Business Analyst

George Mason University; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

George Mason University’s Housing and Residence Life is seeking a Business Analyst to serve as a liaison between Residential Services Assignments and HRL Finance. The role focuses on accurate occupancy data and billing flow, plus monthly reconciliations and audit support.

The position reports to the Director of Housing Residence Life Finance and Business Services, collaborating with IT and other finance personnel to ensure revenues are accurate and compliant with university regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office products and proficiency in Excel.
• Demonstrated experience applying financial concepts in a professional setting, including budgeting principles, revenue tracking, and account reconciliation processes.
• Experience developing, documenting, and presenting financial or operational data.
• Experience creating reports for leadership use to support revenue forecasting and data-informed decision making.
• Experience in leading teams or managing projects in a professional setting, including coordination and oversight.
• Ability to create and present material that simplifies complex concepts for clear audience understanding.

Responsibilities

• Ensures accurate timing and processing of data transmissions related to room rental billing to ensure consistency in data reporting.
• Supports data accuracy efforts within the occupancy management platform by generating reports and reviewing data integrity.
• Collaborates with HRL IT and Residential Services staff to provide support for the housing management system from a financial perspective; troubleshoots issues and drafts manuals as needed.
• Advises leadership on impact of business processes and recommends adjustments per payment and contractual processes in HRL room rental apps.
• Reviews and improves HRL's occupancy and financial reporting systems; documents practices and supports automation for efficiency.
• Creates financial occupancy reporting to illustrate occupancy impact on HRL budget and trends.
• Maintains knowledge of system changes via professional development and related training.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Excel

Data analysis

Communication

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

StarRez

Banner

MicroStrategy

QuickBooks

Job description

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 visasponsorship

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary range starting in the mid $60k's;commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department

Housing and Residence Life (HRL) is a self-supporting auxiliaryorganization within the University Life unit of George MasonUniversity. HRL serves a highly diverse population of approximately6,200 students, the majority of which are undergraduates living in40 traditional, suite, and apartment-style residence halls in threecampuses within the vibrant Northern Virginia area. HRL employsover 170 full-time and graduate staff members and over 350undergraduate student staff members. HRL is committed to providinga safe, well-maintained student-centered environment that isinnovative and all-inclusive of the global community. It isdedicated to creating a home that enriches the experiences of ourstudents, staff, and faculty.

About the Position

The Business Analyst (BA) position serves as a liaison between theResidential Services Assignments team and Housing Residence LifeFinance team ensuring the accurate flow of residential studentoccupancy and billing data reflects on Mason finance systems. TheBusiness Analyst utilizes the occupancy management platform tosupport data integrity, billing accuracy, and occupancy managementprocesses. This position provides various monthly reconciliationsfor auditor reviews and develops revenue recognition solutions asneeded. The Business Analyst also serves as the initial HousingResidence Life point of contact for audit coordination andcompliance reporting at Mason and other state audit processes, andworks collaboratively with departmental, divisional, and universityfinance personnel to ensure Housing Residence Life's revenues areaccurate and aligned with university financial regulations. Thisposition reports to the Director of Housing Residence Life Financeand Business Services and serves as a liaison to the Director ofResidential Services in matters related to finance.

Responsibilities

Management, System and Data Analysis

• Ensures accurate timing and processing of data transmissionsrelated to room rental billing to ensure consistency in datareporting;
• Supports data accuracy efforts within the occupancy managementplatform by generating reports and reviewing data integrity;
• Collaborates and communicates with HRL IT and ResidentialServices staff to provide support for the housing management systemfrom a financial perspective; troubleshoots technical issues andidentifies needs within the system following establishedguidelines, creates manuals as needed, and implements long termplans for system improvements as appropriate;
• Advises the Chief Housing Officer (CHO), Director ofResidential Services, and Director of HRL Finance and BusinessServices on the impact of business processes and makesrecommendations for adjustments as needed according to payment andcontractual processes in the HRL room rental application; includesconsideration of historical contractual and occupancy changes andreview of proposed changes to identify and address potentialprocessing issues or financial concerns;
• Reviews, analyzes, and identifies areas for improvement forHRL's occupancy and financial reporting systems, documents currentpractices, and supports automation initiatives to enhanceefficiency, accuracy, and data consistency;
• Conducts ad hoc analysis to investigate ongoing or singularoperational issues and adjusts HRL processes in accordance withevolving institutional practices as needed;
• Creates informative, actionable and repeatable financialoccupancy reporting to illustrate occupancy impact on the HRLbudget and highlight relevant business trends and opportunities forimprovement;
• Stays informed on changes to the housing management systemthrough proactive professional development and attendance ofrelated conference and training opportunities; and
• In collaboration with the Assistant Director of Assignments& Applications Specialist, the Summer Operations BusinessManager, and IT unit, develops and maintains financial systemworkflows, reporting tools, and dashboards to support thecontracting, invoicing, payment, and posting/reconciling of Summerrevenues from external clients to the university’s centralfinancial management system; provides support and guidance forsystem transitions to Summer Operations colleagues.

