Finance Manager, Center for Global Engagement

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

James Madison University invites applications for a Finance Manager in the Center for Global Engagement. The role leads financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and analysis, and acts as a key advisor to CGE leadership on resource planning and priorities.

The position oversees CGE-wide fiscal operations, collaborates with central offices, and supervises the CGE Finance Support Specialist to ensure accurate, compliant financial processes.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets and financial operations with accuracy and accountability.
• Ability to perform financial analysis, forecasting, reporting, and scenario planning for leadership.
• Strong knowledge of financial policies and procedures in a university or similarly regulated environment.
• Experience supervising staff responsible for fiscal or administrative processes.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building with senior leaders and cross-functional partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual and multi-year financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, analysis, and reporting for CGE.
• Advise CGE leadership translating financial data into actionable recommendations.
• Develop financial models and tools to support planning and decision-making.
• Oversee internal controls, procurements, travel, and contracts within CGE boundaries.
• Supervise and develop the CGE Finance Support Specialist and ensure efficient financial operations.

Skills

Budget management

Financial analysis

Forecasting

Excel

Financial policies

Tools

PeopleSoft

Chrome River

eVA

Job description

Working Title: Finance Manager, Center for Global Engagement

State Role Title:Financial Services Specialist II

Position Type:Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status:Full-Time

FLSA Status:Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division:Center for Global Engagement

Department:100148 - CGE Administration

Pay Band:5

Pay Rate:Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount:$60,000-$62,100

Is this a JMU only position?No

Is this a grant-funded position?No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position?No

Beginning Review Date:11/12/2026

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 Center for Global Engagement (CGE) works across James Madison University and around the world to advance global learning, study abroad, international student and scholar support, international partnerships, and other programs that connect JMU with people and organizations globally. CGE’s work involves a complex mix of funding sources, international and domestic vendors, travel, contracts, student and faculty programming, and financial activity that often requires careful analysis, flexibility, and creative problem-solving within university and state requirements.

CGE is seeking a Finance Manager to provide financial leadership and oversight across the Center. This position serves as CGE’s lead fiscal resource and financial advisor, with responsibility for financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, analysis, policy guidance, and oversight of CGE-wide fiscal operations. The Finance Manager works closely with CGE leadership and unit teams to translate financial information into practical recommendations and ensure resources are managed accurately, responsibly, and in support of CGE’s mission and priorities.

The Finance Manager also serves as an important connection between CGE and financial partners across JMU. The position participates in university finance forums and networks, builds relationships with central financial offices and fiscal colleagues, and brings relevant policy changes, best practices, and resource opportunities back to CGE. The Finance Manager supervises the CGE Finance Support Specialist and helps establish efficient, sustainable financial processes across the Center.

Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Planning, Analysis, and Leadership

• Lead annual and multi-year financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, analysis, and reporting for CGE, including Education & General (E&G), auxiliary, grant, local, self-supporting, and other accounts.
• Maintain and communicate a comprehensive view of CGE’s financial position, commitments, available resources, risks, and opportunities.
• Advise CGE leadership by translating financial data and institutional requirements into clear recommendations related to resource planning, staffing, programs, initiatives, and longer-term priorities.
• Develop financial models, scenarios, reports, and other tools to support planning and help leadership evaluate the financial impact of proposed decisions.
• Identify financial risks, emerging resource needs, efficiencies, and potential funding opportunities and bring recommendations forward for consideration.
• Collaborate with CGE directors and unit fiscal or operations leads on shared, cross-unit, and institutionally funded financial activity.
• Partner regularly with Study Abroad Operations & Finance to monitor revenue, transfers, commitments, and other financial activity that affects CGE-wide resources and incorporate those resources into CGE planning, forecasting, and reporting.

