Department: University Life

Classification: Financial Services 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

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary range starting low $60k; commensurate with education and experience 

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

Housing & Residence Life (HRL) is a self-supporting auxiliary organization within the University Life unit of George Mason University. HRL serves a highly diverse population of approximately 6,200 residential students, the majority of which are undergraduates living in traditional, suite, and apartment-style residence halls at three campuses within the vibrant Northern Virginia area. HRL employs over 170 full-time and graduate staff and over 350 undergraduate student staff. HRL is committed to provide a safe, well maintained student-centered environment that is innovative and inclusive of a global community. It is dedicated to creating a home that enriches the experiences of our students, faculty, and staff.

About the Position:

The Housing and Residence Life (HRL) Business and Finance Analyst (BFA) supports the HRL unit with daily financial and business functions attached to procurement, spending, reimbursement, reporting, reconciliation, and budget management of HRL?s operational expenses, from payroll to expenses to debt. The BFA also provides direction to HRL staff on Mason fiscal policies and processes impacting these expenses, and supports the HRL staff in finding solutions to financial/business questions. This position reports to the Associate Director of Finance and Business Services (AD-FBS), and is a hybrid position with two (2) days per week in the HRL office at Mason's Fairfax campus.

HRL is a self-supporting unit with George Mason University, and the BFA plays a critical role in the front end of managing expenses against revenue by assisting HRL staff with Mason fiscal policies and spending processes, and then ensuring that expenses are posted accurately and in a timely manner, ultimately leading to reliable financial data and statements.

Responsibilities:

Financial Analysis, Monthly Reporting, and Reconciliation:

• Develops and maintains a comprehensive understanding of HRL as an auxiliary unit at Mason, with particular focus on HRL?s expense structure, the multiple sources feeding those expenses, and budgeting nuances that influence annual spending. Applies this knowledge to work collaboratively with the AD-FBS in refining and updating financial reporting and operational processes for the HRL unit;
• Investigates and maintains proficiency with multiple Mason financial systems, leveraging these tools to refine/discover new sources of financial and business information for the HRL unit;
• Develops, maintains, and performs a monthly reconciliation of the HRL subsidiary ledger of expenses, which is the cornerstone to all HRL?s expense reporting, budgeting, and forecasting. The BFA also uses this ledger to develop and distribute a monthly expense report to the HRL Budget Owners;
• Generates and distributes monthly labor reports to HRL Budget Owners to provide payroll details for reconciliation processes;
• Analyzes HRL monthly expenses to identify anomalies. Collaborates with HRL Budget Owners and Mason units to investigate discrepancies and implement necessary adjustments or corrections;
• Partners with the AD-FBS to develop processes and reporting tools to accurately project year-end expenditures;
• Provides financial data and reporting support to the AD-FBS for audits and related inquiries as needed; and
• Assists the AD-FBS and/or Chief Housing Officer (CHO) with other financial reporting, analysis, and special projects as assigned.

Fiscal Services and Processes:

• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of Mason?s fiscal policies and processes by regularly reviewing online updates and communications from Mason Fiscal Services. Participates in internal and external professional development opportunities to expand/maintain financial expertise;
• Interprets and communicates relevant fiscal services information with the HRL team, developing internal tools to assist staff. Also provides HRL with notification of unique events, such as early fiscal services deadlines around holidays and year-end closing;
• Serves as a liaison between HRL staff and Mason fiscal specialists to obtain guidance on spending protocols and mediate issues. This includes inquiries related to purchase card (P-card) spending, food and beverage usage, eVA procurement, and reimbursement of travel and other expenses. Updates the HRL team and specific documentation accordingly;
• Oversees the processes to secure Mason Money cards for student staff during trainings, breaks, and special HRL events. Includes the preparation and submission of Mason Payment Requests to Fiscal Services and the Mason Card Office. Also works with HRL managers to provide payments to Mason Dining for staff meals during emergency events. Ensures all HRL charges and refunds are booked appropriately and documented;
• Prepares, submits, and documents journal vouchers (JVs) for HRL. Works with HRL staff to ensure that all JVs include backup/calculations, and all parties are copied on submissions. Under the direction of the AD-FBS;
• Develops an annual calendar of quarterly/semi-annual JVs for recurring expenses, and ensures JVs are submitted per that calendar;
• Maintains thorough documentation of all fiscal policies and procedures related to the BFA position. Shares updated procedures with HRL staff and conducts training as needed;
• Compiles, submits, tracks, and maintains documentation of all P-card and eVA access forms submitted to Mason Fiscal Services. Works with the HRL Directors and the AD-FBS to determine spending limits for their staff;
• Supports the AD-FBS and CHO in managing departmental leases for live-in HRL staff residing at Mason, the affiliated housing Masonvale. Coordinates with the property management company for annual lease information or new lease data, and interacts with Mason Facilities personnel to initiate or discontinue utility services as needed;
• Calculates and reports Masonvale lease expenses to the AD-FBS and CHO to support the annual HRL budget process. Works with the AD-FBS to generate the annual JV at year-end to book this lease payment to Masonvale via the Mason Controller?s office;
• Collects pet deposits from live-in staff, submits to the appropriate office, and retains transaction documentation; and
• Assists the AD-FBS with position control submissions and other HR-related items as assigned. 

Unit and Division Support/Service:

• Actively supports and complies with all Mason policies, HRL regulations, and departmental vision and goals;
• Provides operational support during critical HRL events and university-wide situations, including severe weather, campus emergencies, fall opening and spring closing;
• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with colleagues across various Mason units;
• Participates professionally in HRL and Mason-sponsored training sessions, meetings, conferences, and departmental committees, contributing effectively to discussions and initiatives as designed;
• Supports departmental continuity by temporarily fulfilling duties of vacant positions as directed by the AD-FBS or CHO;
• Attends University Life divisional meetings and events, including mandatory in-person events at George Mason's Fairfax campus; and
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor?s degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Demonstrated experience with monthly financial reporting and reconciliation;
• Demonstrated experience analyzing data and creating spreadsheets utilizing Microsoft Excel;
• Demonstrated experience creating and processing financial transactions;
• Demonstrated experience working independently to accurately achieve on-time objectives;
• Experience using SharePoint or similar collaborative/document sharing platform;
• Experience performing work that requires attention to detail with accuracy;
• Experience working with and/or supporting varied stakeholder groups and communicating in an effective and collaborative manner;
• Demonstrated knowledge of bookkeeping/accounting theory with the ability to anticipate financial issues and forecast expenditures based on data and trends;
• Effective written and oral communication skills;
• Ability to condense financial data into concise, informative reporting;
• Ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects and efficiently switch between tasks;
• Demonstrated ability to analyze information, organize tasks efficiently, and investigate issues to identify effective solutions;
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion handling sensitive employee and financial data appropriately in a timely and accurate manner;
• Demonstrated ability to gather relevant information and ask clarifying questions to effectively resolve issues; and
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a higher education setting performing financial functions;
• Demonstrated experience developing and monitoring budgets;
• Experience processing JVs, reimbursements, or having worked with business credit cards;
• Experience using Ellucian Banner to query/retrieve financial data;
• Experience using MicroStrategy to generate financial reports;
• Experience using MS Teams for collaboration;
• Experience with eVA or other state-managed procurement systems;
• Knowledge of financial management specific to university auxiliary functions (e.g., housing, dining, etc.);
• Knowledge of VA Department of Accounts;
• Knowledge of P-card, eVA procurement and/or travel/expense reimbursement processes;
• Ability to act as a strategic financial partner to the AD-FBS and CHO by delivering data-driven insights and creating financial reports to inform business decisions; and
• Familiarity with MS Access databases and pivot tables.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the HRL Business and 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 and resume for review.

Posting Open Date:  October 6, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  October 20, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes

About George Mason University

George Mason University is a public, comprehensive, research university established by the Commonwealth of Virginia located in Northern Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. Mason was initially founded as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1949, and became an independent institution in 1972. George Mason University is an innovative and inclusive academic community committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous world.

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