Finance

• Performs monthly revenue reconciliations between databases toidentify discrepancies in room rental revenues for the academicyear and summer operations, and ensures proper documentation foraudit purposes;
• Generates and distributes manual invoices for external groupsutilizing Mason’s spaces for summer camps and conferences andfollows up accordingly to ensure payments are received and postedaccurately;
• Coordinates with HRL Summer Operations colleagues to supportaccurate and timely client billing and payment postings in theuniversity’s central financial management system, ensuringfinancial accuracy and enabling efficient revenue collection;
• Collaborates with Mason Financial Planning and Analysis staffto help update coding in the Mason General Ledger Interface File,ensuring correct revenue postings from the housing managementplatform system to the university’s central financial managementsystem;
• Supports the Director of HRL Finance and Business Services inmonthly revenue forecasting and contributes to the preparation ofHRL modeling for academic year (AY) room rate adjustments andfiscal year (FY) revenue budgets to inform strategic financialplanning, ensure alignment with institutional goals; generates,updates, and presents the HRL Revenue Forecast Report for review bythe CHO and Director of HRL Finances and Business Services;
• Gathers and updates HRL Operational Capacity data fromResidential Services colleagues for use in revenue modeling;creates and documents financial processes related to revenuereconciliation, auditing, and reporting to comply with internal andstate policy;
• Responsible for reconciliation of summer and academic yearrevenues, ensuring compliance with policy and procedure inaccordance with standards set by leadership and auditors; and
• Develops and maintains proficiency in Mason’s financial systemsand departmental accounting software through ongoing training toensure accurate financial processing, effective reporting, andalignment with institutional standards.

Audit Management

• Coordinates HRL’s contributions to Mason’s annual compliancereporting process by supporting internal partners in distributingrequests and gathering stakeholder responses. Compiles andorganizes audit responses for review by the CHO and/or otherleadership, to ensure regulatory compliance, operationaltransparency, and readiness for institutional audits;
• Initiates the audit process for updating the HRL website andhousing management platform system with annual proposed andapproved room rates by assisting with document preparation,stakeholder review and signoff, and audit filing under supervision,to ensure accuracy, transparency, and compliance with institutionaland regulatory requirements;
• Responsible for managing internal and external auditingrequests to support compliance, ensure accurate financialreporting, and maintain accountability in HRL operations; Providestimely and accurate response to auditors by assembling requesteddata and process documentation, following guidance from the CHOand/or other leadership;
• Assists reviewing operational processes and procedures tosupport quality assurance efforts; and
• Provides leadership to colleagues within HRL to implementauditing best practices and maintain compliance with establishedstandards.

Unit and Division Support/Service

• Supports and adheres to all University policies, HRLregulations, and departmental goals to promote compliance andaccountable work environment;
• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with otherUniversity departments including Student Accounts, Fiscal Services,Cash Office/Treasury Services, and offices within University Lifeby assisting in a collaborative environment to enhancecommunication and foster teamwork;
• Assists with other duties assigned by the supervisor, CHO, ordivisional leadership, demonstrates flexibility in supporting teamobjectives, and actively participates in department meetings,planning initiatives, and special projects;
• Activelyparticipatesin UL divisional meetings, initiatives,andin-personevents to stay connected with divisional andinstitutional priorities, and to foster a cross-unitcollaboration;
• Prepares manuals and training materials for new forms, reports,procedures, or software to ensure consistent understanding andeffective use by staff;
• Tracks the functionality of newly implemented systems orprocedures to ensure they are operating effectively; and
• Communicates proactively regarding unexpected issues withinHRL, escalating to leadership as needed and proposing solutions tosupport timely resolutions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent combination ofeducation and experience;
• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office products andproficiency in Excel;
• Demonstrated experience applying financial concepts in aprofessional setting, including budgeting principles, revenuetracking, and account reconciliation processes;
• Experience developing, documenting, and presenting financial oroperational data;
• Experience creating reports for leadership use to supportrevenue forecasting and drive data-informed decision making;
• Experience in leading teams or managing projects in aprofessional setting, including coordination, oversight, andresponsibility for achieving defined outcomes;
• Ability to create and present material that simplifies complexconcepts for clear audience understanding, including creatingdetailed written materials and synthesizing workflows;
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills to coordinatetasks across functional areas and interact with a variety ofstakeholders;
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing priorities andenvironments, with a commitment to continuous learning and theability to quickly acquire and apply new processes, systems, andtools;
• Ability to work independently and take initiative; and
• Ability to navigate multiple technologies and financial systemsto build reports, transfer data between platforms, and ensureaccuracy through understanding of system interconnectivity and datafilters.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Prior experience with financial systems including Banner,MicroStrategy, TouchNet and/or QuickBooks;
• Prior experience using StarRez housing management software orother occupancy management software;
• Experience using Agency Risk Management and Internal ControlStandards (ARMICS) compliance reporting system;
• Professional experience in higher education, especially withinHousing & Residence Life; and
• Knowledge of general accounting principles, financial reportingstandards, and the structure and function of accountingsystems.

Mason Ad Statement

George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 researchuniversity committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperousworld. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largestand most diverse public research university in Virginia, offeringdegree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,along with certificates and credentials.

George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment forstudents, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. Webelieve in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancingour mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; andwe believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity oforigin, identity, circumstance, and thought.

Equity Statement

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative actionemployer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in itscommunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration foret employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability orveteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

Campus Safety Information

Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/