UW News

February 26, 2018

Brian McCartan named vice president for finance at the UW

UW News

Brian McCartan has been named vice president for finance at the University of Washington, Executive Vice President Jeff Scott announced today. McCartan joins the UW after serving as the chief financial officer at Sound Transit for the past 11 years. He begins on Feb. 26.

McCartan’s portfolio at the UW will include leadership of many of the central business services of the university, namely the Office of the Controller, Treasury Office, Enterprise Business Services and the Finance Transformation Program.

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Brian McCartanUniversity of Washington

“Brian brings a wealth of diversified and highly relevant experience in the public sector to this important administrative position,” Scott said. “His prior work makes him well-suited to lead the finance team, oversee our cash management and help us to transform and adapt to new technologies.”

At Sound Transit, McCartan developed the financial plans for the $90 billion Sound Transit 2 and 3 programs. He also led the development of the agency’s budget and financial systems to support the build-out of the regional high-capacity transit system.  He was also responsible for the information technology, risk management and asset management departments at Sound Transit.

Prior to Sound Transit, McCartan served as debt manager at the City of Seattle, financing the capital programs for the city and its utilities, and as an international economist at the U.S. Treasury in Washington, D.C., helping administer U.S. international monetary operations.

McCartan graduated from the UW with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and political science. He has a master’s degree in international relations (finance and economics) from Yale University.

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