Finance Manager (Job ID: 2024-3417)

Join one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!  

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level. 

We bring together leading experts in government and academia from all over the world, rooted in open-minded inquiry and representing diverse points of view, who provide the highest quality research, policy recommendations, and analysis. Research topics cover a full range of public policy issues in economics, foreign policy, development, governance and metropolitan policy. 

With fair and transparent business practices, clear communication, mutual respect, and a collaborative atmosphere that offers both professional and personal development opportunities, Brookings offers an inclusive and welcoming workplace that values the efforts of all contributors. 

The Governance Studies program at Brookings is dedicated to analyzing policy issues, political institutions and processes, and contemporary governance challenges. Our scholarship identifies areas in need of reform and proposes specific solutions with the goals of: improving the performance of the national government; informing debate; and providing policymakers with expert analysis and ideas to ensure better institutional governance.

Position Location: This position is hybrid. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC office with the option of at least two days of remote work each week.  

Vaccine Policy: Brookings requires all staff  to submit proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19 to be in Brookings buildings.  

Individuals that (i) have a qualifying medical condition that contraindicates a COVID-19 vaccination, or (ii) who object to being vaccinated based on a sincerely held religious belief, may request a reasonable accommodation.  Brookings policies on masks and other pandemic mitigation measures will continue to be informed by DC and CDC guidelines.   

Ready to contribute to Brookings success? 

The Finance Manager within the Governance Studies (GS) program, reporting to the Managing Director, serves as a key member of the GS operations team and responsible for a broad range of day-to-day and long-term finance, accounting, and grants management activities. For a portfolio of projects and/or assigned departments, the Finance Manager is accountable for preparing, monitoring, managing, and reconciling budgets and forecasts; oversight of all financial transactions in portfolio; and for developing grant proposals, financial reports, and maintaining appropriate documentation. She/he identifies areas for improvement and suggests and implements ideas to improve upon existing procedures and structures based on knowledge of financial concepts, best practices, and Brookings processes.

Budget and Financial Management (45%)

• Maintains and updates monthly grant and project budget-to-actuals with latest financial data; forecasts remaining expenditures; communicates updates with project managers and Managing Director; proactively identifies and takes needed action based on financial results; monitors and adjusts for related downstream impacts
• Reviews and monitors grant expenditures on a monthly basis to ensure expenses are booked to the correct account and correct project and are in accordance with donor guidelines, as applicable; proactively identifies and makes needed corrections
• Works with Assistant Finance Director for Institutional annual budget and quarterly forecast submissions for portfolio of projects and/ or assigned departments
• Maintains and updates the project timesheet tracker with relevant project information to ensure alignment with most recent forecasts; communicates changes to relevant staff

Grants and Proposal Management (35%)

• In collaboration with relevant GS staff, understands proposal content and researches donor guidelines and preferences to prepare proposal budgets and modifications for review by the Managing Director; uploads relevant information to proposal site 
• Monitors grant milestones to ensure timely submission to funder; identifies needs for extensions or budget realignment based on forecasts; coordinates needed modifications with program development and grants staff
• Serves as primary liaison with Grants Administration to prepare and review funder financial reports for Managing Director approval; Serves as GS point of contact for questions on donor financial reporting and other grant requirements
• Processes incoming grant and other revenue; creates new projects in accounting system; maintains and ensures grant documentation files are organized and up to date; identifies the need for and prepares pre-award spending requests; updates revenue tracker as revenue is received; monitors and maintains outstanding accounts receivable

Financial Administration (20%)

• Reviews, prepares, processes, tracks, and maintains appropriate documentation for all non-routine expenditures, including contract payments, invoices, p-cards, and travel; serves as holder of GS purchase card
• Problem-solves payment and accounting issues as they arise; Monitors accounts payables and invoicing, ensures timely and accurate payment of invoices and contract payments, following up with central accounting as necessary.
• Serves as primary liaison with program, procurement, and accounting for all travel and expense reimbursements (TER)s and related questions; Reviews TER submissions for accuracy and ensures expenses follow Brookings’ policies and are accounted for  appropriately; troubleshoots issues with relevant staff; trains staff on travel processes, policies, and procedures
• Approves and monitors timesheets, provides staff training on submitting time, communicates with GS staff to ensure timesheets are submitted and approved on time; and troubleshoots timesheet issues.
• Maintains electronic finance files, reviewing regularly for organization and archiving as necessary; Develops and updates processes and procedures related to finance functions

Ready to make an impact? In this role, you will support Brookings values of collegiality, respect, inclusion, diversity and community, and bring the following qualifications: 

Education/Experience Requirements: 

Minimum bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or related degree and 4 years of experience in finance or accounting.  Budget experience and familiarity with budgeting or accounting software and advanced excel functions required.    Must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Knowledge/Skills Requirements: 

Intermediate to advanced excel knowledge, and comfort with and interest in learning new software/tools required. Knowledge of budgets and accounting principles ( particularly GAAP) required. Strong attention to detail; excellent organizational and creative problem-solving abilities; strong customer-service orientation; ability to work independently and complete tasks with minimal supervision; ability to plan for and foresee obstacles, handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion, and manage multiple tasks, set priorities, and adjust to shifting priorities is required.  Must be a mature, self-motivated team player with a customer service orientation.  Must be flexible and capable of working in a fast-paced environment with shifting and competing priorities. Extreme honesty and discretion required, with the ability to appropriately handle confidential information.   

Additional Information: 

What can we offer you? Brookings provides a generous benefit package that is comprehensive and includes both traditional benefits and unique offerings. 

Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please attach your cover letter and resume as one document when you apply. Please note: if you have applied to more than one Brookings job opening you should add a position-specific cover letter as a separate attachment. 

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for employment at Brookings. 

Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms.  We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.