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HWS Store Student Vice President of Finance

Hobart and William Smith Colleges
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Position Title: HWS Store: Student Vice President of Finance 

Semester/Year: 2026 Fall Semester

Total Positions Available: 1

Supervisor: Kristen Tapscott

Pay rate: $16

Hours per week: 20

Start Date: August 31, 2026

End Date: December 11, 2026

 

Summary

Under the general guidance of the Director of the College Store and Store Experience and in partnership with the Student Chief Executive Officer (Student CEO), the Student Vice President of Finance serves as the student leader responsible for supporting financial awareness, budgeting insights, and business performance tracking for the College Store.

The Student Vice President of Finance works collaboratively with store leadership and the student executive team to review sales trends, analyze financial performance, and support data-informed decision making related to store operations, marketing initiatives, and merchandise planning.

This role provides hands-on leadership experience in financial analysis, retail business strategy, budgeting concepts, and performance evaluation within a student-powered campus retail environment.

 

Qualifications

  • Current Hobart and William Smith student in good academic standing.
  • Strong interest in finance, economics, business, entrepreneurship, or data analysis.
  • Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with store leadership and student team members.
  • Interest in understanding the financial aspects of retail and business operations.
  • Ability to balance leadership responsibilities with academic commitments.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Interest in financial analysis, business strategy, or retail operations.
  • Experience using spreadsheet tools such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
  • Interest in data analysis and interpreting business performance metrics.
  • Experience working on team-based projects or leadership initiatives.
  • Interest in contributing to innovative ideas that support the long-term success of the College Store.

 

Responsibilities

Financial Analysis and Business Performance Monitoring (70%)

  • Supports the review of financial performance indicators including sales trends, revenue performance, and product category results.
  • Assists the Director of the College Store and Student CEO in interpreting financial dashboards and identifying opportunities for revenue growth or operational improvements.
  • Analyzes sales data to identify trends across product categories such as apparel, gifts, course materials, and general merchandise.
  • Works with the Student Vice President of Purchasing to evaluate product performance and identify opportunities to optimize inventory and merchandise strategies.
  • Collaborates with the Student Vice President of Marketing to evaluate the financial impact of promotional campaigns and marketing initiatives.
  • Supports the development of financial summaries and insights that help guide student leadership discussions and strategic decisions.
  • Helps identify opportunities to improve efficiency, maximize revenue potential, and strengthen the financial sustainability of the College Store.

Budget Awareness and Strategic Financial Initiatives (30%)

  • Supports basic budgeting and financial planning discussions related to student-led initiatives and store programming.
  • Participates in reviewing the financial outcomes of store promotions, events, and special retail initiatives.
  • Conducts benchmarking research related to higher education retail trends, pricing strategies, and campus store performance models.
  • Provides recommendations to the Student CEO and College Store leadership on potential financial opportunities, efficiencies, or growth initiatives.
  • Participates in brainstorming sessions focused on long-term strategy and sustainability for the College Store.
  • Participates in general responsibilities around the store as needed, such as inventorying, assisting with sales, and ensuring upkeep of the store.

Minimum Required Knowledge

  • Basic understanding of financial concepts such as revenue, expenses, and budgeting.
  • Ability to interpret data and identify patterns or trends that support decision making.
  • Familiarity with spreadsheet tools or data analysis applications.
  • Ability to collaborate with student leaders and campus partners to support strategic initiatives.

 

Compensation includes the hourly student wage plus academic credit in coordination with Business Management faculty. Depending on the commitment of hours, the student can elect either:

  • INT 199 (.5 credit) for 120 hours or less, with no essay required.

      Or

  • INT 299 (1 credit) for 240 hours or less, with an academic essay and presentation required at the end of the experience

 

Students hired into on-campus jobs must complete federal employment paperwork, including the Form I9. Students must present original documents indicating they are eligible to work in the U.S. Photocopies of documents cannot be accepted. Students should ensure they have their documents on campus or have a plan to get their documents to campus if they are hired to work on campus.