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George Washington University

Finance Director

🇺🇸 Hybrid - Washington, DC 🕑 Full-Time 💰 $105K - $177K 💻 Finance 🗓️ March 17th, 2026
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Edtech.com's Summary

George Washington University is hiring a Finance Director. This role manages the day-to-day financial operations for a GW School, including budget management, financial analysis, compliance, and strategic financial planning. The Finance Director collaborates with faculty, staff, and university units to ensure accurate financial reporting and supports decision-making with comprehensive data analysis.

Highlights
  • Oversee daily financial stewardship, including budget calls, updates, forecasts, procurement, and payroll.
  • Manage, compile, and interpret financial data using complex spreadsheets and databases.
  • Provide guidance on university financial policies to faculty, staff, and students.
  • Analyze financial results, monitor variances, identify trends, and support budgeting and year-end closing processes.
  • Review Sponsored Research budget proposals and collaborate with research and award management offices.
  • Supervise biweekly payroll approval for non-exempt employees and act as backup timekeeper.
  • Strong proficiency expected in Microsoft Excel; experience with Oracle, Banner, Tableau, PowerBI, and PeopleAdmin preferred.
  • Minimum qualifications require a Bachelor’s degree plus 7 years of experience or a Master’s degree plus 5 years of experience.
  • Preferred experience includes accounting, budget planning, higher education finance, and working with faculty on sponsored research.
  • Hiring range: $105,123.50 - $176,607.48 annually.

Finance Director Full Description

Finance Director
Please see Special Instructions for more details.
Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Posting Details
 I. JOB OVERVIEW 
Job Description Summary:  | In the heart of the nation’s capital, with additional programs in Virginia, the George Washington University (GW) was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The University offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study, as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business, and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. As one of the largest private employers in the District of Columbia, the University seeks employees who support the teaching, research, and public service mission of the University.

Responsible for the overall integrity of the university’s financial activities, the Finance Division provides timely and accurate financial information, protects university assets, and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws from a financial and fiduciary vantage point. Functioning as one multi-dimensional team dedicated to excellence in operational performance and customer service, the Finance Division collaborates with all University units and regularly reviews best practices in an effort to maintain a strong financial base for GW while addressing the needs of its stakeholders.

Financial Reporting is dedicated to providing timely and accurate financial information for external reporting and analysis to support decision-making within the university. Continuing to focus on proper business principles and operations, with an emphasis on accuracy, integrity, and insight, the Finance Division strives to ensure that activities proposed and resources requested reflect sound business judgment and support the overall mission of the university as a distinguished and preeminent research university.

Under the direction of a Managing FD, this position serves as the key day-to-day financial steward for a GW School. This high-level role oversees the day-to-day financial operations, including management and analysis of budgets, financial results, and other regulatory compliance. Serving as the key contact for faculty and staff, this position manages fiscal operations, including budget calls, quarterly updates, forecasts, accounting, asset management, procurement, and payroll, including ongoing measurement of achievement of financial goals and objectives. The position plays a leadership role in the strategic planning processes, including short- and long-term business and financial modeling for academic programs, research centers, and business units.

Among some of the position’s responsibilities are: Working under the direction of the Managing FD in acclimating to the unit’s operations and various types of budgets (e.g., programs, endowments, capital, faculty and staff salaries, financial aid, library operations, development/fundraising, etc.); assisting in the development and/or forecasting of these budgets by measuring and analyzing key business metrics; and identifying areas of potential operational improvement. Overseeing the timely processing of Procurement requisitions, review of expense reports, submission of invoices, and other types of payment requests to Accounts Payable. Establishing finance office processes and guidelines and providing guidance to faculty, staff, and students about University policies and finance office processes and procedures. Compiling, analyzing, and interpreting financial information from all components of the unit, utilizing complex spreadsheet and database applications; preparing the financial information in reports and/or presentations; ensuring information is accurate and completed in a timely manner Making recommendations to the Managing FD regarding revenues/expenses, projections, etc., by analyzing results, monitoring and explaining variances, identifying trends, and making comparative analyses; reviewing the School’s financial and enrollment data and developing a model for projecting tuition and other revenue; assisting the Managing FD in working with the unit directors/managers in preparing annual budgets and forecasts; assisting with year-end closing information, projections, reports, etc. Reviewing Sponsored Research budget proposals and collaborating with the various University offices overseeing research and award management Addressing requests from various University offices to provide financial information on behalf of the unit and investigate unresolved problems related to funds, budgets, expenditures, etc. Supervising the biweekly payroll approval process for the non-exempt employees of the department and acting as a backup timekeeper for the department

Performing 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 an appropriate area of specialization plus 7 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 5 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.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:   
Preferred Qualifications:  | Experience in accounting, budget planning, and budget administration. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, most importantly Microsoft Excel. Experience in Oracle, Banner, Tableau, PowerBI, and PeopleAdmin. Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills with the ability to set priorities and goals. Strong team player with experience in conflict resolution. Experience in higher education with familiarity in sponsored research and experience working with faculty.
Hiring Range  | $105,123.50 - $176,607.48
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  | Individual Contributor
Level  | Level 4
Full-Time/Part-Time:  | Full-Time
Hours Per Week:  | 40
Work Schedule:  | Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 5:30pm
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:  | S014090
Job Open Date:  | 03/13/2026
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 (*).
  1. * Do you currently work at GW? 
    • yes
    • no
  2. * 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
  3. * What is your expected salary range? 
    (Open Ended Question)
Documents needed to Apply
Required Documents
  1. Resume
Optional Documents
  1. Cover Letter

Human Resource
Management & Development
2013 H Street, NW, 3rd Floor
 Washington, DC 20006

Phone: 202-994-8500
Fax: 202-994-9680
Email: askhrmd@gwu.edu
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