Following a national search, Michael Trafecante MBA'01 has been named Fairfield University's new Vice President for Finance and Treasurer and chief financial officer. Trafecante has more than 20 years of financial management experience spanning the areas of public accounting, information technology, transportation, and investment management. In that time, he held leadership roles in all accounting and finance operations including planning and analysis, auditing, investor relations, treasury, internal controls and compliance, risk management, and payroll. Trafecante is a Fairfield alumnus, earning his MBA in finance in 2001. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in accounting from Assumption College. He resides with his wife and five children in Shelton, Conn., and he will begin work in February 2014.

In making the announcement, Kevin Lawlor, Fairfield University's Executive Vice President and chief operating officer, said: "Fairfield is very pleased and fortunate to have Michael Trafecante as its new CFO, especially at this critical time, as the University explores new opportunities and leverages its position as a leader in higher education. As an alumnus, Michael embraces the institution's identity, culture and traditions, and I am sure we can count on him to contribute a great deal to our growing prominence and reputation."

Trafecante comes to Fairfield from Bridgewater Associates, LP, currently the world's largest hedge fund, where he directed financial planning & analysis and treasury. While there, he helped transform FP&A and Treasury from a boutique operation into a world-class institutional operation and was a finance point-of-contact for firm-wide initiatives. He was responsible for executive management reporting, financial modeling, forecasting, and financial analysis. He managed the investment portfolio, daily cash management needs, letters of credit, collateral, compensating balances, banking, and counterparty risk. He also monitored and facilitated certification of debt covenant compliance and other contractual obligations.

Commenting on his new position, Trafecante said, "I look forward to returning to my alma mater particularly at such an exciting time, with the University positioning itself as a leader in Jesuit higher education. I am privileged to serve on the University's leadership team and to collaborate with the entire Fairfield community in shaping the future of the institution."

Prior to his affiliation with Bridgewater, he was senior vice president and corporate controller of Velocity Express, Inc., where he was a key member of the senior management team that oversaw the integration of a significant acquisition, doubling the size of the company. He managed investor relations and corporate treasury and oversaw a staff responsible for financial operations, including accounting and financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, area and product line profitability, payment processing, debt and tax compliance, payroll, investor relations, and treasury activities.

Trafecante also worked for the accounting firm KPMG LLP as a senior audit manager and reviewed quarterly and annual financial statements in connection with Securities and Exchange Commission filings. His SEC clients included Gartner, Inc., TranSwitch Corporation, and Mercator Software. He was division controller/director of financial planning & analysis at Dictaphone Corporation, where he collaborated with functional leadership to drive profitability and growth. Additionally, he was senior accountant and audit manager for Deloitte & Touche, LLP, where he managed financial statement audits, pension plan audits, compilations, and reviews for public companies and municipalities. He was lead auditor for the cities of New Britain and Milford, Conn.

Posted On: 01-29-2014 11:01 AM

Volume: 46 Number: 165