McCombs Alumni Rising Star Award

Since graduation, Jessica M. Lopez has grown from a staff accountant to a controller, receiving the certified public accountant and certified management accountant designations, and now has the privilege of helping others progress in their careers. She is currently the corporate controller for IDX. Previously, she was the director of finance and controller for All Web Leads Inc. Her extensive participation with the Texas Society of CPAs (TXCPA) has included serving as treasurer-elect and serving on its Membership Committee and Leaders Emerging in Accounting Profession Committee. Her contributions to the community and the accounting profession have also been recognized by the TXCPA, being awarded the Young CPA of the Year (2018 - 2019) award by the Austin Chapter and at the state level as a TXCPA Rising Star (2019).

Michael C. Smith began his career with ExxonMobil in 2005 as a Financial Analyst in Houston, Texas.  During his early years with the company, Michael worked across the Controller’s and Treasurer’s functions in a variety of financial capacities.  He spent time in a number of financial leadership and senior advisory positions, primarily supporting Upstream activities, as well as a rotation through Audit.  In 2019, Michael relocated to Buenos Aires, Argentina as the Corporate Financial Services Financial Accounting and Reporting Process Manager, and took the helm as Lead Controller in 2020. 

As Lead Controller, Michael provides leadership for ExxonMobil’s 1,000 person financial organization in Buenos Aires.  His primary responsibilities include implementing the strategic vision for the organization and positioning them to support the complex dynamics of ExxonMobil’s global financial portfolio. 

Michael grew up in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from the University of Oklahoma, and a Masters of Business Administration in finance from the University of Texas.  Prior to joining ExxonMobil, Michael worked as a computer programmer at Southwest Airlines in Dallas, Texas.

Michael and his wife Rachel have been married for 15 years.  They have two daughters, Olivia (12) and Claire (8).  As a family, they enjoy active involvement in their local church, international travel and exploring the neighborhoods of Buenos Aires.  Michael’s personal hobbies include long runs, exploring food and wine, and he takes special joy in planning surprises for his daughters.