Finance Optimized Service Team

Penn State’s financial operations are the backbone of everyday functions and successes at the University. The Finance OST is dedicated to optimizing business practices, enhancing service and support for the University community, and creating clear career pathways and professional growth for Penn State staff.

Employee Resources

We are committed to clear, open, and transparent communication with our employees. On our Resources page, you can learn about upcoming engagement opportunities, access recordings of previous events, and opt in for direct communications.

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Current and past work

Upcoming Town Hall

All University employees are invited to learn more about the Finance OST and ask questions. The town hall will be held on June 30 from 9 – 10 a.m. EST.

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Project Overview

The Finance OST will introduce consistent, standardized, University-wide application of accounting and finance transactions, reporting, policies, practices and tools for all colleges, departments and units at every Penn State campus, while preserving the partnerships and working relationships essential to our collective success.

The primary goals of this effort are to:

  • Provide consistent, high-quality financial services to faculty, staff, and students across all units.
  • Streamline University-wide finance processes by building standardized, efficient policies, introducing technology, and leveraging scale to reduce complexity and costs.
  • Establish a consistent, University-wide operating model for increased clarity and visibility.
  • Clarify finance-related roles across colleges, campuses, departments and units.
  • Support and grow our professional workforce by creating defined career paths, professional development opportunities, and leadership roles for Penn State finance team members.

To achieve these goals, Penn State will adopt a shared services model. This unified organization will bring financial operations and staff together, focusing on outstanding service delivery while maintaining essential unit-level connections.

Phase 1: Information Gathering and Developing Recommendations

In the summer and fall of 2023, the workstream engaged with financial officers, budget executives, and external experts and consultants to establish an expanded OST advisory group consisting of several academic deans at University Park, chancellors from Commonwealth Campuses and central unit budget executives.

The Finance OST has partnered with consulting firm PwC and will identify Penn State’s financial services and processes at all campuses. This information gathering and analysis phase will inventory all financial processes, personnel and systems across the University.

To-date, this has included an inventory of all financial processes, personnel and systems across the University. PwC interviewed key staff members and conducted a Financial Activity Analysis (FAA) survey, offering the opportunity for all employees working in finance operations or who were regularly users of SIMBA to provide input. Their activities also included a survey targeted at gathering insights from deans, chancellors and vice presidents to understand the full scope of their unit’s financial operations. The working group also held a series of workshops to gain deeper insight into Penn State’s financial functions, including team structures, roles and responsibilities, day-to-day activities, current challenges, pain points, and more.

Phase 2: Implementation

We are establishing five dedicated hubs, each focused on key financial functions and reporting directly to Penn State Finance and Business. Staff primarily responsible for financial duties across the University, along with financial processes, will transition into this new structure. All University financial duties will be organized in the following hubs: 

  • Controllership 
  • Procurement and Accounts Payable 
  • Bursar Services 
  • Treasury and Accounts Receivable 
  • Financial Planning and Analysis 

The following timeline will continue to evolve:

Journey map. Text is available below.

Spring 2025

January

  • Completion of Phase 1
  • Socialization of hubs using listening sessions

February

  • Socialization of hubs using listening sessions (cont.)
  • Determining process mapping and technology capability gaps

March

  • Determining process mapping and technology capability gaps (cont.)
  • Create Change Agent Network
  • Assign hub leaders
  • Determine hub reporting structure

April

  • Determining process mapping and technology capability gaps (cont.)
  • Begin the preparation of training for new employees
  • Launch Skills and Interest Survey
  • Begin creation of role profiles

May

  • Determining process mapping and technology capability gaps (cont.)
  • Preparing training for new employees (cont.)
  • Creation of role profiles (cont.)
  • Finalize and socialize future state organization design
  •  

Summer 2025

June

  • Determining process mapping and technology capability gaps (cont.)
  • Preparing training for new employees (cont.)
  • Finalize and socialize future state organization design (cont.)
  • Develop career path model and rewards program

July

  • Share Skills and Interest Survey results
  • Determining process mapping and technology capability gaps (cont.)
  • Preparing training for new employees (cont.)

August

  • Determining process mapping and technology capability gaps (cont.)
  • Preparing training for new employees (cont.)
  • Assign and share roles in hubs with individual employees
  •  

Fall 2025

September

  • Preparing training for new employees (cont.)
  • Begin training employees and testing processes

October

  • Training employees and testing processes (cont.)

November

  • Hubs launch

December

  • Hypercare begins for units

Frequently Asked Questions

As the OST begins its implementation, employees and community members can learn more about this transformation and what it will mean for them.

