Groton School names Jay Herlihy new chief financial officer

Groton School has announced the appointment of Jay Herlihy as its new chief financial officer (CFO).

Mr. Herlihy—who most recently served as associate dean of finance for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University—brings a proven track record of providing sound, creative support and advice, and an understanding of the importance of institutional stewardship that balances financial responsibility with academic and intellectual needs. 

At Harvard, Mr. Herlihy partnered with deans, faculty, staff, and central administration to expand programs, balance budgets, reorganize offerings, and plan major capital investments. Prior to working at Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, he was director of financial planning and administration and then associate dean for finance at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. A certified public accountant, Mr. Herlihy also worked at Deloitte and Touche as a senior accountant before entering higher education.

“I’m excited to be part of a learning community that’s as dedicated to providing excellence and accessibility in education as Groton School is,” Mr. Herlihy said. “To be able to join a school with such a long history of devotion to its students’ intellectual and personal growth is very gratifying.”

In his new role, Mr. Herlihy will play a key part in continuing Groton’s groundbreaking GRAIN (GRoton Affordability and INclusion) initiative, which froze tuition for three years at its inception in 2014—and again this academic year—and ensures that applicants are chosen without regard to their ability to pay. Under GRAIN, Groton went from highest tuition in its peer group to lowest in just eight years. 

“Jay Herlihy brings a wealth of experience and expertise in accounting, auditing, finance, and facilities management, and will ensure that proper guardrails are in place to support the school’s Strategic Framework,” said Groton Headmaster Temba Maqubela. “I know that, with Jay’s help, we will continue to lead in the areas that have always been cornerstones of what makes Groton a great institution: affordability, academic programming, compensation, and management of the physical plant.”

Mr. Herlihy replaces current CFO Julie Dolan, who is retiring. Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Dolan helped make GRAIN and Groton’s larger cost containment initiatives sustainable.

“We are fortunate that Jay is taking the baton as the next in a continuum of amazing Groton CFOs,” Mr. Maqubela added, “and trust he will continue the extraordinary success and accomplishment of Julie Dolan. We wish Julie the best in her retirement.” 

Members of the search committee praised Mr. Herlihy’s balance of experience in finance and education, and his shared passion for the things that make Groton’s mission so special.

 

“Jay’s extensive experience in finance and education and his deep interest in Groton and its mission shone through all the discussions we had with him,” said Benjamin Pyne ’77, P’12, ’15, president of Groton’s Board of Trustees and a member of the search committee. “We are so excited that he will be joining the Circle later this fall and look forward to working with him in the years ahead.”

Mr. Herlihy, who will join Groton on November 1, holds an MBA and master of accounting degree from Northeastern University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Tufts University.