Managing Finance Director

George Washington University

Washington (District of Columbia)

Hybrid

USD 180,000 - 240,000

Full time

27 hours ago

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Job summary

The George Washington University Finance Department seeks a Managing Finance Director to lead financial strategy, planning, and operations across schools. This role reports to the Associate Vice President for Financial Management and partners with the Dean to ensure fiscal stewardship and strategic investment.

They will supervise staff, develop dashboards, and coordinate with university partners to advance scholarly programs and research initiatives while upholding GWU's standards of integrity

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting with 10 years of relevant experience, or a Master’s in Finance or Accounting with 8 years. Degree required by start date.
Experience in higher education finance is desirable.
Strong understanding of internal controls and risk management.
Proven leadership in complex financial planning and strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic financial advice to Deans and leadership teams.
Lead multi-year budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling for programs and centers.
Oversee contracts, grants, and procurement to ensure compliance and value.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Project management

Financial modeling

Leadership

Internal controls

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Finance or Accounting

Tools

Tableau

BANNER

Oracle Financials

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

I. JOB OVERVIEW

Job Description Summary:

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

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.

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

Stream

Management

Level

Level 4

Full-Time/Part-Time

Full-Time

Hours Per Week

Work Schedule

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

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?

Posting Number

S014500

Job Open Date

10/05/2026

Job Close Date

If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:

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.

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

* Are you currently employed with The George Washington University?
- No
- Yes
* For current GW employees, have you completed your Introductory Employment Period (IEP)? (As a reminder,employees in their IEP are not eligible to apply for other internal university staff and research positions until the IEP is complete.)
- Yes, IEP complete
- No, still in IEP
- N/a - not a current GW employee
* What is your salary range expectation?
(Open Ended Question)

Documents needed to Apply

Required Documents