Our Commitment to You

Our goal is to build a modern financial services model at Penn State that improves outcomes for everyone—faculty, staff, students, and financial professionals. We understand that change impacts individuals differently, and we are committed to supporting all employees throughout this transition. Regular communication will continue as the project progresses, and we are committed to regular listening and engagement sessions through all phases of this project.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the team, at FinanceOST@psu.edu. Thank you for your continued engagement and dedication as we move forward with this important initiative.

Key Partners

Executive Sponsor:

  • Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for Finance and Business / treasurer

Finance OST Leads:

  • Saurabh Bansal, professor of supply chain management
  • Duane Elmore, director of procurement services and chief procurement officer
  • David Snyder, associate vice president for auxiliary and business services
  • Kristin Sykes, senior director for business administration for the Office of Physical Plant

Advisory Council:

  • Ron Darbeau, chancellor, Penn State Altoona
  • Craig Newschaffer, Raymond E. and Erin Stuart Schultz Dean, College of Health and Human Development
  • Tonya Peeples, Harold and Inge Marcus Dean, College of Engineering
  • Andrea Dowhower, vice president, Student Affairs
  • Karen Pollack, interim vice provost for online education
  • Crystal Barna, subaward grants officer, College of Medicine
  • Melissa Meyer, executive assistant and business operations lead, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
  • Radha Pyati, chancellor, Penn State Berks
  • Clarence Lang, Susan Welch Dean, College of the Liberal Arts

Other Key Units and Organizations:

  • Human Resources
  • University Staff Advisory Council (USAC)
  • Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research (OPAIR)
  • Office of Strategic Communications

Workstream Participants:

Collaboration from faculty and staff across the University has been instrumental in driving this transformation. For the first time, we’ve worked together to comprehensively map our current financial processes, many of which had never been formally documented. This foundational work has not only clarified how things operate currently, but has also enabled us to identify opportunities for optimization as we look to the future. More than 80 community members have contributed their time, insight, and expertise to help define, document, and improve our financial processes.

Journal Entries

  • Teka Spicer, Office of the Physical Plant
  • Kevin Waltz, College of Engineering
  • Christy Healey, Office of Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses
  • Karen Thom, Auxiliary and Business Services
  • Kevin Mahood, Budget and Finance – Finance Reporting
  • Melissa Mccall, Auxiliary and Business Services
  • Nancy Adams, Auxiliary and Business Services
  • Sandra Quarrick, Commonwealth Campuses – Fayette and New Kensington
  • Tina Laychur, Auxiliary and Business Services
  • Whitney Fisher, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Lee Wagner, Budget and Finance
  • Kristin Sykes, Office of the Physical Plant, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses

Internal Billing

  • Teka Spicer, Office of the Physical Plant
  • Nancy Adams, Auxiliary and Business Services
  • Jerry Krawczyk, Information Technology
  • Gwen Gummo, Outreach (Financial Officer)
  • Jennifer Clement, Commonwealth Campuses – Behrend
  • Carolyn Wisniewski, Commonwealth Campuses – Behrend
  • Ian Marshall, Auxiliary and Business Services
  • Melissa Mccall, Auxiliary and Business Services
  • Kristen Gincott, Commonwealth Campuses – Behrend
  • Lee Wagner, Budget and Finance
  • Kristin Sykes, Office of the Physical Plant, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses

General Accounting: Balance Sheets

  • Kevin Mahood, Budget and Finance – Finance Reporting
  • Michi Lenig, Budget and Finance – Accounting Operations
  • Mindy Barnett, Budget and Finance
  • Raymond Shirley, Bellisario College of Communications (Financial Officer)
  • Erika Burdge, Budget and Finance – Finance Reporting
  • Lee Wagner, Budget and Finance
  • Kristin Sykes, Office of the Physical Plant, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses

General Accounting: Close

  • Kevin Mahood, Budget and Finance – Finance Reporting
  • Michi Lenig, Budget and Finance – Accounting Operations
  • Mindy Barnett, Budget and Finance
  • Raymond Shirley, Bellisario College of Communications (Financial Officer)
  • Erika Burdge, Budget and Finance – Finance Reporting
  • Lee Wagner, Budget and Finance
  • Kristin Sykes, Office of the Physical Plant, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses

Chart of Accounts Master Data Management

  • Kevin Mahood, Budget and Finance – Finance Reporting
  • Michi Lenig, Budget and Finance – Accounting Operations
  • Mindy Barnett, Budget and Finance
  • Raymond Shirley, Bellisario College of Communications (Financial Officer)
  • Erika Burdge, Budget and Finance – Finance Reporting
  • Lee Wagner, Budget and Finance
  • Kristin Sykes, Office of the Physical Plant, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses

