Finance Analyst

Department: College of Science

Classification: Financial Svcs Specialist 1

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

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

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The College of Science Finance team serves the financial needs for the college. This includes providing excellent customer service to our departments, central, and stakeholders, and other colleges within the University. The overall department is in charge of planning and execution of the college’s finance related initiatives and processes including financial management and budgeting, forecasting and modeling, and financial controls.

George Mason University College of Science (Mason Science) is committed to advancing access, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (AJEDI) throughout our STEM community, including within our hiring and retention practices. At Mason Science, our values include fostering an organizational culture that promotes Anti-Racism, belonging, respect, and civility. We believe that a diversity of opinions, cultures, and perspectives is what provides vibrancy, innovation and growth to an academic community. By prioritizing inclusive excellence in academics, teaching, research, and global engagement, we strive to attract a diverse pool of faculty and staff who exemplify the Mason Science mission and vision.

About the Position:

The Finance Analyst services a critical role of mitigating risk and ensuring compliance with university, state and federal laws and regulations; budget availability, accurate financial reporting and forecasting of data and revenue/expenditures related to department/centers, faculty and students within the assigned COS units and programs. The position works collaboratively with the Research and Finance team managing the complex financial activities within the COS Dean’s Office and takes initiative to improve the financial operations, including developing and documenting new financial procedures. The role initiates complex and compliant purchases as well as generates and distributes timely financial reports. Additionally, the analyst manages complex financial activities including, but limited to, planning, forecasting, budgeting, accounting, reconciling and reporting for college-level research centers and education programs. The position guides departmental heads as well as department staff to ensure compliance and accurate financial reporting for assigned COS units.

Responsibilities:

Financial Reconciliation and Financial Reporting

• Reviews and reconciles assigned funds and orgs, budgets and makes adjustments as necessary;
• Projects and forecasts future departmental expenditures and revenue on a monthly basis;
• Manages budget, reporting, and reporting timelines for assigned departments;
• Communicates with department heads on regular basis regarding budget and expense adjustments and revisions;
• Completes financial reports to be sent to departmental head and COS leadership as required and requested;
• Monitors university compliance and regulations regarding reporting;
• Coordinates and submits requests for carryforward, budgeting requests, and changes in scopes to ensure all requests are done in compliance of the state and university policies;
• Closeouts all funded projects consistent with university process and timelines;
• Follows and adheres to the defined business practices related to the financial functions;
• Manages the college’s operational reports and provides communication to others across the college; and
• Manages budgets, interprets allowable costs, and identifies specific financial issues.

Financial Operations

Works with senior level management to understand and develop related to the following tasks:

• Follows and adheres to the processes and activities related to the finance function;
• Performs all financial activities for the unit within the college or school, to include assisting faculty/chairs in the financial, regulatory, and reporting of assigned orgs and funds;
• Completes any necessary JVs, reviews and approves purchases, and provides support for labor-effort distributions; and
• Partners with colleagues to facilitate operational and finance related projects.

Financial Process Management and Improvement

• Defines account establishment parameters, including reporting requirements and budget obligations;
• Sets up any new orgs or activities in the financial system;
• Distributes financial information to department heads and relevant staff;
• Coordinates with relevant individuals to adjust payroll for all budgeted positions;
• Meets with stakeholders in the college and central units to identify procedural needs and requirements;
• Researches and analyzes current university and COS procedures in an effort to identify areas of improvement and makes recommendations to COS leadership;
• Updates and communicates any college-wide guidance as necessary;
• Ensures existing procedures are updated and in line with university policy and standards; and
• Seeks ways to make day to day work as efficient as possible and proactively makes recommendations for process and technology improvements.

Other Related Duties as Assigned

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• Experience within a business setting with an intermediate Excel level;
• Prior experience working with databases;
• Knowledge of fiscal and budgetary processes and general accounting principles;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially intermediate Excel is required;
• Ability to research, investigate, analyze, reconcile, and evaluate data;
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential employee and budgetary information in a timely and accurate manner;
• Ability to work independently with strong organizational, interpersonal communication and multi-tasking skills. Significant customer service mentality;
• Ability to work collaboratively and meet deadlines;
• Ability to anticipate and spot problems, alert supervisor, and make recommendations; and
• Driven performer with a desire to learn and grow in position/field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field;
• Prior experience working with databases (preferably with systems currently used at George Mason i.e. Banner, eVA, etc.);
• Experience with budget planning and monitoring expenditures;
• Experience in handling confidential data such as salary information (highly preferred);
• Experience with a large public institution; and
• Knowledge of George Mason information systems, such as Banner, eVA, etc.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Finance Analyst at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: September 18, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  October 3, 2024

Open Until Filled:  Yes