D.C. Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey DeWitt is leaving D.C. government after seven years managing the city’s finances, opening a hugely meaningful vacancy just before lawmakers consider a new, Covid-impacted budget.

DeWitt informed Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council of his resignation late Wednesday, per a spokesman for his office. He’ll be taking over as CFO and executive vice chancellor for finance at the University of Kansas, noting that the position “places me nearer to my family and my recently born granddaughter” in his resignation letter.

His last day with the city will be March 9 and he pledged to “remain to complete the revenue forecast necessary for the budget and will work expeditiously to assist in the transition that is necessary as the budget season begins.”

“I leave the District and the incredible staff of the OCFO with a heavy heart,” DeWitt wrote. “The District Chief Financial Officer position has been both an opportunity and challenge of a lifetime that has…