Finance Manager, Center for Global Engagement

James Madison University•Harrisonburg, VA

About The Position

The Finance Manager provides financial leadership and oversight across James Madison University’s Center for Global Engagement (CGE). CGE supports global learning, study abroad, international student and scholar support, international partnerships, and other programs connecting JMU with people and organizations worldwide. Its financial operations involve multiple funding sources, domestic and international vendors, travel, contracts, student and faculty programming, and activity subject to university and state requirements. Serving as CGE’s lead fiscal resource and financial advisor, the Finance Manager leads financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, analysis, policy guidance, and oversight of Center-wide fiscal operations. The role partners with CGE leadership and unit teams to turn financial information into practical recommendations and support accurate, responsible resource management in alignment with CGE’s mission and priorities. It also connects CGE with financial partners across JMU, participates in university finance forums and networks, and brings relevant policy changes, practices, and resource opportunities back to the Center. The position supervises the CGE Finance Support Specialist and helps establish efficient, sustainable financial processes. The position is full-time, classified, exempt, and not eligible for overtime. The listed pay range is $60,000–$62,100. Employment is contingent on successful completion of a criminal background check. New hires must complete an I-9 and provide documentation of identity and eligibility to work in the United States; JMU uses E-Verify.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, financial operations, and financial systems accurately, independently, and accountably.
Demonstrated ability to conduct financial analysis, forecasting, reporting, and scenario planning and translate financial information into clear recommendations for organizational leadership.
Strong knowledge of, or demonstrated ability to interpret and apply, financial policies and procedures in a university, government, or similarly regulated environment.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and navigate complex or ambiguous financial questions.
Experience supervising, training, or providing functional leadership to staff responsible for fiscal or administrative processes.
Strong relationship-building and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with senior leaders, central offices, and cross-functional partners.
Excellent analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and project-management skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a complex, fast-moving environment.
Proficiency with enterprise financial or business systems and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and related reporting tools.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education, public-sector finance, international education, global engagement, or another complex decentralized organization.
Experience serving as a financial business partner or advisor to organizational leadership.
Experience with contract management, procurement, SPCC or purchasing-card administration, travel, reimbursements, audit preparation, and internal controls.
Experience managing or supporting E&G, auxiliary, local, self-supporting, grant, or other varied funding sources.
Experience identifying process improvements and developing financial procedures, training resources, reports, dashboards, or other decision-support tools.
Familiarity with PeopleSoft, Chrome River, eVA, or comparable financial, procurement, and travel systems.
Experience with international vendors, payments, travel, or other financial activity involving global operations.

Responsibilities

Lead annual and multi-year financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, analysis, and reporting for CGE accounts, including E&G, auxiliary, grant, local, self-supporting, and other funding.
Maintain and communicate a comprehensive view of CGE’s financial position, commitments, available resources, risks, and opportunities.
Advise CGE leadership on resource planning, staffing, programs, initiatives, and longer-term priorities by translating financial data and institutional requirements into recommendations.
Develop financial models, scenarios, reports, and other planning tools to evaluate the financial impact of proposed decisions.
Identify financial risks, emerging resource needs, efficiencies, and potential funding opportunities, and present recommendations for consideration.
Collaborate with CGE directors and unit fiscal or operations leads on shared, cross-unit, and institutionally funded financial activity.
Partner with Study Abroad Operations & Finance to monitor revenue, transfers, commitments, and other financial activity affecting CGE-wide resources, and incorporate those resources into planning, forecasting, and reporting.
Serve as CGE’s primary internal resource for university, state, and federal financial policies and procedures, including procurement, SPCC, travel, reimbursements, payments, contracts, funding sources, and related processes.
Develop, document, and improve CGE financial procedures, internal controls, approval workflows, fiscal calendars, and training resources.
Oversee and approve departmental financial activity within assigned authority, especially complex, unusual, high-risk, or exception-based transactions.
Ensure accurate and timely account reconciliations, financial records, reporting, and supporting documentation across assigned accounts and operations.
Maintain audit readiness and coordinate responses to fiscal reviews, audit requests, and compliance questions.
Provide financial consultation concerning contracts, vendors, international payments, travel, purchasing, and other complex program and operational activities.
Review financial implications of personnel and payroll activity as assigned, coordinating with Operations, Human Resources, and university partners.
Provide hands-on fiscal support and approvals when needed to ensure timely, accurate financial operations.
Represent CGE in university finance forums, trainings, working groups, and professional networks.
Build relationships with fiscal leaders and colleagues across JMU and serve as a primary liaison with offices including Academic Resources, Budget Management, the University Business Office, Procurement, International Accounting, Accounts Payable, and Cash and Investments.
Represent CGE’s financial and operational needs and the complexity of global engagement activities in university financial discussions and planning.
Monitor policy changes, emerging practices, and approaches used by other university units; share useful information and ideas with CGE leadership.
Benchmark financial processes and practices across JMU and, when useful, peer institutions to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, controls, and resource planning.
Monitor changes in financial systems, policies, and institutional priorities and help CGE prepare for and implement them.
Supervise, train, and develop the CGE Finance Support Specialist, establishing priorities, workflows, service expectations, and cross-training.
Provide functional direction and fiscal training to administrative staff, graduate assistants, or student employees supporting financial processes, as assigned.
Coordinate delegation and coverage of routine fiscal responsibilities to ensure timely and accurate completion.
Provide financial and compliance review for CGE contracts with third-party providers and coordinate with appropriate university offices.
Approve Chrome River pre-approvals and other financial transactions within assigned authority; provide higher-level review of complex travel and expenditure questions.
Review and approve university employees’ international travel requests as assigned and advise on related financial and policy requirements.
Partner with CGE Operations leadership to coordinate fiscal and administrative processes across functional areas and develop efficient, sustainable workflows.