Fiscal Management and Compliance

• Serve as CGE’s primary internal resource for navigating university, state, and federal financial policies and procedures, including procurement, SPCC, travel, reimbursements, payments, contracts, funding sources, and related fiscal processes.
• Develop, document, and continuously improve CGE financial procedures, internal controls, approval workflows, fiscal calendars, and training resources.
• Oversee and approve departmental financial activity within assigned authority, with particular attention to complex, unusual, high-risk, or exception-based transactions.
• Ensure accurate and timely account reconciliations, financial records, reporting, and supporting documentation across assigned CGE accounts and operations.
• Maintain audit readiness and coordinate responses to fiscal reviews, audit requests, and compliance questions.
• Provide financial consultation and guidance related to contracts, vendor relationships, international payments, travel, purchasing, and other complex activities supporting CGE programs and operations.
• Review financial implications of personnel and payroll activity as assigned and coordinate with Operations, Human Resources, and other university partners.
• Provide hands‑on fiscal support and approvals when needed to ensure timely and accurate financial operations.

University Engagement and Financial Resources

• Represent CGE in university finance forums, trainings, working groups, and professional networks.
• Build strong relationships with fiscal leaders and colleagues across JMU and serve as a primary liaison with offices such as Academic Resources, Budget Management, the University Business Office, Procurement, International Accounting, Accounts Payable, and Cash and Investments.
• Provide context regarding CGE’s financial and operational needs and the complexity of global engagement activities in university financial discussions and planning.
• Monitor relevant policy changes, emerging practices, and approaches used by other university units and bring useful information and ideas back to CGE leadership.
• Benchmark financial processes and practices across JMU and, when useful, peer institutions to identify opportunities to strengthen efficiency, controls, and resource planning.
• Monitor changes in financial systems, policies, and institutional priorities and help CGE prepare for and implement those changes effectively.

Supervision and Operational Coordination

• Supervise, train, and develop the CGE Finance Support Specialist, including establishing priorities, workflows, service expectations, and appropriate cross‑training.
• Provide functional direction and fiscal training to other administrative staff, graduate assistants, or student employees who support financial processes, as assigned.
• Coordinate delegation and coverage of routine fiscal responsibilities to ensure work is completed accurately and on time.
• Provide financial and compliance review for CGE contracts with third‑party providers and coordinate with appropriate university offices.
• Approve Chrome River pre‑approvals and other financial transactions within assigned authority and provide higher‑level review of complex travel and expenditure questions.
• Review and approve university employees’ international travel requests as assigned and provide guidance on related financial and policy requirements.
• Partner closely with CGE Operations leadership to coordinate fiscal and administrative processes that cross functional areas and create efficient, sustainable workflows.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, financial operations, and financial systems with a high degree of accuracy, independence, and accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to perform financial analysis, forecasting, reporting, and scenario planning and translate financial information into clear recommendations for organizational leadership.
• Strong knowledge of, or demonstrated ability to interpret and apply, financial policies and procedures in a university, government, or similarly regulated environment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and navigate complex or ambiguous financial questions.
• Experience supervising, training, or providing functional leadership to staff responsible for fiscal or administrative processes.
• Strong relationship‑building and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with senior leaders, central offices, and cross‑functional partners.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, problem‑solving, and project‑management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a complex and fast‑moving environment.
• Proficiency with enterprise financial or business systems and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and related reporting tools.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Experience working in higher education, public‑sector finance, international education, global engagement, or another complex decentralized organization.
• Experience serving as a financial business partner or advisor to organizational leadership.
• Experience with contract management, procurement, SPCC or purchasing‑card administration, travel, reimbursements, audit preparation, and internal controls.
• Experience managing or supporting E&G, auxiliary, local, self‑supporting, grant, or other varied funding sources.
• Experience identifying process improvements and developing financial procedures, training resources, reports, dashboards, or other decision‑support tools.
• Familiarity with PeopleSoft, Chrome River, eVA, or comparable financial, procurement, and travel systems.
• Experience with international vendors, payments, travel, or other financial activity involving global operations.

Additional Posting Information

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.