VCU news

By Carolyn Conlon
VCU Administration

Heather Seymour will serve as Virginia Commonwealth University’s interim controller.

Seymour has worked as VCU’s senior associate controller for the last 11 years, preparing annual financial statements, higher education reports and financial surveys; providing leadership for VCU’s Agency Risk Management and Internal Control Standards reporting teams; and serving as audit lead. She also has extensive previous experience working in private industry roles including controller, financial reporting, internal audit, treasury, budget and payroll.

Seymour has been a certified public accountant for more than 20 years and is a graduate of VCU. She will succeed Patricia Perkins, associate vice president for finance and university controller, who will retire from VCU in January after nearly 20 years of service.

“Tricia Perkins has made an indelible mark on VCU, and her invaluable expertise has guided VCU’s financial strategy – aligning resources to maximize student success, grow research that affects people and communities, and support a healthy learning and working environment,” said Meredith Weiss, Ph.D., senior vice president for finance and administration and CFO for VCU. “She and Heather have worked closely to build a strong financial team.”

As interim controller, Seymour will oversee VCU’s financial reporting, operations and technology, including payroll and tax, general accounting, shared services, financial reporting, Agency Risk Management and Internal Control Standards, data analytics, cost accounting, fixed assets, grants and contracts accounting, robotic process automation, and dashboard reporting.