UNC Pembroke’s new internal auditor brings nearly 20 years of experience auditing North Carolina institutions of higher education.
Kelley Horton comes to UNCP from the Office of the State Auditor, where she led teams of auditors statewide to universities, community colleges and office of the clerk of courts. She will work in the Office of the Chancellor.
“We are very fortunate to have someone like Ms. Horton join the university and oversee our internal audit,” said Chancellor Kyle R. Carter. “She is very bright and highly personable.
“Ms. Horton has extensive experience with the State Auditor's Office and has conducted audits at several UNC campuses including UNC Pembroke,” Chancellor Carter continued. “As a result, Kelley understands audit issues of universities, and has a familiarity with UNC Pembroke. Both experiences allow her to begin work immediately on our internal audit function without the normal learning curve that often accompanies new appointments.”
As UNCP’s internal auditor, Horton assures that university management is properly assessing risk and is in compliance with applicable state rules and regulations for financial management.
“I try to stay ahead of financial issues and to make sure proper financial controls are in place,” Horton said. “I will also interact with state auditors who review my reports.”
Horton worked for the state auditor since 1992 helping to issue reports on North Carolina’s higher education institutions, which are rolled into the state’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report or CAFR.
Horton discussed several immediate and long term goals for her office.
“At this point in the annual cycle, we are working on our audit plan for 2012-13,” she said. “Looking out farther, one of my goals is to increase the visibility of our office and its mission.
“I would like to create an informative website for this office,” she said.” I think it would be helpful to promote sound internal controls.”
A Rock Hill, S.C., native who lived in nearby Rockingham, N.C., Horton is familiar with Southeastern North Carolina.
“This is a friendly campus with a family atmosphere,” she said. “I like UNCP’s size also. It’s just right for me.
“I went to Richmond Senior High School, so this is familiar territory for me,” Horton concluded.
Horton earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Campbell University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and was a member of the Academic Honor Society.
For more information about the office of the auditor, please contact them at 910.521.6201.