Senior Financial Officer - National Academy of Engineering

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 101,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Retirement and savings benefits

Paid holidays and personal leave

Transportation subsidies

Education assistance

Job summary

The National Academy of Engineering seeks a Senior Financial Officer to direct all finance activities for the NAE and its associated fund. The role interfaces with leadership on high‑level financial issues, guiding budgeting, reporting, and endowment management.

Responsibilities include ensuring GAAP compliance, coordinating audits, and providing strategic financial analysis to inform program decisions. Hybrid work with travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of GAAP, fund accounting, and government contracting regulations.
• Ability to solve problems of substantial variety and complexity.
• Ability to operate independently with significant latitude for judgment and action.
• Strong interpersonal skills to develop relationships across National Academies’ departments.

Responsibilities

• Oversees financial strategy, reporting, budgeting, and internal controls for NAE and NAEF.
• Advises senior leadership on financial matters and regulatory compliance.
• Ensures accurate financial statements and management reports.
• Leads and mentors staff, promoting a collaborative work environment.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Fund accounting

Government contracting regulations

Analytical reasoning

Communication skills

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or related field

Job description

Job Description Summary

Founded in 1964, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) is a private, independent, nonprofit institution that provides engineering leadership in service to the nation. The NAE advances the welfare and prosperity of the nation by providing independent, objective advice to the U.S. government whenever called upon to do so, and by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and public appreciation of engineering. The NAE is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, an independent, nonprofit organization chartered by Congress to provide objective analysis and advice to the nation on matters of science, technology, and health.

Job Description

The Senior Financial Officer for the NAE plans and directs the NAE’s overall finance activities, with responsibility for financial reporting, fund and investment accounting, and establishing budgets. As a subject matter expert, this position interfaces with leaders on high-level functional issues, providing recommendations and solutions with full understanding of organizational impact and needs. Directly manages exempt level employees and serves as a resource for others. The NAE’s independent assets and operating funds are held in the National Academy of Engineering Fund (NAEF), a tax-exempt corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Senior Financial Officer provides support for the NAE’s governance and serves as the Second Assistant Secretary of the NAE Fund (NAEF).

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

Financial Strategy & Oversight

• Manages all financial activities for the NAE and NAEF.
• Develops and communicates NAE financial processes and procedures and advises staff on NAE and National Academies policies and procedures related to financial matters.
• Provides strategic consultation to NAE leadership on financial matters, including financial analysis, projections, and revenue and expense analysis.
• Oversees the preparation of financial statements, financial reports, special analyses, and management reports; presents recommendations for programmatic and fiscal changes to NAE senior management.
• Oversees the full accounting and budgeting cycles and ensures compliance with applicable regulations, organizational policies, auditing requirements, internal controls, contractual obligations, and budgetary limitations.
• Authorizes expenditures and supports management of NAEF endowments and long‑term investments.

Governance, Audit & Board Support

• Oversees all NAEF financial compliance activities, including the annual independent audit, filing of IRS Form 990 and required state tax returns, and related state registrations.
• Interacts and meets with independent auditors engaged by the NAEF Audit Committee.
• Provides support to the NAE Council, NAEF Board of Trustees, and Finance, Audit, and Executive Compensation Committees.
• Serves on the NAE Gift Acceptance Committee.
• As Second Assistant Secretary of the NAEF, and subject to appointment by the NAEF Board of Trustees, serves as an authorized representative for banking and investment transactions.

Leadership & Team Development

• Leads and mentors staff and fosters a collaborative, team‑oriented work environment.
• Trains and develops employees to effectively perform current responsibilities while supporting growth and readiness for future roles.
• Interprets and ensures consistent application of organizational policies.

Strategic Planning & Operational Management

• Develops and directs the implementation of strategic business and operational plans, projects, programs, and systems aligned with NAE objectives.

Confidentiality & Risk Management

• Maintains an appropriate standard of confidentiality when handling secure, privileged, sensitive, or confidential information and matters.
• Accesses confidential information only for work‑related purposes and in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
• Ensures privileged, sensitive, and confidential information is securely stored, transmitted, and disposed of in accordance with institutional guidance.
• Establishes and maintains procedures to protect confidentiality and prevent unauthorized disclosure.
• Trains and periodically updates staff and team members on confidentiality and information‑handling requirements.

Nonessential Job Duties

Related duties and special projects as assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Comprehensive knowledge of GAAP, fund accounting, and government contracting regulations. Ability to solve problems of substantial variety and complexity. Ability to undertake tasks broad in nature, requiring ingenuity, and originality. Ability to serve as a resource to others in the resolution of complex problems and issues. Ability to operate independently, and exercise significant latitude for independent judgment, discretion, and action. Ability to work successfully in a team environment and to form and maintain effective teams. Experience working in complex environments with a high degree of organizational effectiveness. Ability to develop relationships with co‑workers and employees in other National Academies’ departments through effective communication. Excellent communication skills with a proven ability to effectively interact with all levels of employees.

Minimum Education/Training Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or related field, or equivalent knowledge.

Minimum Experience

Eight years of related professional experience, three of which were in a supervisory capacity.

Physical Capabilities

Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time.

Required Licenses, Certification or Registration

CPA

Supervisory Responsibilities / Controls

Reports to the Executive Officer. Independently establishes goals and objectives. Manages administrative and financial staff.

Compensation & Benefits

An estimated compensation range for this position is $101,130 - $158,015. Compensation offered to the selected candidate will be based on the candidate’s relevant knowledge, skills, and work experience, commensurate with compensation of current employees in comparable positions with similar knowledge, skills, and work experience, and subject to budget parameters. Note it is not typical for a candidate to be hired at the higher end of the range. This is a benefits‑eligible position. Our Benefits Plan offers competitive and comprehensive benefit options, including medical, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement and savings benefits, leave benefits such as paid holidays and paid personal leave, transportation subsidies, and education assistance. For more information, please click here.

Work Environment

Hybrid Office/Telecommute environment, expected onsite percentage 60%, with occasional travel between National Academies’ facilities and to off‑site meeting/sponsor locations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the National Academies to recruit, hire, transfer, compensate, and promote people in all job categories and to administer all other personnel actions, terms and conditions of employment in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. It is also the institution's policy to recruit, hire, promote, and provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and covered veterans who are otherwise qualified.

Any qualification to be considered equivalent, in lieu of stated minimum, requires the prior approval of the Office of Human Resources.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Some functions in this description may be specific to a particular unit of the National Academies and not applicable to other units.

Job Family

ACCT

Employee Type

Employee

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

City/State

Washington, District of Columbia