Working the Numbers

December 1, 2022 | Careers

He seldom has fewer than four spreadsheets open at any given time — and that’s just the way Jamar Faulk likes it.

“Numbers have always been my thing,” says Faulk, who recently earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from the George Dean Johnson School of Business at USC Upstate. While there, he was president of the Finance & Accounting Club and provided free tax preparation services for the underserved via the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance grant program. “I enjoy being able to put my math skills to work.”

He’s been doing exactly that since joining OTO as a payroll analyst in June 2022. His job comprises a variety of accounting, auditing and analytical tasks, and requires expertise in all state and federal payroll and tax regulations.

“It’s way harder to pay people than you might think,” Faulk says, outlining the intricately involved processes and procedures, “but my short job description is making sure employees get paid accurately and on time.”

With 17 hotels under his purview, maintaining the payroll requires constant interaction with on-property management teams as well as corporate office colleagues.

“We couldn’t process payroll without teamwork,” Faulk says. “Everyone relies on each other to get the job done — we put partnership, which is one of our Guiding Principles, to work every day.”

Payroll Manager Steve Hardy agrees.

“Jamar has demonstrated a can-do attitude from Day 1 with a willingness to learn new tasks and provide assistance to his teammates,” Hardy says. “He has an excellent rapport with the field and strives to provide excellent payroll support daily.”

A former bowling league competitor who throws a 180 on an average day, Faulk spends as much of his spare time as possible at the alley.

“I’m still the best bowler I know,” he says with a laugh.

Likewise committed to being the best payroll analyst possible, Faulk relishes “working on the numbers side” within the hospitality ecosystem.

“The hotel teams take care of our guests,” he says, “and we take care of the hotel teams.”

CAPTION:  PAYROLL ANALYST Jamar Faulk.

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