The University has appointed Alison Jarvis, currently Chief Financial Officer at the University of Plymouth, as our new Executive Director of Finance. She will report directly to the Vice-Chancellor, and become a member of the University Executive Board and the Professional Services Executive Group. She joins us in May 2024.
Alison has an extensive background in higher education finance. Prior to Plymouth she was Director of Financial Operations at Cardiff University, and Deputy Director of Finance at the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). She has also held a number of roles at the Office for National Statistics, including as Head of Financial Strategy.
In this role, she will be accountable for the overall financial performance of the University, ensuring that the University and its subsidiaries operate financially effectively, efficiently, and sustainably through a clear financial strategy and an effective financial management framework. She will play a key role in enabling successful delivery of our University Strategy.
Professor Mark E. Smith, President and Vice-Chancellor commented: “Alison impressed us all with her breadth of experience, her understanding of the academic mission, and her passion and determination to see the organisations she works for succeed in their vision and strategy. She will be a very strong addition to the leadership team and I look forward to working with her.”
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank Julie Fielder for her tremendous support and leadership in her interim role over recent months.”
Alison Jarvis commented: “I am delighted to be joining Southampton at such a key moment as it starts to deliver in earnest on its compelling new Strategy. I very much look forward to joining the team in a few months’ time.”