After 16 years as Belmont Hill’s Chief Financial Officer and Director of Operations, where he was responsible for school finances and operational oversight, Mr. Jay Bounty will retire this June. Mr. Bountry has worked for decades in accounting and finance at institutions such as Price Waterhouse and Harvard, where his primary focus was financial reporting and administrative services. Eventually, he found his way to Belmont Hill and has stayed here since.
At Belmont Hill, Mr. Bounty has served a broader role, managing accounting, finance, facilities, IT, and the dining department. He has a team of managers who report to him, and he spends a lot of time with them working on their goals and projects. Additionally, he meets with the Head of School, the administration team, and the Board of Trustees to work on long-term financial strategy and goals. When asked about his job, he mentioned, “Some days I’m not really sure exactly what’s going to be on the agenda. But that’s what makes the job fun, not really knowing what’s coming next.” It is part of the reason he says his 16 years have felt like 16 months.
Some of the projects Mr. Bounty is most proud of are helping create the Melvoin Academic Center, which honors Dr. Melvoin’s legacy, and expanding the Hamilton Chapel, which students and faculty get to experience every week. Recently, he has helped develop the east campus, adding a new parking lot and a new facilities building, and has helped shape the vision for a new dining hall. Mr. Bounty also does a lot of work behind the scenes with the School’s finances.
When asked about what makes Belmont Hill special, Mr. Bounty mentioned the people, “It’s the faculty and staff. It’s the community. But most importantly, it’s the boys. I just really enjoyed the environment, and I seem to have thrived here.” He enjoys working at Belmont Hill and engaging with the community by attending games and school events. Looking back, he said he came to appreciate the community even more over time, and it is one of the things that he will remember most as he begins his next chapter.
His successor, Mr. Jonathan Douglas, will begin his work with the school in July, and Mr. Bounty believes he will do great. Thanks to Mr. Bounty’s hard work over the years, the School is in a great financial position, and it is clear that he has achieved his goal of leaving Belmont Hill better than he found it. The Panel wishes him the best of luck in his retirement, and we hope he remains a part of the Belmont Hill community.
