I have been at SPCC since 2012 and enjoy the camaraderie I experience with my co-workers and the competitive environment we bring to the college, especially when there is a competition at hand (such as Trunk or Treat). In the past, I have received the Values in Practice Award for Stewardship.
In my spare time, I enjoy kayaking and camping, and have recently completed 60 consecutive months of paddling at least one time per month.
- Purchasing questions
- Vendor Set Up
- Service Agreements
- P Card questions
- Surplus Equipment
- Requisition questions
Bree Bowers
Accounts Payable Specialist
My goal is to teach my children how to be self-sufficient and retire around 50 years old then work part-time so I have more time for farming and gardening.
I have worked at South Piedmont in some aspect (volunteering, work-study, part-time, and full-time) since I was 17 years old (2005). I am also an alumni with two associate degrees from South Piedmont. I am a “chicken tender” who loves my feathered and furry friends and enjoys spending time in my garden or at the ball field with my kids and husband.
- Verifying if payment made to a vendor
- Travel procedure questions
- Travel card questions
- Vendor 1099’s
- Utility payments
- Recurring / Blanket Purchase order payments
- Sales and Use Tax
- Vendor Withholding tax
Colene Burnop
Accounts Receivable Technician
My goal is to be able to spend as much time with my granddaughter and kids as possible and travel more.
I have been with SPCC since December 2011. I have been in higher education for over 24 years and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I love to read in my downtime.
- Payment Plan Information
- Sponsorships for students
- Continuing Education Student accounts
- Reserve College Vans for OCH Campus
- Student 1098-T’s
- Backup for Postage/Mailing and Packages
- OCH vehicle scheduling
Shakirah Cox
Finance & Auxiliary Services Coordinator
My goals are to finish my career here at South Piedmont and to raise my two beautiful children to become successful and productive individuals. I aspire to earn my CPA license in the near future!
I have worked at Central Piedmont Community College and UNC Charlotte. I have a bachelor’s in business administration, a master’s in healthcare administration, and a master’s in business administration, all from Marshall University in West Virginia, Go Herd! As you can see, I have a knack for learning and gaining new knowledge. You can catch me either learning something new, at the dance studio with my daughter, or at the baseball field with my son!
- Funding requests
- Non-student related Accounts Receivables
- Rentals of office spaces and the conference center
- Insurances including but not limited to general liability, property, vehicle, and student insurances
Jennifer Ricketts
Director of Financial Services
My goal is to live my life in a way that is pleasing to God, strive to do my best in all things, and to hopefully (eventually) retire with good health so that I can enjoy precious time with my family and friends. I have worked in the accounting field for 30 plus years, and I joined the award winning South Piedmont Business Office family in 2012.
I am a Breast Cancer Survivor, Bi-Vocational Pastor’s Wife, Mom, and a “Mimi” to 3 spunky little girls. I enjoy fishing (yes – I can bait my own hook), traveling, and most of all spending time with my family.
- Supervising Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable
- Monthly & Annual Financial Reports
- Reconciling General Ledger accounts
- Cash functions of the college – bank accounts, etc.
- Travel Procedures
- Internal Audit – EAGLE
Melissa Squires
OCH Cashier and Purchasing Technician
My goal in life is for my kids to become responsible, happy, and successful adults. Life has been very challenging, so I can only hope that I did, and continue to do my best for them by giving them a much better life than I ever had. Through all of life’s challenges however, I was able to earn 3 degrees, in 3 years while working full-time, and raising 3 kids on my own. Outside of work I am a soccer mom, so I don’t have much time to myself. When I do get a little time, I enjoy exercising, hanging out with my dog, and shooting a little pool. (No, I’m not any good at it, I just really enjoy playing it!)
- Vendor Invoices
- Purchase orders
- OCH College vehicle reservations
- OCH Deliveries/Packages
- Snack/Drink machine issues (OCH)
- Student/Employee payments and account questions
- OCH Mail
Elizabeth Suggs
Accounts Receivable Technician
My goal is to travel and see as many places as possible while also spending time with family. My most impressive achievement(s) is graduating debt free from college with three degrees. My first plane ride was 8 hours to go to Ireland for a study-abroad trip in college. I have always been involved in customer service roles and helping people since a young age. I also love anything involving the outdoors. I have worked at South Piedmont since 2020.
- Request a vehicle from LLP campus
- Make a payment
- Set up a payment plan
- Payment due dates
- Ask any questions about student financial accounts
- Ask questions about your refunds
- How to access your 1098-T form
- Collections
Ann Teal
Coordinator of Lockhart-Taylor Center
My personal goal is to declutter and simplify my life. I plan to build a small house in the country. I have finished the first steps: demolition, tree removal, septic and water. I am in the process of determining the size and type of house that I need.
I have worked at South Piedmont in some capacity (work study, part-time, permanent part-time and full time) since 1994.