Labor Distribution

  • Amy Hopson, Commonwealth Campuses – Behrend
  • William Samluk, Commonwealth Campuses – Behrend (Financial Officer)
  • Marilyn Presto, Budget Office
  • Tana McGhee-Wegner, Office of the Physical Plant, Auxiliary and Business Services (Financial Officer)
  • Shannon Millan, Dickinson Law
  • Connie Stahlman, College of the Liberal Arts
  • Jeffrey Lieb, College of the Liberal Arts (Financial Officer)
  • Brian Godish, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses
  • Mindy Barnett, Budget and Finance
  • Brian Kochik, Information Technology
  • Brad King, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
  • Tiffany Cunningham, Office of the Senior Vice President for Research
  • Lauri Herbertson, Information Technology
  • Heidi Andrews, Information Technology
  • Jason Guilbeault, Office of the Senior Vice President for Research
  • Lizz Brandt, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses
  • Kim Fisher, Budget and Finance
  • David Snyder, Auxiliary and Business Services

Budgeting & Forecasting (Guidance, Monthly Strategic Finance Partner Analysis)

  • Marilyn Presto, Budget Office
  • Jon Hartzler, J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School (Financial Officer)
  • Brian Godish, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses
  • Carl Ayre, College of Education (Financial Officer)
  • Christine Bowers, Finance and Business, Human Resources (Financial Officer)
  • Daniel Smith, Budget Office
  • Rod Iigen, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (Financial Officer)
  • Kim Fisher, Budget and Finance
  • David Snyder, Auxiliary and Business Services

Travel and Expense

  • Lisa Steinbugl, Central Procurement
  • Amy Seachrist, Smeal College of Business
  • Dawn Haines, Information Technology
  • Nate Carter, Commonwealth Campuses – Behrend
  • Mindy Barnett, Budget and Finance
  • Saurabh Bansal, Smeal College of Business, Finance and Business
  • Wendy Shaffer, College of Liberal Arts
  • Sonia Stitzer, College of Liberal Arts
  • Nicky Rigg, College of Health and Human Development
  • BJ Lesko, Global Programs
  • Rachel McDonough, College of Health and Human Development
  • Wendy Franklin, Information Technology
  • Gregg Stimer, Office of the Senior Vice President for Research
  • Jenny Hu, College of Engineering
  • Glenda Hunter, Central Procurement
  • Kristen Kulk, Commonwealth Campuses – Altoona
  • Autumn Hanley, Smeal College of Business
  • William Samluk, Commonwealth Campuses – Behrend (Financial Officer)
  • Pamela Nisewonger, College of Arts and Architecture
  • Duane Elmore, Central Procurement

Purchase Orders

  • Meg Harpster, Central Procurement
  • Shannon Waugh, Central Procurement
  • Mindy Vail, Eberly College of Science
  • Chelsea Gerber, Auxiliary and Business Services
  • Christina Eberhart​, Auxiliary and Business Services
  • Kathy Matts, Commonwealth Campuses – DuBois
  • Amber Fluke, Central Procurement
  • Seth Bailey, Eberly College of Science
  • Tina Weidele, Commonwealth Campuses – Hazleton
  • Duane Elmore, Central Procurement

Accounts Payable

  • Mike Hawn, Central Procurement
  • Jaclyn Wesley, Budget and Finance – Accounting Operations
  • Courtney Dillon, University Libraries
  • Mary Wellar, Office of the Physical Plant
  • Natasha Stover, Budget and Finance – Accounting Operations
  • Rob Norris, Central Procurement
  • Duane Elmore, Central Procurement

Central Accounts Receivable

  • Kelly Heaps, Budget and Finance – Accounting Operations
  • Mindy Barnett, Budget and Finance
  • Ariel Karetas, Commonwealth Campuses – Berks
  • Melody Althouse, Commonwealth Campuses – Berks
  • Matthew Beissel, Office of the Vice President for Research
  • William Samluk, Commonwealth Campuses – Behrend (Financial Officer)
  • Jody Murawski, Budget and Finance – Treasury
  • David Snyder, Auxiliary and Business Services

Treasury

  • Heather Swabick, Budget and Finance – Treasury
  • Ron Smoyer, Budget and Finance – Treasury
  • Jody Murawski, Budget and Finance – Treasury
  • David Snyder, Auxiliary and Business Services

Share Your Thoughts

Staff members with questions about the Finance OST and the upcoming process are encouraged to email FinanceOST@psu.edu.

Email Finance OST