Tammy Sharp, financial officer in the Department of NeurosurgeryAs one of Tammy Sharp’s nominators wrote her letter of recommendation for Employee of the Month, it was 7:30 p.m. Friday, and Sharp was still at the office — not unusual for someone known to colleagues for being dedicated and passionate about her work.
“She will not settle for anything less than A-plus,” said Amber O’Connor, Ph.D., program manager in the Office of Laboratory Research Support for the departments of Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology and Urology.
Sharp has worked at UAB for nearly 20 years; she is a financial officer in the Department of Neurosurgery and a CPA. Some of her responsibilities include developing and overseeing budgets for faculty, staff, laboratory personnel, neurosurgical education programs and departmental development initiatives. She also chronicles clinician productivity and procedural efficiency and manages accounts receivable and collections and prepares departmental financial summaries and financial projections.
“Tammy is keen, a stickler for details, accurate and bright and ever kind and understanding,” said Mark Hadley, M.D., Charles A. and Patsy W. Collat Endowed Professor of Neurosurgery. “She is a leader, a self-starter and a valued contributor to other departmental activities beyond finances and balance sheets.”
Other co-workers agree, describing Sharp as consistent, dedicated, accurate and forward-thinking.
“She thinks about the consequences of how she creates entries and results and the impact that might have on financial reporting and future financial results,” said Stephanie McClinton, controller in the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation finance office.
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“Tammy is keen, a stickler for details, accurate and bright and ever kind and understanding. She is a leader, a self-starter and a valued contributor to other departmental activities beyond finances and balance sheets.” |
Sharp is known for her high performance and dedication, and she also is a pleasant and helpful colleague.
“Tammy’s dependability is impeccable,” said Donna Bailer, J.D., administrative director in the Department of Neurosurgery. “Never in my professional career have I had the level of trust that I have in her to complete projects on time with accuracy while frequently going above and beyond what was necessary to fully and completely analyze issues. She is a team member; she is the person who will not let you down, no matter what.”
Sharp, however, says there’s no secret to her method and success. Instead, she says it just comes down to working in a great environment.
“I am very fortunate to work with dedicated and talented colleagues, and I am eager to assist them whenever possible,” Sharp said.
Bailer added that it’s rare for Sharp to do the job asked of her and then simply walk away. Instead, she goes a step further.
“She doesn’t just do the job, but rather, she does the job and adds something new to the knowledge on the subject every time,” Bailer said of Sharp. “Our department has a thorough and complete understanding of our current financial picture and our future projections, due to Tammy’s perseverance in understanding and tracking the details.”
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Each month, UAB recognizes an outstanding employee for their dedication, hard work and contributions to the university’s success. If you know of a great employee, you can learn how to nominate them for this recognition at uab.edu/humanresources. |
While Sharp’s colleagues know to turn to her for her expertise on financial matters, many say they feel comfortable going to her in a number of situations — even personal ones.
“She is a true team player, and I have come to depend on her advice on numerous occasions,” said Michael Thomas, business officer in the Department of Neurosurgery. “I consider Tammy to be much more than a trusted co-worker and dependable resource. I consider her to be a great friend.”
Sharp says she enjoys spending time with her co-workers, and her favorite memories here include participating in UAB-sponsored events such as the annual Bowl-a-Thon for Spina Bifida.
Sharp is renowned in the department as one of the hardest-working members of the team, says chair James M. Markert, M.D., and can always be counted on to be conscientious and cheerful.
“She is an absolute pleasure to work with,” Market said, “and I cannot imagine how we would have achieved the financial status we’ve attained as a department without her guidance and insight.”
