Assistant Finance Director, Office of Financial Shared Services at The George Washington University

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.

This position, under the leadership of financial management, provides critical support to all divisions reporting to the Executive Vice President and CFO. These include, but are not limited to, the Division of Operations and the Division of Information Technology. The role is responsible for establishing and managing financial shared services across the university, overseeing high volumes of transactions, reconciliation processes, analytics, dashboard reporting, internal controls, and audit support. Additionally, the position directly supervises three key roles, ensuring efficient operations and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the effective governance and management of the shared services office.
• Develop and maintain robust, scalable shared service capabilities, including processes, systems, internal controls, policies, and compliance frameworks to align with the university’s mission and goals.
• Establish clear goals and priorities for the office, aligning them with broader organizational objectives.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and motivate staff, fostering a high-performing team environment.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, identify training needs, design training programs, and monitor their effectiveness.
• Set and enforce performance standards for all functional areas within the department.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Accounts Payable, Procurement, and the Office of the Comptroller.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients and university partners on complex issues, leading the resolution process.
• Define success metrics for the shared services center and ensure the team understands and meets established performance expectations, particularly those outlined in Service Performance Agreements (SPAs). Oversee performance reporting and management processes to drive accountability and transparency.
• Oversee the development of cross-functional processes and structures to enhance operational efficiency and improve financial reporting.
• Monitor continuous improvement initiatives, conduct process and gap analyses, and implement best practices.
• Propose and test solutions to address identified gaps, ensuring tangible improvements in operations.
• Identify and evaluate emerging technologies in shared services, providing senior management with detailed analyses to support decision-making.
• Lead the implementation of new technologies and process changes, ensuring successful change management and monitoring key metrics to achieve desired outcomes.
• Maintain and annually update the business continuity plan to ensure the shared services office can effectively respond to disruptions. 

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. 

This position performs work in either the primary shared services location, GW’s Virginia Science and Technology Campus (VSTC), or the auxiliary location in GW’s main Foggy Bottom campus.

Minimum Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 6 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 4 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:

• Demonstrated expertise in managing internal and external relationships effectively.
• Strong background in internal controls and risk management.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a solid understanding of materiality and risk assessment.
• Outstanding organizational and time management skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent team collaboration and interpersonal skills, including strong written and verbal communication abilities, with the capacity to engage effectively across all organizational levels.
• Strategic and forward-thinking leadership, capable of identifying business needs and implementing innovative, efficient solutions.
• Proven ability to conduct detailed analyses while maintaining a comprehensive understanding of organizational processes.
• Track record of meeting stringent reporting deadlines with precision and timeliness.
• Strong influencing and communication skills, particularly in simplifying complex process issues for non-technical stakeholders.
• Flexible, results-driven, and analytically minded, with the ability to work independently.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of management experience preferred.
• Experience serving as a liaison among multiple stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Familiarity with financial shared service environments or prior consulting experience.
• Proficiency with Oracle, Concur, and AIM/CPPM software systems.

Hiring Range

$88,562.15 - $128,379.87

GW Staff Approach to Pay

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

II. JOB DETAILS

Campus Location:

Ashburn, Virginia

College/School/Department:

Finance

Family

Finance and Business

Sub-Family

Division/School Financial Management

Stream

Management

Level

Level 2

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time

Hours Per Week:

40

Work Schedule:

Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM (May Vary)

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:

S013537

Job Open Date:

01/17/2025

Job Close Date:

01/22/2025

If temporary, grant 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/Affirmative Action 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.