Department: Schar School of Policy and Government

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• Work closely with the Sr. Associate Dean for Administration and serve as a member of the leadership team of the Schar School in conceptualizing, developing, implementing and tracking long-term goals and plans, including growth projections and financial objectives to meet larger strategic goals;
• Propose ways to allocate funds and investments so as to maximize growth opportunities for the School; and
• Help to design the workforce for the future, including determining hiring needs, fostering inter-office collaboration, providing team members with growth opportunities and pathways, and promoting collaboration and community in a hybrid work environment.

• Develop, manage, and track E&G annual operating budgets at the School level and for various units/faculty within the School;
• Prepare detailed analysis of budget, including variances and projections, at various points throughout the year;
• Ensure that all Schar units/employees are effectively using, managing, and reconciling their own budgets;
• Ability to discuss aspects of the budget, with a wide variety of people within the Dean's Office, the Schar School, and Mason, in a clear and comprehensible manner;
• Develop and maintain appropriate internal controls for Schar School finances and fiscal policies;
• Ensure compliance with Federal, State, and University policies and procedures; and
• Responsible for oversight and management of workflow for all fiscal activities.

• Provide necessary inputs to OSP and faculty members when they develop budgets for proposals to be submitted. Assist others in a timely and proactive way, enabling them to oversee and manage the pre-award process;
• Create processes and policies to ensure most effective use of grant funding;
• Provide oversight and support of research grants and financial management for compliance with sponsor, university, state, and federal guidelines;
• Set up accounts for awards and coordinate with OSP to arrange subawards and make necessary payments to subcontractors and consultants;
• Review and approve funding for personnel reallocations and track project cost-share and PI effort requirements;
• Review awards that are projected to be overspent and work with PI to mitigate financial risk; and
• Manage reconciliations for PI review and approval. Ensure annual payroll certifications are reviewed, verified by PI, and submitted to OSP.

• Track and ensure that GMUF accounts are being spent appropriately, as to maximize their impact and to facilitate future gifts while also complying with gift agreements and all university and foundation rules and policies.

• Review all proposed contracts prior to submission to central procurement.

• Through ongoing consultation and support, ensure that senior leadership of the School fully understands the budget, how it can be used most effectively, potential financial risks facing the school, costs and benefits of various initiatives, and creative ways (from a financial perspective) of approaching and addressing challenges; and
• Provide staff and faculty throughout the Schar School with an understanding of the budget enabling them to maximize growth opportunities and do their jobs effectively and efficiently. This will require many one-on-one conversations as well as joint training sessions.

• Effectively communicate short- and long-term fiscal data, objectives, challenges and opportunities with wide range of stake-holders within Schar and within the broader Mason community, including Fiscal Services, Budget and Planning and the Provosts Office; and
• Collaborate with offices within Schar and within the broader Mason community to respond effectively to challenges, take advantage of opportunities, and achieve short- and long-term fiscal goals.

• Master's degree in finance, accounting, or related field, or equivalent work experience;
• Experience with managing budgets and finances in a university setting;
• Demonstrated experience in preparing, monitoring, reconciling, and analyzing past, current, and future budgets;
• Understanding of or experience with revenue and cost allocation models;
• Knowledge of accounting principles; and
• Deep understanding of federal and university grants management accounting politics and procedures.

• Experience with Elucian Higher Education Banner and Microstrategy software; and
• Advanced financial/accounting degree preferred.

Salary: Commensurate with education and experience.

Location: Arlington, VA

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