Finance and Operations Manager, The Graduate School (JMU Only)

James Madison University • Harrisonburg, VA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Graduate School at James Madison University is seeking a Finance & Operations Manager to join its leadership and administrative team. This position plays a central role in managing the financial, graduate assistantship, human resource, and business operations of The Graduate School. The Finance & Operations Manager works closely with the Dean, Graduate School leadership, graduate programs, Academic Affairs, Financial Aid, the University Budget Office, and other university partners. The successful candidate will be comfortable working independently in a complex organization, managing confidential information, interpreting policies and financial information, and ensuring that business operations are accurate, efficient, and responsive to institutional needs.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience with complex financial management functions such as budgeting, reconciliation, accounting, forecasting, or financial analysis within higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to manage administrative processes and work effectively within a complex organization governed by established policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, students, and senior university officials.
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with financial information systems such as PeopleSoft Finance or comparable enterprise systems.
• Advanced spreadsheet and financial modeling experience.
• Experience developing budgets, financial projections, and alternative financial scenarios.
• Experience with human resources policies and processes.
• Experience managing graduate assistantships, student employment, or comparable funding programs.
• Experience working in higher education or another large, complex organization.

Responsibilities

• Manage and monitor The Graduate School's operating, graduate assistantship, foundation, and other assigned budgets and accounts.
• Perform financial reconciliation, budget revisions, purchasing and expenditure review, travel processing, and other financial operations.
• Ensure financial transactions and business practices comply with university and Commonwealth requirements.
• Maintain accurate financial records and identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare financial reports, forecasts, and analyses for Graduate School leadership.
• Coordinate financial processes and deadlines across The Graduate School.
• Coordinate development of The Graduate School's annual budget in collaboration with the Dean and leadership team.
• Develop financial models, projections, and alternative scenarios to support resource planning.
• Analyze financial information and make recommendations concerning expenditures, funding allocations, payment rates, and future resource needs.
• Provide timely financial information to support leadership decisions.
• Monitor year-end balances and assist with short- and long-range budget planning.
• Supervise and support the Graduate Assistantship Coordinator.
• Oversee financial and administrative processes associated with Graduate School-funded assistantships.
• Monitor assistantship expenditures, contracts, payments, and available balances.
• Work with Financial Aid, academic programs, colleges, and university offices to identify and resolve assistantship funding discrepancies.
• Develop projections of graduate assistantship resource needs and year-end balances.
• Serve as a resource regarding graduate assistantship financial policies and procedures.
• Support consistent implementation of assistantship policies and business practices across the university.
• Coordinate human resource functions for The Graduate School.
• Provide oversight of graduate assistant hiring processes administered through the Graduate Assistantship Coordinator.
• Interpret and apply applicable university HR policies and procedures.
• Ensure personnel processes are handled accurately, confidentially, and in accordance with university requirements.
• Support development and implementation of effective Graduate School business practices.
• Work collaboratively with university offices to resolve operational and administrative issues.
• Prepare recurring and ad hoc reports related to budgets, assistantships, enrollment, revenues, and other Graduate School operations.
• Maintain records necessary for financial planning, assistantship administration, and operational decision-making.
• Review information from university systems and reconcile discrepancies when needed.
• Provide accurate and timely information to the Dean, Graduate School leadership, graduate programs, and university offices.
• Assist in improving business processes and reporting practices.

Benefits

• Paid vacation
• Sick leave
• Parental leave
• Community service leave
• 19 paid holidays annually
• High-quality health insurance options
• Retirement benefits through the Virginia Retirement System
• Employee Well-Being resources, events, and support through the Balanced Dukes program
• Tuition waiver program for undergraduate and graduate courses taken at JMU

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed