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Associate Budget Director

Employer
George Mason University
Location
Fairfax, VA
Salary
Commensurate with education and experience.
Closing date
Aug 3, 2021

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Job Details

Associate Budget Director

Office of Strategic Budgeting & Planning seeks a motivated and highly organized individual t provide central office support for the budget and financial planning activities of the Schools and Colleges. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.

About the Office of Strategic Budgeting & Planning: George Mason University's Office of Strategic Budgeting & Planning is responsible for the preparation and continuous monitoring of the University's annual operating and capital budgets, biennial State budget submission, and multi-year integrated financial plan. We are committed to excellent financial stewardship of the University's resources in support of its strategic academic, research, and outreach mission by optimizing the return on financial assets by establishing best practices in financial analysis, forecasting, budgeting, planning, policies and procedures and reporting systems. We want to partner with the University to fundamentally transform the way we work and engage with our university partners to promote a transparent, accountable and responsible financial management culture.

About the Position: The Associate Director provides planning, analytic and financial expertise to support the effective management of university financial resources. The Associate Director applies experience and knowledge of best practices in finance, including: revenue and expense budgeting; forecasting; financial analysis, reporting and benchmarking; process, policy and regulation compliance, and participation in strategic planning. The Associate Director reports to the Executive Director of Budget, Planning & Strategic Analysis.

The Associate Director is responsible for providing central office support for the budget and financial planning activities of the Schools and Colleges, including: maintaining the budget incentive model and all related system entries and reporting; monitoring high-value related activities (like faculty start-up accounts and position vacancies); coordinating annual academic fee setting; identifying major areas of concern or risk and making recommendations to mitigate any unfavorable outlook.

The Associate Director develops and delivers clear, concise and original management analysis and reporting on actual and budget results, commitment analysis, performance metrics and other financial efforts that inform and influence decision-making in areas of responsibility and university leadership. General responsibilities include resolving day-to-day financial issues of the Schools and Colleges to ensure smooth operations and assisting the Executive Director in all aspects of preparing, reviewing, monitoring and projecting the budget incentive model.

The Associate Director uses a collaborative and consultative approach to working effectively across stakeholder groups to address financial opportunities and challenges for areas of responsibility and the University. The Associate Director serves as a resource to the Budget Office staff, university departments, and other key stakeholders in interpreting academic budget policies.

This position also has project leadership responsibilities and indirect supervisory responsibilities.

Primary Responsibilities: * Assists in drafting and implementing budget policies; * Monitors actual performance against budget; identifies and analyzes variances; understands root causes for any variances and recommends approaches for addressing them; * Collaborates with budget officers and other finance personnel to ensure they have the necessary tools to monitor decisions against budget and to address budgetary issues throughout the year; * Develops short-term and long-term financial plans in accordance with university priorities and objectives; * Coordinates communication of university's financial forecast and budget to schools/colleges; * May serve as a team leader responsible for an assigned process (i.e. ensuring work is completed timely and consistent with professional standards, coaching and training less experienced team members to help resolve problems).

Specialized Responsibilities: * Prepares revenue and expense budgets and year-end reporting and multi-year forecasts for academic areas, aligned with approved budget incentive model protocols * Develops program profitability analysis and evaluate options and opportunities * Prepares and presents timely and informative management reports, including written trend and variance analysis for areas of responsibility; coordinates regular academic budget meetings, including preparing supporting documents and reports; * Coordinates annual fee-setting process; prepares and delivers reporting to department leadership, Fee Committee, Ways& Means Committee, and Student Accounts; * Provides expertise in describing position management, direct expense budget development, capital finance, enrollment, revenue and expense concepts and operational information to areas of responsibility; provides training on new or changing reporting, processes and protocols; * Monitors annual budget, out-of-cycle budget requests and spending patterns, providing comprehensive analysis and options for resolution for all areas of responsibility; * Advises areas on budget policies and issues, effectively communicating department positions on major process and policy topics; * Regularly supports special project analysis and other academic financial initiatives, providing financial modeling, benchmark data and analysis; develops data-driven solutions and best practices to solve financial, operational, or strategic issues facing assigned areas; * Ensures financial compliance with Commonwealth and Board policies and procedures, applicable legal rules and regulations, and internal control protocols for all areas of responsibility; * Coordinates with other functional areas, like Information Technology, Fiscal Services, and Human Resources, to create and refine existing reporting to support transparency, consistency, and streamlined reporting; * Represents the department on work groups, committees, and with academic and administrative units, including School/College Associate Deans and finance officers, Fiscal Services, Student Accounts, Human Resources, and external consultants; * Identifies and advocates for improvements to processes, protocols, internal controls, and reporting aligned with best practices of higher education institutions, including analytic support to budget incentive model refinement efforts; * Develops and documents protocols on major processes, including but not limited to budget incentive model, fee development, use of reserves, indirect, faculty start-ups, and internal loans; * Provides training to school finance directors/personnel on academic budget processes and reporting changes.

Required Qualifications: * Minimum of five years of experience in finance, financial management, financial analysis, budget management; * B.A. degree in business, accounting, statistics, economics, public policy or related field; * Demonstrated quantitative and analytical skills; ability to effectively organize, analyze, synthesize and present data and information, including creating trend analysis, scenario and forecasting models; * Experience using enterprise-wide general ledger and reporting applications; * High-level of proficiency and experience using Excel and other spreadsheet software; organizing and reporting on large volumes of data and maintaining complex spreadsheets; * Ability to research, analyze, interpret, explain, and apply policies, regulations, and procedures appropriately; * Strong organizational, problem-solving and decision-making skills with proven ability to prioritize, organize, negotiate, coordinate and complete projects according to established time frames; * Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, balance priorities, and work efficiently in a fast pace environment, bringing to completion multiple assignments concurrently while delivering a high-quality work product, free of material errors; * Ability to work independently and initiate and create new, original material; * Ability to effectively and efficiently contribute in a team dynamic with a wide range of constituencies across departmental lines to accomplish the identified goals of the department and University; * Strong oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications: * Advanced degree in Business Administration, Public Policy/Public Administration, Finance or related discipline; * At least 10 years of progressively responsible financial or administrative management experience; * Substantive higher education or public-sector work experience.

"For full consideration, applicants must apply at https://jobs.gmu.edu/ ; complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information."

"Great Careers Begin at Mason!

George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top U.S. News and World Report "Up and Coming" spot for national universities and is recognized for its global appeal and excellence in higher education.

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason's diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!

George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition."

Company

George Mason University is a university with three campuses, each with a distinctive academic focus that plays a critical role in the economy of its region. At each campus, students, faculty, and staff have full access to all the university's resources, while duplication of programs and support services is minimized through the use of technology. In addition to the main campus in Fairfax, the university has campuses in Arlington and Prince William Counties.

Company info
Website
Location
4400 University Dr
MSN 3C3
Fairfax
VA
22030
US

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