I am a “tree farmer” who loves the beautiful natural scenery and peace and quiet of the land. I spend a lot of time with my family, and I am known by my neighbors as a “stargazer” who loves to share the clear night skies in the country with my granddaughters.
- Coordinator of Lockhart-Taylor Center
- Schedule Facilities for Outside Groups for all spaces except the Conference Center in Building A.
Amy Williams
Accounts Receivable Coordinator
One of my goals is to visit each state in the US. I hope to retire in 9 years so that I can start travelling. I enjoy spending time with my family, and I am an South Piedmont alumnus who started working as a work-study student in 2000 then became full-time in 2004.
- 1098T’s
- Tuition Rates
- Registration/Local Fees
- Debt Setoff
- Collections
- Student Financial Accounts
Linda Williams
Purchasing
My main responsibility is to get Purchase Orders to vendors in a timely manner.
My goal has always been to be the best that I can be and help others along the way.
During my first three months at South Piedmont, I received the “Flat Iron” award. Few remember what that was, so it doesn’t matter anymore – except to me. I have worked at South Piedmont now for 16 years, and I am a South Piedmont alum.
- Purchase Order questions
- Collections
- Student Financial Accounts
Business Office FAQ
Need help with a Business Office issue? Our FAQ may answer your question, but if not, reach out to a member of the team for more help.
A requisition should be submitted to purchase and pay for a product or service. A Travel Request should be submitted for training cost (in person or virtual) or travel expenses (registration, hotel, airfare, etc).
Submit a travel request on SharePoint and select the box “Travel card Requested…”. Once approved an email will be sent to you by Bree Bowers approving you to pick up a travel card at one of the Business Offices to Charge your approved pre-travel expenses. You will not have the card when you are traveling so you will need to either book through a site that will charge you at the time you make the reservations (hotels.com, Expedia.com, etc…) or request a credit card authorization form be sent to Bree Bowers to approve your use of the card without it being present.
All reimbursement requests must be submitted to Accounts Payable within two weeks of travelling. The reimbursement form is located at the bottom of the travel requisition.
You can be reimbursed $0.70 per mile (BOT approved rate) if a college vehicle isn’t available, you have special exceptions for your vehicle to be driven (HR will need to let us know about this), or you are given permission by your VP (email will need to be sent to Bree Bowers from your VP).
If you submit a travel request, you can request a vehicle on the form. If local travel, contact Colene Burnop for an OCH vehicle or Elizabeth Suggs for LLP vehicle.
Supplies should be ordered from FSI through a Requisition. Login to view products and state contact pricing https://fsioffice.com/. Login: browse; password: browse. Note: orders cannot be submitted here (must go through Purchasing).
A PO, or Purchase Order, is the document/request submitted to a vendor for the items on your Requisition. If using a NC E-Procurement Vendor, the PO is sent via NC E-Procurement. If not, it is emailed to the vendor (please be sure Purchasing is always aware of any vendor contact updates).
Contact Linda Williams at lwilliams@spcc.edu.
Check to ensure that your Requisition went through all approvals and made it to Accounts Payable Contact Purchasing (Melissa or Anthony) to verify that your order has not been received. They can contact the vendor with the order status.
- The requisitions will go through the workflow of approvals starting with your manager.
- If over $1,000 – your VP approval
- If over $10,000 – VP of Finance (Michelle Brock) approval
- Finance (Richard Ashley or Jennifer Ricketts) approval
- If IT related – IT approval (Robert Mullis) approval
- Purchasing Coordinator (Anthony Barbour) approval
- Purchasing Technician (Linda Williams) creates and sends the PO to the vendor
- Accounts Payable (Bree Bowers)
- Once the order is received, depending on the campus, you will be notified to pick it up (Melissa Squires- OCH, Anthony Barbour-LLP) · Invoices should be sent to accountspayable@spcc.edu
All invoices should be sent to accountspayable@spcc.edu.
Possible reasons are:
- Requisition not approved.
- Invoice not sent to accountspayable@spcc.edu.
- Items not received. If not received by purchasing, they may not have been notified all items received or not approved to pay by email if a service.
Other than small nominal gifts such as caps, pens, post-it notes, etc., we are not allowed to accept gifts from vendors. These would include gift cards, dining, vacations, tickets to concerts or sporting events, electronic items, and cash. Any questions regarding gifts should be directed to Anthony Barbour in the Purchasing Office.
Check Clarity or contact Richard Ashley.
A service agreement is needed for any type of special events, speaking engagements, repairs, etc.
The NC Division of Purchase and Contract requires us to bid out goods and services, which are not covered by a State Term Contract, when the purchase exceeds $50,000 (non-IT). IT related products or services not covered by an IT Statewide Contract must be bid out when the purchase exceeds $25,000.
All reimbursements must be pre-approved by the Purchasing department.
Con- Ed courses- Colene Burnop; Curriculum courses- Elizabeth Suggs