Managing Finance Director

George Washington University; Washington; Hybrid; USD 143,000 - 239,000; Full time

Job summary

The George Washington University (GWU) is seeking a Managing Finance Director to lead financial management and strategic initiatives across schools. The role reports to the Associate Vice President for Financial Management and collaborates closely with the Dean of the GW School of Public Health, serving as a trusted advisor on financial matters.

Responsibilities include strategy, multi-year planning, contract review, grants management, HR/payroll coordination, and building robust financial

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance or Accounting required with 10+ years of experience, or a Master's degree with 8+ years.
• Degree must be conferred by start date; may be substituted with equivalent education/experience.
• Experience in higher education and/or public health is preferred.
• Strong internal control knowledge and implementation in complex environments.
• Project management experience including budgeting, forecasting, and fiscal management.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial guidance to Deans and senior leadership.
• Identify emerging financial risks and communicate implications.
• Translate complex financial data into clear recommendations for leadership.
• Develop financial models for enrollment, programs, research portfolios, and new initiatives.
• Oversee budgets, forecasting, procurement, payroll, and asset management.
• Ensure internal controls and adherence to GW policies.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial analysis

Communication skills

Leadership

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance or Accounting

Master's degree in Finance or Accounting

Tools

Tableau Reporting Software

BANNER

Oracle Financials

Job description

I. JOB OVERVIEW

The Finance Department at The George Washington University (GWU) plays a vital role in upholding the institution's legacy of academic excellence and innovation. Charged with the responsibility of overseeing and facilitating transparent financial plans and operations, our team aligns its efforts with the University and the School's overarching goals and priorities. At the heart of our mission is a commitment to integrity, stewardship, and strategic foresight, ensuring that our financial practices not only support but also enhance the educational and research endeavors of GWU.

In this context, we are seeking a Managing Finance Director who embodies these values and is capable of leading our financial management and initiatives in a fast-paced environment. The Managing Finance Director reports to the Associate Vice President for Financial Management - Schools, with dotted line working closely in a collaborative manner with the Dean of the GW School of Public Health. The Managing Finance Director is a member of the Dean's senior staff and serves as a trusted thought partner to the Dean and senior leadership, providing candid, objective, and timely advice on financial, operational, and strategic matters. They play a key operational and strategic role in accomplishing the priorities of GW and the schools by advising on business and financial matters and serving as a sounding board to school leadership, faculty and staff on financial and administrative matters.

Key responsibilities of the Managing Finance Director include:

Strategy and Operations:

• Provides proactive and strategic advice to the Deans and Associate Deans on all business and financial matters.
• Identifies and communicates emerging financial risks, unfavorable trends, control issues, and other matters requiring leadership attention.
• Translates complex financial information into clear recommendations for the Dean and leadership team, including options, implications, risks, and tradeoffs.
• Provides modeling and decision support related to enrollment, academic programs, research portfolios, new initiatives, partnerships, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Budgets, monitors, and assesses the effective and efficient use of operating, research, and reserve funds.
• Takes ownership of significant financial and operational issues, develops solutions, and coordinates with the appropriate university partners, following issues through to resolution.
• Directs and supervises the work of staff in the school's finance office and oversees all financial-related operations across programs and units.
• Monitors and disseminates information regarding policies, regulations, and reporting requirements to appropriate staff.

Financial Operations:

• Directs and manages fiscal operations including budget calls, quarterly updates, forecasts, accounting, asset management, procurement, and payroll, including on-going measurement of each school's achievement of financial goals and objectives.

Contract Management:

• Reviews, monitors, and provides financial and business terms review for contracts, partnership proposals, and leases for equipment and space.
• Develops financial modeling to demonstrate profitability and business viability of proposed partnerships. Reviews and approves major purchases.

Multi-Year and Strategic Planning:

• Plays a key role in the school's multi-year planning and in recurrent strategic planning processes, including short- and long-term business and financial modeling for academic programs, research centers, and business units.
• Leads and informs the analysis, and prioritization of new and existing initiatives and resource allocation decisions; engages contingency planning to understand effects on the unit's budget, resources, structures, and facilities; develops dashboards and reports to support decision-making for the Dean's leadership team.
• Represents GWSPH in cross-school and interdisciplinary collaborative efforts relating to business and financial modeling.

Human Resources, Faculty Affairs, Payroll, and Tax:

• Works closely with the designated Human Resource Business Partner to ensure all oversight and coordination of HR function, compensation planning/review, employee relations are managed in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner.

Grants and Sponsored Research Management:

• Supports and guides pre-award budget proposals (including cost share), reviews cost transfers and departmental correction forms (DCFs), and leads analysis/problem solving for post-award financial management (i.e., allocability, allowability)

Internal Control and Oversight:

• Ensures the establishment of proper internal controls and manages adherence to GW financial policies and procedures.
• As a member of the university's Managing Finance Director team, the Managing Finance Directors meet frequently to share best practices and to learn from one another.

Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor's degree in Finance or Accounting and 10 years of relevant experience, or, a Master's degree or higher in Finance or Accounting plus 8 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in higher education, specifically in the field of public health, is highly desirable but not essential.
• A solid understanding of internal control concepts and their implementation and management within a complex business environment.
• Project management experience that includes opportunity/risk assessment, development of financial plans, budgeting forecasting and execution, cost estimating and accounting, and fiscal management principles and procedures.
• Skill in examining and reengineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, developing and implementing new strategies and processes, and allocating and managing financial and operational resources.
• A team-building strategic thinker with demonstrated experience and success in leading people and managing change initiatives.
• Excellent communication skills. Demonstrated experience synthesizing complex financial data into summary formats for leadership. Proficiency with word processing, working with databases, and spreadsheet applications.
• Skill in exercising independent professional judgment and respectfully challenging assumptions or proposed decisions when financial, operational, compliance, or risk considerations warrant further discussion.
• Exceptional discretion, judgment, and confidentiality. Trust and transparency with the dean and AVP are essential to success in this role.
• Advanced skills using accounting/financial software applications are expected, with experience with Tableau Reporting Software, BANNER, and Oracle Financials preferred.

Hiring Range

$142,545.11 - $239,389.10

GW Staff Approach to Pay

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

Healthcare Benefits

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

II. JOB DETAILS

Campus Location

Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department

Finance

Family

Finance and Business

Sub-Family

Division/School Financial Management

Stream

Management

Level

Level 4

Full-Time/Part-Time

Full-Time

Hours Per Week

40

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Will this job require the employee to work on site?

Yes

Employee Onsite Status

Hybrid

Telework

Yes

Required Background Check

Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Special Instructions to Applicants

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Internal Applicants Only?

No

Posting Number

S014500

Job Open Date

10/05/2026

Background Screening

Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.