Overview
The Division of Finance is responsible for the centralized finance functions of the University. Its departments are essential to Penn’s financial management and ensure that financial resources are expertly stewarded, that financial policies are clear and consistently applied, and that faculty, staff, and students have access to funding needed to support their enrollment or perform their work.
The following offices are part of the Division of Finance. You can learn more about them using the links on the left side of this page.
- Comptroller’s Office: Financial accounting, reporting, gift processing, and trust administration
- Finance & Treasury: Banking relationships, incoming payments, capital management, and financial analysis
- Financial Systems and Training: Information technology support, as well as training programs in financial processes, procedures, and systems
- Global Support Services: Support for administrative and business functions of Penn’s global activity
- Procurement Services: Supplier sourcing, purchasing, and disbursement activities
- Office of Research Services: Grant and contract proposals, negotiations, and management
- Office of Risk Management & Insurance: Insurance coverage, claims, and loss prevention
- Student Registration and Financial Services: Student financial aid, billing, collections, and enrollment
Strategic Priorities
University Resource Stewardship: Protecting the integrity of University resources and ensuring members of the Penn community have the knowledge and skills to effectively manage their resources.
Customer Support and Community Collaboration: Delivering timely and helpful guidance and services to the Penn community and collaborating with them to champion their goals.
Engagement, Development, and Belonging: Fostering a diverse staff and work environment, with inclusive and authentic collaboration throughout the Division and with our partners.
Operational Excellence: Approaching work with an eye toward efficiency, innovation, and a mindset of continuous improvement in service of the Penn community.
Vice President for Finance and Treasurer
Colleen O’Neill, Vice President for Finance & Treasurer
Colleen O’Neill is the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer of the University of Pennsylvania. In this capacity, she serves as the primary steward of the University’s financial assets and leads key financial functions across Penn, including the Comptroller’s Office, Finance and Treasury, Financial Systems and Training, Global Support Services, Procurement Services, the Office of Research Services, the Office of Risk Management and Insurance, and Student Registration and Financial Services. She also partners closely with Penn Medicine leadership to support the financial management of its integrated health system, one of the nation’s largest and most complex academic health systems.
Prior to this appointment, O’Neill served as the Chief Operating and Financial Officer of the Wharton School, where she led financial operations, strategic financial planning, facilities and operations, capital projects, information technology, human resources, and Wharton Research Data Services. Through careful expense management and revenue optimization, she facilitated the largest operating margin in Wharton’s history, enabling transformational investments in capital projects and strategic priorities. She also drove major operational initiatives, including the relocation of Wharton’s San Francisco operations to The Cube in the city’s Financial District — doubling the School’s footprint — and oversaw investments in technical infrastructure that enabled the launch of the Global WEMBA cohort, Wharton’s first hybrid degree program.
Earlier in her tenure, O’Neill held several leadership roles at Wharton, including Executive Director of Wharton Customer Analytics and Director of the Wharton Global Consulting Practicum. Prior to her time at Wharton, she served as Vice President of Operations at a private commodities business in Philadelphia.
O’Neill holds an M.B.A. from Wharton’s Executive M.B.A. program, as well as an M.P.A., M.S.Ed., and a B.A. in history, all from Penn.