Continuing our SDP Employee Spotlight series, this month we (virtually!) sat down with Fund Accounting & Audit Manager Maria Douglas to learn more about her role at Southland Data Processing.
1. How long have you been with Southland Data Processing, and what do you do here?
I’ve been with SDP for three and a half years, or a total of four if you count in 2015 when I assisted with an ACA project!
Currently, I am the Fund Accounting & Audit Manager, which is essentially our Accounting and Tax Manager. However, I have also held the roles of Service and Solutions Coordinator and Customer Service Manager here at SDP.
2. What are three career lessons you have learned in your time at SDP?
First, always share what you know. Never feel that your position should hold others back from learning higher-level functions. After all, teaching others what you know ends up helping everyone!
Second, work should not be prioritized over family. If you are a hard worker and working late or long hours, check in with your loved ones to ensure they do not feel secondary to a job.
Lastly, never stop learning and improving your knowledge in the industry that you are or wish to be in.
3. What does a typical day look like for you?
On a typical day, I’m assisting my team and other departments to help resolve issues for our clients. Additionally, I set aside time for planning and documenting changes in our industry to keep our systems and processes up-to-date and work on other assigned tasks and projects.
4. If you could switch your job with anyone else at SDP, whose job would you want and why?
This is a tough one because as a manager, it would be tempting to trade with someone with less responsibility. But everyone works so hard here at SDP it’s still a tough decision! If I had to pick, I would probably choose to be on the Sales team.
5. What are three words to describe Southland Data Processing?
Responsibility, Family, and Bustling!
6. How do you balance your career at Southland Data Processing and family?
Oh, the super hard question! This industry definitely has its seasons of “all hands on deck” (for example, January, quarter-ends). But I am very blessed with a family who understands that my career and self-value is important to me.
I do my best to take the weekends for them and them only. And once I am off work, I am truly off work, and I proudly put on my “mommy” and “wife” hats.
7. What are your top 5 Clifton Strengths and what do they say about you?
My Top 5 Clifton Strengths are Developer, Positivity, Arranger, Strategic and Learner. These show that I recognize and cultivate the potential in others and spot all the little improvements that can be made and find joy in the evidence of progress.
I get excited about learning and can get others motivated along with me. Additionally, I enjoy organization but can also be flexible and fluid to increase productivity and find creative alternatives.
8. If you were stuck on a deserted island, what three things would you bring?
I’d take a fire starter tool, clean water and my family. (If I am stuck on an island, we are all stuck on an island!) I used to want chips and salsa but I have seen enough of Naked and Afraid to think smarter about this question now!
9. Do you have a favorite book, blog, or podcast?
For the past 10 years, my go-to blog has been the Disney Parks blog! (Who doesn’t want updates on everything Disney?!) Other than that, I’ve really been enjoying the Red Table Talk by Jada Pinkett Smith lately.
10. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I always wanted to be someone in government working as a public servant. To this day, I still tell my husband, “I am going to run for Mayor.” Law Enforcement has always been on my mind as well.
I was born and raised in San Bernardino, and it continues to spark a yearning in me to improve the poverty, crime, drug use, and corruption I see in the city. Being of service to others has always been a core value of mine, so we’ll see what the future holds!
11. What is something about you that people would be surprised to know?
English is my second language! As a first-generation Mexican American, having to translate documents for my parents and other family members at a young age made learning English a priority and a must. It was challenging, but thanks to my parents, I have their incredible work ethic and values–and I can channel it all in two languages!
12. What is a motto or personal mantra you have?
Work Hard – Play Hard!
SDP Employee Spotlights: Celebrating Our Team
We hope you enjoyed this month’s employee spotlight! Here at Southland Data Processing, we’re in the people business, and we know that our success is due to our amazing team. What did you think? Is there another employee you’d like to learn more about? Let us know in the comments below! And if you’re interested in learning more about starting your own career at SDP, you can explore our career opportunities here.