Chief Financial Officer Leaves for UNC System; Interim Named

Posted on July 28, 2020   |   Updated Aug. 14, 2020

Jonathan Pruitt, vice chancellor for finance and operations for two and a half years, left Carolina as of Aug. 1 to return to the UNC System as chief operating officer.

Before joining the University in January 2018, Pruitt worked for the system for 11 years, including as senior vice president and chief financial officer. News of his plans to return to the system was announced on July 27.

In mid-August, Nate Knuffman, a nearly two-year veteran of the office, was named interim vice chancellor for finance and operations.

Knuffman, an expert in financial and administrative management, became senior associate (deputy) vice chancellor for finance and operations in October 2018.

Prior to coming to Carolina, Knuffman was vice president for financial planning and analysis at the UNC System, where he was a member of the senior team advising the system president and supporting the UNC System Board of Governors in finance and business matters.

Previously, Knuffman was deputy director of the N.C. Office of State Budget and Management, where he was responsible for the strategic management of daily operations, change and organizational management, and budget preparation and oversight.

At Carolina, Pruitt led campuswide financial planning and budgeting; treasury and risk management; facilities planning, construction and operations; real estate development; purchasing; public safety; campus enterprises; environment health and safety; and energy services.

Pruitt was credited with developing a new University budgeting process to improve financial transparency and decision-making. He also was a member of the chancellor’s leadership team during one of UNC’s most challenging times, the global COVID-19 pandemic.

A search committee is being formed by Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz to lead a national search for the vice chancellor for finance and operations position.

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