Finance and Operations Manager, The Graduate School (JMU Only)

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid leave

Health coverage

Retirement plan

Well-being program

Tuition waiver

Job summary

James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, seeks a Finance & Operations Manager for The Graduate School. The role oversees budgeting, graduate assistantships, HR processes, and business operations, reporting to the Dean and school leadership.

Independent work in a complex environment with confidential information is required. The position emphasizes financial management, strategic planning, and cross-department collaboration to ensure efficient operations and compliance with university and

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with complex financial management functions such as budgeting, reconciliation, forecasting, or financial analysis within higher education.
• Ability to manage administrative processes within a complex organization governed by policies and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, students, and senior university officials.
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Manage and monitor The Graduate School's operating, graduate assistantship, foundation, and other assigned budgets and accounts.
• Perform financial reconciliation, budget revisions, purchasing and expenditure review, travel processing, and other financial operations.
• Ensure financial transactions and business practices comply with university and Commonwealth requirements.
• Maintain accurate financial records and identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare financial reports, forecasts, and analyses for Graduate School leadership.
• Coordinate financial processes and deadlines across The Graduate School.
• Coordinate human resource functions for The Graduate School.
• Provide oversight of graduate assistant hiring processes administered through the Graduate Assistantship Coordinator.
• Interpret and apply applicable university HR policies and procedures.
• Ensure personnel processes are handled accurately, confidentially, and in accordance with university requirements.
• Support development and implementation of effective Graduate School business practices.
• Work collaboratively with university offices to resolve operational and administrative issues.
• Prepare recurring and ad hoc reports related to budgets, assistantships, enrollment, revenues, and other Graduate School operations.
• Maintain records necessary for financial planning, assistantship administration, and operational decision-making.
• Review information from university systems and reconcile discrepancies when needed.
• Provide accurate and timely information to the Dean, Graduate School leadership, graduate programs, and university offices.
• Assist in improving business processes and reporting practices.

Skills

Budgeting

Reconciliation

Forecasting

Financial analysis

Communication

Confidential information handling

Attention to detail

Tools

PeopleSoft Finance

Job description

Working Title: Finance and Operations Manager, The Graduate School (JMU Only)

State Role Title: Financial Services Specialist I

Position Type: Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt: Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: The Graduate School

Department: 100140 - Graduate School

Pay Band: 4

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $54,000 - $57,500

Is this a JMU only position? Yes. This is a JMU only recruitment, only current JMU employees are eligible to apply.

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 10/9/2026

About JMU:

At James Madison University (JMU), we’re more than just a publicly funded institution — we’re a vibrant, welcoming community located on a stunning campus where innovation, collaboration, and personal growth thrive. Our mission is to prepare students for a bright future, and we believe that starts with supporting the people who make it all possible: our employees.

Why Work at JMU?

• Generous Leave: Enjoy paid vacation, sick leave, parental leave, community service leave, and 19 paid holidays annually.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access high-quality health insurance options that fit your needs.
• Retirement Options: Plan for your future with retirement benefits through the Virginia Retirement System.
• Employee Well-Being: Our Balanced Dukes program promotes wellness and work-life integration through resources, events, and support.
• Tuition Waiver Program: Advance your education with our tuition waiver program for undergraduate and graduate courses taken at JMU.

At JMU, we believe in Being the Change — and that starts with creating an environment where you can grow, contribute meaningfully, and feel supported every step of the way.

Discover what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

General Information:

The Graduate School at James Madison University is seeking a Finance & Operations Manager to join its leadership and administrative team. This position plays a central role in managing the financial, graduate assistantship, human resource, and business operations of The Graduate School.

The Finance & Operations Manager works closely with the Dean, Graduate School leadership, graduate programs, Academic Affairs, Financial Aid, the University Budget Office, and other university partners. The successful candidate will be comfortable working independently in a complex organization, managing confidential information, interpreting policies and financial information, and ensuring that business operations are accurate, efficient, and responsive to institutional needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Financial Management and Budget Administration

• Manage and monitor The Graduate School's operating, graduate assistantship, foundation, and other assigned budgets and accounts.
• Perform financial reconciliation, budget revisions, purchasing and expenditure review, travel processing, and other financial operations.
• Ensure financial transactions and business practices comply with university and Commonwealth requirements.
• Maintain accurate financial records and identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare financial reports, forecasts, and analyses for Graduate School leadership.
• Coordinate financial processes and deadlines across The Graduate School.

Strategic Financial Planning

• Coordinate development of The Graduate School's annual budget in collaboration with the Dean and leadership team.
• Develop financial models, projections, and alternative scenarios to support resource planning.
• Analyze financial information and make recommendations concerning expenditures, funding allocations, payment rates, and future resource needs.
• Provide timely financial information to support leadership decisions.
• Monitor year-end balances and assist with short- and long-range budget planning.

Graduate Assistantship Administration

• Supervise and support the Graduate Assistantship Coordinator.
• Oversee financial and administrative processes associated with Graduate School-funded assistantships.
• Monitor assistantship expenditures, contracts, payments, and available balances.
• Work with Financial Aid, academic programs, colleges, and university offices to identify and resolve assistantship funding discrepancies.
• Develop projections of graduate assistantship resource needs and year-end balances.
• Serve as a resource regarding graduate assistantship financial policies and procedures.
• Support consistent implementation of assistantship policies and business practices across the university.

Human Resources and Business Operations

• Coordinate human resource functions for The Graduate School.
• Provide oversight of graduate assistant hiring processes administered through the Graduate Assistantship Coordinator.
• Interpret and apply applicable university HR policies and procedures.
• Ensure personnel processes are handled accurately, confidentially, and in accordance with university requirements.
• Support development and implementation of effective Graduate School business practices.
• Work collaboratively with university offices to resolve operational and administrative issues.

Financial and Operational Reporting

• Prepare recurring and ad hoc reports related to budgets, assistantships, enrollment, revenues, and other Graduate School operations.
• Maintain records necessary for financial planning, assistantship administration, and operational decision-making.
• Review information from university systems and reconcile discrepancies when needed.
• Provide accurate and timely information to the Dean, Graduate School leadership, graduate programs, and university offices.
• Assist in improving business processes and reporting practices.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with complex financial management functions such as budgeting, reconciliation, accounting, forecasting, or financial analysis within higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to manage administrative processes and work effectively within a complex organization governed by established policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, students, and senior university officials.
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Additional Considerations

• Experience with financial information systems such as PeopleSoft Finance or comparable enterprise systems.
• Advanced spreadsheet and financial modeling experience.
• Experience developing budgets, financial projections, and alternative financial scenarios.
• Experience with human resources policies and processes.
• Experience managing graduate assistantships, student employment, or comparable funding programs.
• Experience working in higher education or another large, complex organization.

Additional Posting Information:

The Graduate School leads and supports JMU's graduate education enterprise. Its work encompasses graduate admissions and enrollment, graduate assistantships, graduate policies and academic processes, student support, financial administration, and collaboration with graduate programs and colleges across the university.

The Graduate School seeks team members who demonstrate excellent customer service, professional communication, collaboration, innovation, sound stewardship of university resources, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

Conditions of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: [phone].

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at [phone] or [e-mail]. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.