Nuala McGowan

Nuala McGowan serves as the Senior Director of Research Finance and Compliance at Harvard University, FAS, where she leads the Research Finance Team in supporting the sponsored research activities of FAS faculty and grants administrators. In this role, she provides strategic guidance and operational oversight for a wide range of post-award compliance areas, including OMB Uniform Guidance cost principles, direct cost allowability, administrative and clerical salary, effort reporting, subrecipient monitoring, and service center compliance. 

Nuala also oversees processes related to internal and external audit coordination, annual Uniform Guidance audit preparation and support, cost transfer review and approval, and the responsible spending of sponsored funds. She works closely with faculty, department administrators, and central offices to interpret evolving federal regulations and implement institutional policies that promote financial integrity and research continuity. 

She is deeply committed to cross-functional collaboration, partnering with colleagues across schools and administrative units to build shared understanding, streamline practices, and support a strong and sustainable research enterprise.