Colleen Austin

About Colleen Austin

I’m a finance and grants leader with 30+ years of experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets, complex funding portfolios, and federal awards across academic, nonprofit, government, and international sectors. I specialize in turning ambiguity into structure — building clean, compliant, risk-aware financial operations that actually work.My work bridges finance, post-award grants management, and project leadership. I’ve led contract portfolios, designed internal control systems, resolved federal audits, and advised 11+ agencies including NSF, VA, Commerce, and Treasury. I’ve also partnered with leading nonprofits such as The Nature Conservancy, Save the Children, and the International Rescue Committee, as well as major consulting firms including Booz Allen Hamilton and Atlas Research.I’m known for operational realism, clear analysis, and a results-first mindset — especially when stakes are high and deliverables can’t be vague.My next role? Likely in finance leadership — as a Deputy CFO, Director of Finance, or Director of Sponsored Research — where I can apply my mix of financial stewardship, compliance expertise, and operational leadership to help mission-driven organizations manage money wisely and deliver results that stand up to scrutiny.

Experience

1. Senior Program Manager

   Atlas Research

   Sep 2016 — Present · Washington, DC, US

Education

• University of Maryland

  Bachelor of Arts, Economics

  1983 — 1987

• The George Washington University

  Masters of Business Administration, International Business

  1989 — 1992