By William H. Kelly, III
Dillard McCoy, a business management senior at Jackson State University (JSU), interned as a registered investment adviser (RIA) compliance associate at TIAA this summer in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this role, McCoy supported compliance oversight for RIAs at TIAA, monitored and evaluated the effectiveness of internal business controls, and ensured compliance with relevant laws, regulations and TIAA policies.
“I got a better understanding and feel of corporate life. I have a better understanding of how to network and be more personal with people,” said McCoy, who is also a political science minor. “When you’re in the corporate world, you don’t have to be so uptight all the time. You can actually be a little relaxed and talk to people. They’re regular people, too.”
McCoy operated under the Internal Audit, Risk & Compliance Department, expressing that he was pleased to gain experience that fortifies his aspirations towards becoming a corporate lawyer. The compliance area also supports education savings through 529 programs.
“A lot of my friends said that they were just doing busy work at their internships, but I was told that the work that I did actually had an impact; it meant something to the company. So that’s something that I can take away from it,” said McCoy.
Interns embarked on both team and individual projects that included a review of legal and compliance risks and conflicts of interest. McCoy and his teammates completed an extensive review of the many ways legal and compliance risk can impact a business and determine its success. As a solo project, McCoy helped the company strengthen their Conflicts of Interest program for RIAs.
“Dillard was terrific. He came in with a great attitude from day one, asked tons of really good questions, and hit the steep learning curve head-on. Never having worked in the compliance unit of a financial services provider, Dillard had a lot to absorb,” said Sean Flynn, chief compliance officer at TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. “We deal with several regulatory bodies, each maintaining extensive and detailed foundational rules. Dillard dug into these rules but also spent considerable time connecting the dots to see how these rules actually impact a business. I think Dillard left us knowing a lot more about the legal, risk, and compliance function of a diverse financial services provider.”
McCoy says he pursued business management to enhance his knowledge in the field of law and intends to attend law school upon graduating. His passion for social justice and equality initiated his path to law, but as he matriculated through college, he discovered that corporate law seemed like a better fit. The Shreveport, Louisiana native is currently studying for the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC).
He thanks his mom for preparing him for interviews, Lashanda Jordan, Ph.D., director of the career services center at JSU, and Jennifer Steele, special project coordinator in JSU’s College of Business.
###
Media Contact: William H. Kelly III, william.h.kelly@jsums.edu