J. R. Barnhart

J. R. Barnhart, MBA, CPA, serves as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for the College of Charleston Foundation since May 2014, overseeing the financial and operational leadership of an organization managing over $225 million in assets. Key responsibilities include managing an $11 million annual operating budget and leading a team of five professionals in essential financial functions such as reporting, budgeting, cash management, tax compliance, and real estate management. Prior to this role, Barnhart was a Controller at Morgan Stanley, where financial management for private equity funds with approximately $1.5 billion in invested assets was supported, and served as a Staff Accountant at EY, focusing on forensic accounting and financial analysis. Academic credentials include an MBA in Finance from Emory University, a Master’s of Accountancy, and a Bachelor's degree in Operations Management from the University of Alabama, along with study abroad experience at Fundação Getulio Vargas in Brazil.