Assistant Director of Finance

Department: College of Public Health

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

George Mason University’s College of Public Health prepares students to become leaders and shape the public’s health through academic excellence, professional service, and innovative practice and research initiatives. CPH has five academic units which enroll more than 3,000 students in its nationally-recognized offerings, including: 5 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 7 certificate programs.

About the Position:

The Assistant Director of Finance plays a pivotal role in the financial management and strategic planning initiatives within the College of Public Health. Reporting directly to the Chief Business Officer, this position is responsible for overseeing various financial operations, conducting data analytics, forecasting, and ensuring the efficient utilization of financial resources. Additionally, the Assistant Director of Finance collaborates closely with Academic Affairs to analyze student enrollment trends and their impact on revenue generation across academic units. The Assistant Director of Finance possesses an understanding of financial principles, including excellent analytical skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting and Compliance

• Generates accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, including variance analysis and performance metrics;
• Ensures all financial reporting complies with university policies and external regulations;
• Develops and distributes financial statements and projections for internal and external stakeholders;
• Prepares the College's financial statements and year-end financial processes; and
• Attends meetings, as needed, to remain up-to-date on systems and procedures. 

Budget Management and Development

• Leads the development, implementation, and oversight of the College's annual budget;
• Manages the budget development process by working closely with academic departments and other units;
• Conducts regular budget reviews, analyzes variances, and prepares adjustments to ensure the College meets financial targets; and
• Provides recommendations for resource allocation, cost-saving initiatives, and budget strategies to optimize financial outcomes. 

Strategic Financial Planning

• Supports long-range financial planning efforts, including the development of multi-year forecasts for revenues, expenses, and fund balances;
• Collaborates with senior leadership to align financial plans with the College’s strategic goals;
• Conducts financial feasibility studies for new programs, initiatives, and capital projects; and
• Updates and maintains financial models to assess future trends, financial risks, and potential opportunities. 

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Leads the collection, analysis, and interpretation of financial data to support decision-making and financial planning;
• Uses Business Intelligence (BI) software and tools to develop financial models, reports, and dashboards; and
• Provides analytical support for academic program financial performance and ROI analysis. 

Cash Flow Management and Internal Controls

• Ensures effective cash flow management by monitoring accounts receivable, accounts payable, and cash balances;
• Maintains strong internal controls by developing, documenting, and monitoring financial procedures;
• Ensures compliance with university and state audit requirements, responding to audit inquiries as needed; and
• Identifies areas for financial control improvement and implements solutions to enhance efficiency and accuracy. 

Enrollment Impact and Collaboration

• Collaborates with Academic Affairs to analyze the impact of student enrollment trends on revenue generation. 

Special Projects and Administrative Support

• Manages special projects related to finance, including the development of new financial processes and systems;
• Provides support for finance-related administrative tasks as required by the Chief Business Officer;
• Participates in University-wide initiatives as a representative of the College of Public Health;
• Completes all of assignments as requested by the CBO; and
• Other related duties as assigned. 

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in finance, economics, business, accounting, bookkeeping or related field, or an equivalent combination of related education and experience;
• Experience in forecasting to support managerial finance functions;
• Experience with budgets and budget administration or equivalent;
• Knowledge of fiscal and budgetary processes (including revenues and expenditures) and general accounting principles;
• Proficient in utilizing financial forecasting methodologies;
• Skill in synthesizing financial data from multiple sources;
• Skill in anticipating and identifying problems, and producing recommendations;
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word and PowerPoint);
• Proficient verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues;
• Demonstrated organizational and multi-tasking skills with the ability to meet deadlines;
• Demonstrated customer service skills;
• Ability to independently research, investigate, analyze, reconcile, and evaluate revenue and expense data and reports from multiple sources;
• Ability to work productively and collaboratively with diverse teams, and ability to work independently;
• Ability to calculate labor effort proportionally per academic program or departmental initiative;
• Ability and willingness to learn new applications and programs to support use of data for budget management and managerial finance purposes; and
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential employee and budgetary information with respect for privacy and confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive experience (typically 10+ years) in finance or accounting;
• Prior experience working with databases;
• Experience with budget planning, development of financial processes, and monitoring revenue and expenditures;
• Experience handling confidential data;
• Experience with a large, public, institution of higher education or other large public institutions;
• Knowledge of building BI software reports;
• Familiarity with ERP and business intelligence tools for financial reporting;
• Ability to work with data and produce reports accurately on a timely basis; and
• Ability to work with shared information management platforms (ex: OneDrive, SharePoint, MS Teams).

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Assistant Director of Finance (Req. #10001978) at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information including one from a most recent supervisor, and provide a cover letter of interest, resume, and a sample of a presentation that the applicant has presented to their leadership regarding fiscal information.

Please note: Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Posting Open Date: November 20, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  December 4, 2024

Open Until Filled:  Yes