Research Finance & Operations Coordinator - McCourt School of Public Policy - Georgetown University in Berlin

Georgetown University comprises two unique campuses in the nation’s capital. With the Hilltop Campus located in the heart of the historic Georgetown neighborhood, and the Capitol Campus, just minutes from the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Supreme Court, Georgetown University offers rigorous academic programs, a global perspective, and unparalleled opportunities to engage with Washington, D.C. Our community is a close-knit group of remarkable individuals driven by intellectual inquiry, a commitment to social justice, and a shared dedication to making a difference in the world.

Job Overview

The Research Finance & Operations Coordinator provides essential administrative, financial and human capital management (HCM) execution for the McCourt School of Public Policy’s Research Enterprise. Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Research Finance, this position serves as a core operational bridge for a growing portfolio of research centers, faculty and research teams spread across campus locations. Working alongside Research Administration Managers (RAMs) and the broader School finance team, the Research Finance & Operations Coordinator handles frontline operations, initiates research personnel and student hiring workflows, executes transactional financial processes, and maintains efficient day-to-day financial operations. This role offers high visibility into the full life cycle of sponsored research and center management within a high-volume and dynamic research environment.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

HR Administration & Research Personnel

• Personnel Workflows: Initiate and track HCM processing, E-requests, appointment letters, and onboarding workflows for all research personnel types—including research faculty, staff, post-doctoral fellows, temporary employees, visiting scholars, research fellows, and research affiliates.
• Student Employment: Coordinate the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and hourly timekeeping processing for grant-supported student workers across McCourt research centers. Administrative Liaison: Serve as the primary operational liaison with central administrative offices—including the Dean’s Office, Provost Office HCM team, Office of Faculty Affairs, Student Employment Office and Office for Global Services—to resolve visa, payroll, and other HCM paperwork.

Research Financial & Operational Transactions

• Financial Processing: Execute day-to-day transactional financial workflows across 145+ active grant accounts, contracts, and center funds, including purchase orders, procurement contracts, miscellaneous payment requests, expense reimbursements (employee and procard) and GU Travel processing, subaward support documents, ACH forms, etc.
• Financial Monitoring: Support the Senior Director and RAMs in routine financial monitoring of internal and external funds by compiling expenditure data, tracking payments, preparing journals, and assisting with monthly ledger reconciliations of suspense accounts and institutional accounts.
• Student Financial Operations: Assist with student financial processing where applicable, including tracking grant-funded tuition merit aid, work study credits, research stipends and costing allocations.

Research Operations & General Administration

• Office & Tech Operations: Maintain day-to-day office operations for the McCourt Research Enterprise including facilities, supplies, and technology service requests (e.g., cell phone management and computer orders).
• Constituent Contact: Act as a professional primary point of contact for internal and external constituents, answering faculty and student inquiries with high-quality, customer-service-oriented communication.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to streamline internal administrative procedures, operational protocols, and office workflows across the research centers.Work Interactions
• Direct Team: Reports directly to the Senior Director of Research Finance and works in daily partnership with Research Administration Managers (RAMs), Grants and Contracts Accountant, and the McCourt Finance team.
• Internal Stakeholders: Interacts regularly with McCourt center directors, PIs, research faculty and staff across all locations.
• External/University Support Units: Liaises frequently with the Office of Faculty Affairs (OFA), Provost HCM, Facilities, Procurement, Joint Office for Research Administration (JORA), Sponsored Projects Financial Operations (SPFO) and Student Employment (SEO).

Requirements and Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience: Minimum 2 years of administrative and operational experience in a professional office environment, preferably within higher education, a research enterprise, or a non-profit setting.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint) with intermediate-to-advanced Excel skills (basic formulas, spreadsheet management).

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience handling personnel hiring workflows, student employment processing, or basic accounts payable/procurement transactions.
• Familiarity with university enterprise systems (e.g., Workday/GMS, Cognos) and general higher education administrative policies.
• Basic understanding of sponsored research environments.
• Exceptional organizational skills, high attention to detail, strong problem-solving abilities, and a service-oriented approach to collaborating with faculty and senior administrators.

Work Mode Designation

This position has been designated as Hybrid. Please note that work mode designations are regularly reviewed in order to meet the evolving needs of the University. Such review may necessitate a change to a position’s mode of work designation. Complete details about Georgetown University’s mode of work designations for staff positions can be found on the Department of Human Resources website: https://hr.georgetown.edu/mode-of-work-designation.

Pay Range

$44,022.00 - $73,406.80

Compensation is determined by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s individual qualifications, experience, education, skills, and certifications, as well as the University’s business needs and external factors.

EEO Statement

GU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship, color, disability, family responsibilities, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, matriculation, national origin, race, religion, personal appearance, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Benefits

Georgetown University offers a comprehensive and competitive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, retirement savings, tuition assistance, work-life balance benefits, employee discounts and an array of voluntary insurance options. You can learn more about benefits and eligibility on the Department of Human Resources website.

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