Director of HRL Finance and Business Services

George Mason University•Fairfax, VA

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Associate Dean and Chief Housing Officer, the Director of Housing and Residence Life Finance and Business Services serves as the strategic financial leader and chief business advisor for a $60M+ auxiliary enterprise. This position provides vision, direction, and oversight for all financial and business operations within Housing and Residence Life, ensuring fiscal integrity, operational efficiency, and alignment with institutional priorities. The Director drives long-term financial planning, resource optimization, and risk management strategies that sustain and advance HRL’s mission of delivering safe, inclusive, and innovative residential communities. This role is pivotal in shaping HRL’s financial sustainability and growth, enabling the organization to meet evolving student housing needs while supporting the university’s strategic goals of fiscal responsibility, operational excellence, and student success.

Requirements

Master’s degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
Progressive experience typically obtained in 7+ years in financial administration or a comprehensive business/facilities operation
Experience developing and managing large-scale budgets, including forecasting, variance analysis, and monthly reporting
Experience effectively supervising staff and providing leadership, setting performance goals, and managing personnel actions including evaluations, hiring, and onboarding
Experience overseeing revenue recognition, billing, collections, and reconciliation processes
Experience managing financial aspects of capital projects or major maintenance programs, including cost tracking and long-term reserve planning
Experience presenting complex financial information in clear, actionable formats for non-financial audiences
Demonstrated knowledge of operational and fiscal analysis techniques, including budgeting and projections, financial analysis, monthly reporting, auditing, and related practices
Effective collaborative and customer service skills, with other attributes that demonstrate a commitment to work with and support colleagues in an open, information-sharing environment; ability to clearly explain financial data and processes to non-financial personnel
Effective problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate, investigate, and analyze issues and address them proactively
Demonstrated interpersonal, written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate and engage effectively with varying audiences of constituents and departmental stakeholders
Ability to take initiative and independently plan, organize, coordinate, and execute work in complex settings with multiple, competing demands
Ability to work evenings and weekends as operational needs require
Ability to travel once yearly to attend conferences
Understanding of policies, procedures, and external regulations relevant to housing management, fiscal operations within a public university, and student service environments.

Nice To Haves

Progressive experience typically obtained in 10+ years in finance for a campus housing operation
Experience conducting housing market analysis and developing pricing strategies informed by local, state, and national trends
Experience drafting and negotiating service-level agreements or memoranda of understanding with internal or external stakeholders
Knowledge of market analysis techniques for housing trends and occupancy forecasting
Knowledge of higher education auxiliary operations and their unique fiscal structures, including revenue recognition
Skill in financial modeling and scenario analysis with a focus on housing rate development and forecasting
Skill in accounting practices and financial record keeping and reconciliation.

Responsibilities

Provides leadership for all financial operations within Housing and Residence Life (HRL), serving as the financial leader and chief business advisor to the financial strategy for a $60M+ enterprise
Develops and communicates long-range financial plans, multi-year forecasting models, and strategic budget frameworks that align with institutional priorities and support sustainable growth
Ensures fiscal integrity through robust internal controls, compliance, and risk mitigation strategies
Oversees organizational financial structures and system accessibility governance, serving as the primary financial liaison for HRL with university leadership and enterprise resource planning systems
Leads continuous improvement initiatives for business processes, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and alignment with best practices.
Provides strategic and operational leadership for the Finance and Business Services team within Housing and Residence Life (HRL), directly supervising the Business and Finance Analyst and the Business Analyst and establishing clear performance goals aligned with departmental and university priorities
Oversees daily workflow to ensure staff understand roles, responsibilities, and delegated tasks, monitoring productivity and service quality and providing coaching, feedback, and professional development to support engagement and performance
Manages personnel processes and documentation, including timekeeping, communication with departmental and senior leadership, and performance evaluations, making recommendations for recognition, position changes, and disciplinary actions as appropriate
Leads recruitment, onboarding, and training for supervisees, ensuring effective integration into HRL operations
Ensures compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, university policies, and fiscal procedures while fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
Leads the development and execution of revenue management strategies that optimize financial performance and support HRL’s mission
Partners with university stakeholders to design systems and processes for accurate revenue recognition, billing, and cash handling
Negotiates and manages service-level agreements and memoranda of understanding with campus partners, ensuring clarity of responsibilities and financial accountability
Regularly audits, reviews, and updates agreements and reconciliation practices to ensure accuracy, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
Directs financial strategy for capital planning and facilities renewal, ensuring long-term sustainability of HRL’s housing portfolio
Oversees development and maintenance of multi-year capital plans, aligning resources to support essential improvements and strategic growth
Partners with Facilities and Fiscal Services to monitor project budgets, track expenditures, and mitigate financial risks associated with major maintenance and capital initiatives.
Advises and leads the annual room rate development process, integrating market intelligence, financial modeling, and strategic analysis to inform pricing recommendations
Prepares comprehensive documentation and presentations for senior leadership and the Board of Visitors, clearly articulating the rationale for proposed rates and their alignment with institutional goals
Monitors housing trends at local, state, and national levels, advising on occupancy strategies and competitive positioning.
Collaborates with the University Life financial team, senior leadership, and campus partners to identify operational and financial needs, provide data-driven analysis, and develop processes that support residential growth and advance Mason’s strategic goals
Ensures all practices align with and uphold university and state financial policies and requirements
Attends and actively participates in divisional all-staff meetings, trainings, and other mandatory events, including in-person events at the Fairfax Campus to stay informed, support professional development, and contribute to a cohesive and effective team environment across University Life
Participates in internal and external professional development opportunities to expand/maintain financial expertise.