Sandy Connolly

Experience

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  Westinghouse Electric Company

  Jan 1989 - Jan 1993

  Senior Corporate Auditor

  AUTHORITY FOR ANNUAL AUDIT PLAN & INTERNAL CONTROLS► Recommended improved internal controls, process changes, and operational procedures to strengthen financial accountability. ► Presented annual audit plan and budget to senior management. ► Trained senior and peer auditors.► Developed corporate audit newsletter.

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  North Carolina State University

  Jan 1993 - Jan 2004

  PERSONNEL COMPLIANCE, FINANCIAL STRATEGY, & TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS OVERSIGHT► Aligned personnel policies with state mandates to ensure clarity and implementation in all Schools, supporting 10 Colleges and 9 Vice Provost offices campus-wide, accountable to system President and Board of Trustees. ► Coordinated Phased Retirement Program for tenured faculty transitions. ► Managed Office of Academic Personnel Services affecting 5,500 Employee Personnel Act employees. ► Oversaw annual salary administrative process, plus staff reporting for Academic Affairs and Board Personnel Committees.FINANCE, POLICY, & SYSTEMS ENHANCEMENTS:● Online Salary System Co-Chair: Implemented Employees Exempt from the State Personnel Act (EPA) salary system and policy.● Special Initiatives: Led PeopleSoft HR system gap analysis and upgrades, school pay workgroup, and Personnel Connections customer service meetings. Show less

  • Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Administration; Director of Fiscal Operations & Acad Personnel

    Jan 2000 - Jan 2004

  • Director Of Business Services

    Jan 1995 - Jan 2000

  • Compliance Coordinator

    Jan 1993 - Jan 1995
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  Duke University

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2020

  FINANCIAL STRATEGY, HR, & COMPLIANCE STRATEGY PLANNING & LEADERSHIP► Improved fiscal health, processes, cost-effectiveness, data analytics, shared services, and talentidentification at Trinity College of Arts & Sciences (TCA&S).► Supported 38 departments / programs and 671 faculty as CFO leading strategic financial planning, budgets HR, payroll, facilities planning, and policies and procedures.► Led, advised and reported fiscal matters to Dean, Divisional Deans, Department Chairs, BusinessManagers, and Provost Office.PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS, SAVINGS, FINANCIAL PLANNING, & INITIATIVES: ● Leadership Service: Serve on 7 committees and task forces as fiscal advisor.● University Cost Efficiency: Reorganized and reduced staff volume, while increasing savings and expertise levels as School Financial Officer on Duke Administrative Reform Team.● Talent Management: Strengthened Business Manager expertise via new onboarding and workshops.● Financial Recommendations: Advised Trinity College dean and leadership on fiscal sustainability, growth needs, and challenges.● Strategic Cost Absorption: Absorbed additional expenses due to Provost Strategic Investment Plan realignment.● Union Relations: Took lead role for the College in implementing Collective Bargaining Agreement.● Documentation Efficiencies: Led faculty database efforts with Senior Associate Dean Faculty Affairs and IT, incorporating 12,000+ documents for appointments, promotion, leaves, and other purposes.● International Teaching Policy: Created Duke Kunshan University (China) teaching policy for overseas assignments, outlining costs and reimbursable expectations.● Tableau Analytics: Improved reporting with Office of Institutional Research to enable better decision-making.● Budget & Assessment Tools: Enhanced preparation / review for 70+ budget submissions via online tool; ensured web-based educational framework tool use in assessment data collection and analysis. Show less STRATEGIES FOR FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY, IT, CONSTRUCTION COSTS, & EFFICIENCY► Promoted financial stability and growth in Pratt School of Engineering; forecasted and implemented 5-year financial plan within school and Provost strategic planning process, encompassing new building, IT service improvements, online data gathering, and new Master’s programs.► Held accountability for HR, IT and Facilities budgets and strategy. ► Established and facilitated Business Manager meetings crucial to communication.COST, TEAM EFFICIENCY, FACILITIES, & IT IMPROVEMENTS:● Growth Strategy: Improved financial sustainability with strategy for Master’s program enrollments, cost savings, and faculty growth support.● Facilities Construction & Revenue: Oversaw timely, on-budget Engineering building completion with Facilities Operations. Coordinated additional renovations and generated revenue from building space rental policy.● Staff Restructuring: Ensured integrated IT strategy and shared resourcing university-wide with new IT reporting and hardware strategies.● IT Leadership: Facilitated reduction in help desk request backlog with new, centralized User Services Group.● Funding Request Automation: Streamlined discretionary financial requests in Dean’s office with first online intake process. Show less

  • Vice Dean Finance & Administration - CFO; Senior Associate Dean, Finance & Administration

    Jan 2007 - Jan 2020

  • Associate Dean Finance & Operations

    Jan 2004 - Jan 2007
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  Campbell University

  Jul 2020 - now

  Vice President for Business & Chief Financial Officer

  FINANCIAL EXECUTIVE FACILITATING UNIVERSITY STABILITY, FISCAL OUTLOOK, & FUTURE-FOCUSED SUSTAINABILITY► Hired to shape financial strategy affecting multiple campuses, based on track record of university financial oversight, accessible leadership style, reputation for integrity, and strong finance leadership career.► Spearhead financial transparency in collaboration with President and leadership; conserve resources and assess finance operations and policies of impact to strategic mission.► Confer with Finance Committee of Board of Trustees – supporting academic and service goals as Cabinet member and direct report to President.► Present financial analysis and reporting to leadership team, university officials, and other audiences.► Serve on Steering Committee task force addressing COVID-19 impact and solutions, including remote workforce and related cost-benefit analysis to handle unprecedented situations.► Oversee HR, in addition to Finance team, including AVP for Business, Comptroller, Director of Procurement, University Bursar, and HR as direct reports.REMOTE WORKING, COST EFFICIENCY, & TECHNOLOGY OVERSIGHT:● Support remote work and other changes for continual operations, with focus on student satisfaction, quality, cost effectiveness, digital transformation, and technology tools.● Attract and retain optimum HR, Procurement and Finance talent – mentoring and developing staff committed to University success, remote learning environments, efficiency, and diversity initiatives; lead compensation and market analyses.● Assist in positioning University for future operations, while preserving culture and pivoting quickly to meet the needs of students, community, faculty, and organization during times of change. Show less