Georgia L. Smith credits much of her professional success to her inquisitive mindset, which compels her to constantly question her environment and seek an understanding of how different systems operate. She has always regarded knowledge as a source of power and works to gain a comprehensive understanding of the inner workings of her job. As the vice president of finance at Fiserv Inc., she has leveraged her deep base of experience and information to establish herself as an asset to the company.
Ms. Smith heads Fiserv’s Settlement Controls and Solutions Department, in which she reconciles, balances, and ensures accurate payments and funds movements for clients across the business. She oversees the daily movement of between $35 billion and $45 billion in funds, always taking care to see that every transaction is handled and completed appropriately. In addition to this vital role, Ms. Smith works with the business to onboard new projects or clients appropriately and build systems correctly for new products and services. She has made significant contributions to Fiserv Inc. by creating a consistent control process and environment for the whole company. Further, she has authored key policies and monitors their global implementation. Ms. Smith is even developing a new system to automate many processes and reconcile transactions systematically.
Laying the foundation for her career in finance, Ms. Smith graduated in 1991 from Hagerstown Community College with an Associate of Arts in business administration and management. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Science in accounting and business management at Frostburg State University in 1992. While completing her studies, she secured experience as a staff accountant with Home Federal Savings Bank from 1990 to 1995, after which she accepted the role of vice president of the First Data Corporation, where she remained for more than 25 years. In 2003, Ms. Smith graduated from Frostburg State University with a Master of Business Administration.
For her professional excellence, Ms. Smith was named to the Top 5 in the Top 50 Women Leaders in Maryland by Women We Admire in 2023. To those aspiring to pursue careers in finance, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining a commitment to lifelong learning. From firsthand experience, she knows the power of a steadfast desire to learn and an ever-present willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone, as significant growth often occurs in the face of new challenges. Even if a young professional doesn’t feel fully qualified, Ms. Smith encourages them to dive into new tasks because the desire and willingness to learn will lead to success. In addition, she advises the importance of staying up to date with technological advancements. Understanding how the world is changing, especially with revolutionary new technologies like artificial intelligence, is imperative for longevity and sustained success.
Looking ahead, Ms. Smith seeks to implement the system she is developing to revolutionize and automate many important processes using machine learning and artificial intelligence. She has spent many years working in corporate America and now hopes to leverage her efforts to contribute to societal improvement by helping future generations realize their full potential. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining authenticity and depth in one’s personal brand, as without both, any brand will be fleeting, and long-term success will be unattainable. She also believes that striving to consistently demonstrate one’s knowledge and skills is essential for lasting achievement.
Ms. Smith’s family history is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of longevity. Her father left school at age 16 to work on the family farm and dedicated his life to manufacturing. Her mother became a parent as a teenager and still completed high school while raising four children. As a result, Ms. Smith inherited an unwavering work ethic instilled by her parents. Their dedication and resilience have served as an ongoing guiding light in her ambitions, including at Fiserv Inc., where she has undergone extensive professional growth by confronting her discomfort and growing from an introvert into a confident leader and public speaker.
