CofC Faces to Know: Everett McInnis

Name: Everett McInnis ’96

Hometown: I am from Bennettsville, South Carolina. My roots run deep there. I am actually the eighth generation of my family to have been born in Marlboro County. It is a very beautiful area in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.

Education/Background: I hold an M.S. in accountancy, a B.S. in accounting, a B.S. in business administration with a minor in economics – all from the College of Charleston.

Job title: Associate Vice President of Budgeting and Payroll Services

How long have you worked at the College? 17 years and counting …

What are your job responsibilities? I am responsible for the oversight of the Office of Budgeting and Payroll Services, which is comprised of three functional areas: payroll, budget and position control.

What do you like most about your job? The team with which I work, as well as my wonderful colleagues and friends across the College of Charleston campus. I currently have the pleasure to work with a truly dynamic and hardworking group of people. I couldn’t ask for a better co-workers.

What question do you get asked most in your job and what’s your typical answer? That’s a tough one, there are so many. Here are the top 3 (keep in mind, some of these are seasonal … but when it rains… it pours):

Q: When will W-2 forms be issued? A: No later than January 31 of each year.

Q: My salary is more than the amount listed on my W-2 form, is this correct? A: Yes, your W-2 form is correct. A W-2 form is a taxable wage statement, and pre-tax deductions shelter certain amounts from taxation. As such, if you have pre-tax deductions, your gross compensation will not be on your W-2 form.

Q: Why am I receiving an NSF error when attempting to make a financial transaction? A: Your current budget in the respective account type (i.e., supplies, travel, fixed charges, etc.) less your expenses and encumbrances, does not have an adequate amount to support the transaction.

What’s your favorite location on campus and why? The cupola (also referred to as the crow’s nest) on the right side of Randolph Hall. It gives you 360-degree views of the College of Charleston’s campus. It reminds me how truly lucky I am to work at such a beautiful place.

What are your hobbies? I’ve spent a lot of time boating this summer and absolutely love it.

What personal and/or professional accomplishment are you most proud of? If you asked me this question before 2019, I would have said getting the College through an IRS audit, that lasted an entire year, with no findings. However, since then, the budget office had the unique opportunity to take a deep dive into the College’s budget structure and practices. We created a five-year budget model, developed a new reserve-building strategy, implemented non-sufficient funding checking, realigned all departmental budgets to the account type level, and created meaningful reporting templates. This budget overhaul was truly a collaborative and transparent effort. Its benefits are still being seen today. I have probably learned more in the past four years than at any point in my career.

Name a creative work (book, movie, performance, etc.) you enjoyed recently and why? Nothing creative … my guilty pleasure is reality TV on Bravo. I find it easy to watch after a long day’s work.

What was your favorite TV show growing up? I was a child of the ’70s and ’80s. As such, Saturday morning cartoons were HUGE. To the millennials and Gen Zers out there: Back in the day, we only had 12 channels, no remote controls, and cartoons ONLY came on television on Saturday mornings. It was a weekly event.

What’s next on your bucket list? A Christmas market Viking river cruise.

What is something your campus colleagues would be surprised to know about you? I go to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival at the World Showcase every year in Orlando, Florida, and have an absolute blast. I start with margaritas in Mexico and end with an Ottawa apple in Canada.

What was your first job? My first job was an agricultural scout in Marlboro County. This involved attending “bug school” at the Clemson Extension in Florence, South Carolina, to learn how to identify potentially invasive insects and worms to South Carolina native crops. Then, after passing a “bug test,” for the remainder of the summer I walked through acre after acre after acre of soybeans, corn and cotton, sampling plants and looking for infestations so the farmers would know which fields to spray with insecticides.

FOLLOW-UP NOTE: The following summer, I made a career change and became a lifeguard at the Clio Country Club – a VERY wise choice.

What’s your favorite Lowcountry restaurant? While there are countless wonderful restaurants in Charleston, I’d like to give a shoutout to one in Fairfax, South Carolina, which is still technically the Lowcountry. It is a family-owned soulfood restaurant named Govan’s. Deborah Govan is the matriarch of the family and works tirelessly to ensure your experience at her restaurant is a perfect one. Govan’s has recently been receiving well-deserved rave reviews, and people travel from all over for the delicious food and to enjoy the live entertainment.

Describe your perfect day: Being at a resort on a beach somewhere, drinking something with a little umbrella in it.