Rising star: Know your ‘why’

Brittni Downs gained the 2022 Rising Star Award from the CUNA Finance Council. Right after starting in OUCU Financial’s internship application, Downs has risen to supervisor of accounting at the $463 million asset credit rating union in Athens, Ohio.

Downs, a founding member of the Ohio Credit Union League’s GRID (Mature, Retain, Encourage, and Develop) application and a member of the CUNA Finance Council’s Member Source Committee, just lately spoke with CUNA News about her job, keys to expert accomplishment, assistance for young finance industry experts, and what she enjoys accomplishing in her free of charge time.

CUNA Information: Explain to me about your function and how you arrived to OUCU Economic.

Brittni Downs: I initially arrived to OUCU as a faculty intern in 2009 with a credit union support group carrying out taxes. I graduated from Ohio University and labored at another credit score union as their accountant and then controller. That was a lesser credit score union, and I was searching for options to improve.

At that time, OUCU was on the lookout for their supervisor of accounting and amenities, and I was excited for the possibility. Not lengthy following becoming there, the part improved a little bit and the amenities element was moved to another location.

In my existing part, I am accountable for a ton of the reports or details for reviews, these types of as board reviews, information to our asset/liability management organization for asset/legal responsibility committee (ALCO) reports, and spending budget analysis and enter.

Q: What are some keys to achievements in your function?

A: Keys to my achievements are my need to learn and my organizational abilities. I lately did a energy-finder evaluation at the Ohio Credit history Union League’s Make investments48, and it was no shock that “learner” was 1 of mine.

My desire to find out keeps me open to improve, which lets me to carry on to move up my competencies. And my capability to remain arranged helps make it feasible for me to get every little thing finished at my career, as properly as be certain my accounting is as exact as feasible. 

Q: Why did the CUNA Finance Council identify you the 2022 Rising Star?

A: I feel the Finance Council named me Growing Star due to the fact I drank the credit score union Kool-Support and I have goals to eventually become a main monetary officer (CFO) or CEO a single day. Those people objectives and really like for the credit union appear across in the interactions I have with people today.

As a aspect of that, I am concerned in the CUNA Finance Council Member Source Committee, where I have co-hosted digital chats and have been on conference panels. I also am a single of the founding members of Ohio’s younger specialists application, GRID, wherever our aim is to keep young pros in the credit union marketplace.

I am so thankful for all those who nominated me for this award. I am additional thankful for my boss who has pushed me to improved myself due to the fact he showed up at OUCU and has shared so significantly expertise with me.

I am and finally grateful for my husband or wife for supporting me as I press myself and consider and attain my targets.

‘My wish to find out retains me open to modify.’

Brittni Downs

Q: What occupation tips would you supply other finance specialists?

A: In no way prevent mastering. The most valuable issue I have questioned in my job is “why?”

Even early on, when I was handed one thing to do, I required to comprehend why I was carrying out it. I realized how to total the endeavor without the why, but comprehending the why permitted me to do it far better.

In some cases, being familiar with the why improved what we ended up doing entirely. A different question I check with is why we are carrying out it a specified way. If the reason we are carrying out a procedure is mainly because we have generally carried out it that way, it is a course of action that demands to be reviewed.

And all those whys don’t just have to be accounting and finance linked. In my prior position, I worked with other departments and asked why about their processes because then I could see how it tied again to accounting.

Q: What excites you most about your work at OUCU?

A: There are two sides to what I really like at OUCU. Very first is my position as the manager of accounting. Remaining equipped to get the job done carefully with our CFO is a consistent learning practical experience for me. I am a learner, and being in a position to carry on to develop and use my expertise receives me up in the early morning.

The next piece is the “people supporting people” philosophy that arrives from working at a credit history union. I am originally from Southeast Ohio, a county the place OUCU lately expanded its subject of membership, and we do every little thing we can to do what is best for the member and our neighborhood.

Q: What do you like to do exterior of operate?

A: I commit a lot of time with my partner, Jason, and my two bonus youngsters. When we aren’t going to soccer or piano tactics, we adore to travel.

Recently we went to Gatlinburg, Tenn., and we’re seeking ahead to our summer time journey to Disney and Common.

I researched overseas in London all through higher education and look forward to finding again there again. When we aren’t traveling, we appreciate taking part in board games with friends and carrying out day outings close to Ohio.

I also enjoy images. I am an beginner but operating on acquiring improved.