Program Financial Specialist; Temporary

For over 160 years, the University of Washington has been a hub for learning, innovation, problem solving and community building. Supporting this legacy and important public mission—with the goal of making the UW the world’s greatest public university, as measured by positive impact—guides everything we do in University Advancement. Bringing together development; alumni and stakeholder engagement; marketing and communications; and advancement operations, we advance the UW’s impact by developing meaningful connections that foster pride, advocacy and philanthropic support.

The Advancement Operations team empowers University Advancement to achieve and sustain its mission and vision. This starts with creating a culture of belonging within our organization that values the diverse experiences and expertise of our team members, allowing everyone to thrive and to contribute their unique talents as we strive to achieve our shared goals.

The Finance and Administration team has an exciting opening for a Program Financial Specialist.

This is a full-time, temporary position.

The Program Financial Specialist provides high-level financial and operational expertise to University Advancement (UA), overseeing complex budgeting, reporting, accounts payable/receivable, and compliance functions. This role ensures financial integrity across UA by designing, implementing, and enhancing fiscal systems while delivering strategic analysis that informs leadership decision-making and resource allocation.

Serving as both a subject matter expert and strategic partner, the Program Financial Specialist applies independent judgment to interpret policy, evaluate financial practices, identify trends and risks, and recommend process improvements. The position fosters collaboration across Advancement units, UW offices, and external auditors to strengthen financial operations, ensure compliance, and support Advancement’s mission through effective financial stewardship.

Business Credit Card Program Oversight (35%)

• Oversee Advancement’s annual procurement and travel card programs.

• Design, implement and enforce comprehensive policies and procedures for card usage, ensuring compliance with UW, state and federal requirements.

• Plan, scope, develop and implement a comprehensive audit framework to monitor transactions, mitigate fraud risk and ensure adherence to procurement standards.

• Analyze spending trends, reconcile financial records and prepare compliance reports for leadership, including recommended courses of action.

• Coordinate with internal and external auditors, including managing communication with outside parties and coordinating internal responses from across the organization.

• Serve as the subject matter expert and provide direct consultation and customer support to units on transaction controls, reconciliation and compliance issues.

• Strengthen financial accountability by designing, delivering, and continuously improving training programs for cardholders and managers.

Financial Analysis and Reporting (30%)

• Conduct complex financial analyses, providing actionable insights on operational expenses, payroll, and fund allocations.
• Develop and conduct ongoing data reviews in Workday. Make proposals for improvements to align with organizational and institutional structure and priorities.
• Advise leadership on strategic financial decisions by interpreting UW fiscal policies, identifying risks, and recommending corrective actions.
• Develop, implement, and refine fiscal reporting and tracking systems, both manual and automated, to meet evolving business needs.
• Prepare and present executive-level financial reports, including analysis of budget impacts and long-term trends.
• Lead feasibility analyses for proposed…