Jeffrey A. Goldstein served as managing director of the World Bank from September 1999 to October 2004. He was appointed by President James D. Wolfensohn, who had worked with Goldstein at Wolfensohn's own investment firm for more than a decade before becoming president of the World Bank Group in 1995.

From the start of his tenure at the Bank, Goldstein managed the institution's internal and external financial affairs, including oversight of the Bank's efforts to strengthen financial and capital market systems in client countries. As of 2000, Goldstein had reporting authority over Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Gary Perlin, who oversaw the vice presidencies of the Treasurer (TREVP) and Controller (CTRVP). The Strategy and Resource Management Vice Presidency (SRMVP), the Financial Sector Vice Presidency (FSEVP), and the Finance, Private Sector Development, and Infrastructure Network (FPSI) also reported directly to Goldstein.

In October 2001, following the retirement of Managing Director Sven Sandstrom, Wolfensohn assigned Goldstein additional responsibilities for the Bank's finance and resource-mobilization activities, including International Development Association (IDA) replenishments and oversight of trust funds, resource management, cofinancing, and the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Goldstein also assumed responsibility for the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network (PREM). After Perlin retired from the Bank in May 2003, Goldstein became CFO in addition to continuing his role as managing director (MDCFO).

Goldstein's other responsibilities included risk management for the Bank and strengthening its financial controls and management. As an active member of the Bank's Management Committee, Goldstein contributed to overall corporate leadership and strategy, including the development of the 2001 Strategic Framework. He also helped lead the Bank's liaison efforts with major shareholders and other international financial institutions.

When Goldstein retired from the Bank in October 2004, the MDCFO position was terminated and Goldstein's management responsibilities were reassigned to other senior staff. Following his departure, Goldstein became a managing director at the private equity firm Hellman & Friedman LLC and later served as United States Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance.