Hartwick College
Vice President for Finance and Operations | Leadership profile
Position overview & strategic leadership context
Hartwick College, a private residential liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, New York, invites applications and nominations for the position of Vice President for Finance and Operations.
Hartwick is dedicated to helping students thrive academically, personally and professionally. Known as The Life Balance College, Hartwick emphasizes four areas: academic excellence, career preparation, physical and emotional wellness, and financial clarity. Together, these support each student’s path through college and beyond.
Reporting directly to President Laurel Bongiorno, the Vice President for Finance and Operations serves as the College's chief financial officer, a member of the President's Cabinet and an Officer of the Corporation, serving as Assistant Treasurer.
The Vice President plays a central role in advancing Hartwick’s financial sustainability, working closely with the President, Board of Trustees and Cabinet to align financial resources with institutional priorities. With oversight of an endowment of approximately $40 million and an annual operating budget of approximately $50 million, the Vice President leads the College’s financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, investments, cash management, debt management, procurement, risk management and information technology, and oversees the Executive Director for Operations and Contracts.
This appointment comes at an important time for Hartwick. Under President Bongiorno's leadership, the College is advancing its Forward Momentum Strategic Plan, focused on three institutional priorities: enrollment and retention, philanthropy and financial sustainability. The plan guides efforts to support academic innovation and strengthen the College's long-term financial position. The Vice President for Finance and Operations will help implement the plan through financial planning, resource allocation and institutional investments.
Opportunities & priorities
1. Strategic financial leadership & institutional sustainability Serve as the College's senior financial officer, advising the President, Board of Trustees and President’s Cabinet on financial strategy, institutional resources and long-term financial sustainability.
Lead financial planning and resource allocation in support of Hartwick's Forward Momentum Strategic Plan, working with institutional leadership to advance its priorities of enrollment and retention, philanthropy and financial sustainability.
Provide financial analysis and recommendations to guide institutional decision-making, resource allocation and strategic investments.
Collaborate with academic and enrollment leadership to evaluate the financial performance of existing and proposed academic programs, including graduate offerings and identify opportunities for sustainable revenue growth.
Partner with enrollment management to evaluate tuition pricing, financial aid strategies and enrollment projections, ensuring the recruitment and retention goals support the College’s long-term financial health.
Identify opportunities to strengthen financial performance, improve operational efficiency and support responsible institutional growth.
2. Budget development, financial management & reporting Lead the development and administration of the College's annual operating budget in collaboration with the President, Cabinet and campus budget managers.
Maintain a three-year rolling budget model and prepare financial forecasts and scenario analyses that account for enrollment, tuition revenue, operating expenses, capital needs and other factors affecting the College’s financial position.
Oversee financial accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, cash management and procurement to ensure accuracy, accountability and compliance with applicable standards.
Monitor financial performance against approved budgets,…