Budget & Financial Data Analyst

Cooperative Education; Fairfax (VA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

George Mason University is seeking a Financial Services Specialist 1 in Fairfax, VA, to support budget modeling, forecasting, and financial reporting. The role reports to the Manager of Data Analytics and involves developing models, validating data, and creating dashboards for leadership.

The position requires a relevant bachelor’s degree with 2+ years in data analysis or finance operations, proficiency in MS Office, and familiarity with budgeting systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years in data analysis, accounting, budgeting or finance operations.
• Experience with ERP accounting or budgeting systems and reporting tools.
• Strong MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint proficiency.
• Analytical, research, technical and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Supports development of strategic financial modeling for budget development and forecasting.
• Performs financial analyses for forecasting, trend and variance analysis.
• Designs and develops financial dashboards with KPIs.
• Ensures budget data integrity and documents reports and analyses for leadership.

Skills

Data analysis

Accounting

Budgeting

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Ellucian Banner

MicroStrategy

SQL

ERP systems

Job description

Department: Fiscal Services

Classification: Financial Svcs 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 commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Financial Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

Provide fiscal services to the university, promoting financial best practices, forming strategic partnerships, establishing efficient systems, and pursuing continuous improvement. Create and maintain a sustainable financial framework and strong internal controls to promote sound fiscal management, careful stewardship of university resources, and accountability. Foster innovation to support Mason’s overall mission by employing new methods to deliver financial services and collaborating on process improvements and new initiatives. Provide accurate and timely financial data to ensure comprehensive reporting, compliance, and analysis to enable strategic decision-making.

About the Position:

This position reports the Manager of Data Analytics by providing support for multiple business processes including budget model development, forecasting models/methodologies, and report development.

Responsibilities:

Financial Modeling, Analysis & Reporting

• Supports the development of strategic financial modeling for budget development, and forecasting, financial analysis, data validation and report creation;
• Performs financial analyses for forecasting, trend analysis and variance analysis. Assists in the design and development of financial dashboards that include key performance indicators;
• Ensures the integrity of budget data through continuous monitoring, identifying and proposing changes to business processes and data structure to enhance reporting, performing analysis to troubleshoot and resolve data issues, and maintaining appropriate documentation and version control of key reports/analyses supporting submissions to leadership, board of visitors, and the Commonwealth; and
• Provides training on budgeting/forecasting analytical tools and models as well as underlying data or calculations.

Performs other related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Demonstrated professional experience in data analysis, accounting, budget or finance operations in a large complex organization (typically two or more years); or longer tenure with increased responsibility in a smaller organization;
• Accounting training/experience, such as reconciliation, reporting, budget management;
• Experience with ERP accounting and/or budget systems and reporting tools;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point; and
• Exhibit good analytical, research, technical, and presentation (oral/written) skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Experience in higher ed institution, public governmental institution, or other large complex organization;
• Experience with Ellucian Banner, MicroStrategy, SQL;
• Knowledge or Commonwealth budget practices/fund accounting; and
• Knowledge of Higher Education budgeting best practices.

Posting Open Date:August 26, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by:September 9, 2026

Open Until Filled:Yes