Question: I need an adjective for the term "financially motivated." The word I'm looking for isn't exactly greedy or rapacious. Although it can have connotations like that, the word needs to directly mean something more similar to "he does his job well if there's money (or perhaps just incentive) on the line."

Thanks in anticipation.

Answer: 
**avaricious** [TFD](https://www.thefreedictionary.com/avaricious)

adj

> 
> immoderately desirous of wealth or gain; greedy.
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As in:

> 
> When you put the most **avaricious** in charge, they use the tools of
>  governance to further enrich themselves. New York Times Dec 7, 2018
> 
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You might describe such a person or their worldview as **transactional**. 

In other words, this person makes an effort in a certain context because compensation is offered. Either broadly or in a certain situation, they might interpret their own and others' actions and expectations through the lens of a balance sheet—effort for its own sake is neither extended nor expected.

The term is not especially complimentary but is far less pejorative than the alternatives "greedy," "desperate," ""avaricious," "rapacious," "materialistic," or "mercenary" (!). It includes anyone who expects to receive a paycheck from their employer, for example. One could frame the behavior in a positive way by saying that the person is businesslike or practical in expecting a suitably compensated, mutually fulfilling professional relationship.