James Madison University (JMU) is recruiting for a Student Financial, Data & Operational Support Assistant for Academic Affairs in 2026.
The part-time student employment opportunity pays $15.45 per hour and provides hands-on experience in financial reporting, budget management, data analysis, Power BI, Microsoft Excel, electronic workflows and administrative operations.
The position is particularly relevant to JMU students interested in business, data analysis, finance, accounting, information systems, public administration or higher education administration.
However, this is not a general entry-level vacancy open to applicants worldwide. One of the mandatory requirements is that applicants must be current JMU students in good academic standing.
Background and Job Description
The Student Financial, Data & Operational Support Assistant will work within James Madison University’s Academic Affairs Unit, specifically supporting the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.
The successful candidate will provide administrative, analytical and technical assistance to Academic Affairs leadership.
The position combines several areas of work, including:
- Budget management
- Financial reporting
- Data analysis
- Electronic workflows
- Records management
- Administrative support
According to the university, the student assistant will work closely with Academic Affairs staff to support fiscal transparency, reporting accuracy and process efficiency.
This makes the position particularly useful for students who want practical experience alongside their university studies.
Tasks and Responsibilities
The position includes responsibilities across finance, data analysis, reporting, electronic workflows and general administration.
Budget and Financial Support
The student assistant will help with budget tracking, monitoring and reconciliation.
Responsibilities include supporting the preparation of:
- Financial summaries
- Budget variance reports
- Periodic fiscal updates
- Budget worksheets
The successful candidate will use Excel and other approved tools to maintain budget information.
Another responsibility is helping ensure that fiscal information remains accurate and consistent across multiple funding sources.
Spreadsheet Development and Data Analysis
Data analysis is an important component of the position.
The student will develop, update and maintain spreadsheets used for:
Analysis, projections and reporting.
The successful candidate will also help clean and organize financial and operational information.
JMU specifically mentions the use of:
- Formulas
- Pivot tables
- Data validation techniques
These tools will be used to improve the accuracy and usability of data.
Students interested in becoming data analysts, financial analysts or business analysts could therefore gain practical experience through the position.
Power BI and Reporting
The opportunity also provides exposure to Microsoft Power BI.
The student assistant will support Academic Affairs Power BI dashboards through activities including:
- Data preparation
- Data validation
- Documentation
- Refreshing reports
- Verifying report outputs
- Identifying potential data-quality issues
The assistant may also help produce summary visualizations and tables for leadership review.
For students building careers in data analytics, this provides practical exposure to an enterprise reporting environment.
Adobe Sign and Electronic Workflows
Another responsibility involves supporting Adobe Sign and electronic workflows.
The student will help build, maintain and monitor Academic Affairs workflows involving documents such as:
- Fiscal approvals
- Agreements
- Routine forms
This provides experience with digital business processes and workflow management.
Electronic Records Management
The successful candidate will also help manage electronic files.
Responsibilities include organizing and naming files according to university and divisional standards.
The student may assist with migrating legacy documents into approved electronic storage systems.
Other responsibilities include supporting:
- File retention
- Accessibility
- Version control
- Consistent electronic recordkeeping
Administrative and Project Support
The role extends beyond finance and data.
The successful candidate will provide ad hoc analytical and administrative support for Academic Affairs projects.
This includes helping document processes, develop reference materials and improve operational workflows.
Because the position can involve sensitive financial and personnel information, the student must also maintain confidentiality.
Additional Operational Responsibilities
The student assistant will support several day-to-day office activities.
These include managing and organizing lost-and-found inventory, maintaining the Academic Affairs Hub/SharePoint site and helping ensure that online information remains accurate.
Other responsibilities include:
- Updating departmental procedure manuals
- Organizing office supply inventory
- Assisting with mail distribution
- Tracking packages
- Maintaining copier and printer supply inventories
The position therefore combines technical analytical experience with practical administrative operations.
Required Qualifications
Applicants must satisfy several mandatory requirements.
Current JMU Student
Candidates must be current James Madison University students in good academic standing.
This is one of the most important eligibility requirements.
Attention to Detail
Applicants must demonstrate strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Numerical Skills
Candidates should be capable of working with numerical information accurately and responsibly.
Microsoft Excel
Applicants need proficiency with basic Microsoft Excel, including:
- Basic formulas
- Formatting
- Data organization
Communication
Strong written and verbal communication skills are required.
Confidentiality
Candidates must also be able to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
Preferred Academic Background
JMU identifies several academic areas as particularly relevant.
A major or coursework in the following fields is preferred:
- Business
- Finance
- Accounting
- Analytics
- Information Systems
- Public Administration
- Related disciplines
These areas are listed as preferred rather than mandatory fields of study.
Preferred Technical Skills
Applicants with stronger technical skills may also have relevant experience for the position.
JMU lists intermediate to advanced Excel skills as preferred.
Examples include:
- Pivot tables
- Lookups
- Charts
Experience or coursework involving data visualization or Power BI is also preferred.
Familiarity with Adobe Sign or other electronic workflow tools can provide another relevant skill.
JMU additionally identifies an interest in higher education administration and financial operations as desirable.
Learning and Development Opportunities
One of the strongest features of this student position is its practical learning component.
JMU says the successful candidate can gain hands-on experience with university budget management and financial reporting processes.
The student can also gain exposure to enterprise technologies including:
Power BI for reporting and Adobe Sign for workflow automation.
Other learning opportunities include developing practical skills in:
- Data analysis
- Documentation
- Process improvement
The successful candidate will also gain direct experience supporting Academic Affairs leadership within a higher-education environment.
Salary: How Much Does the Job Pay?
The Student Financial, Data & Operational Support Assistant position pays:
$15.45 per hour.
The vacancy identifies the compensation structure as hourly.
This is a part-time institutional employment position rather than a full-time staff vacancy.
Is This a Full-Time Job?
No.
The position is officially classified as part-time and falls under Institutional Employment.
It is also classified as non-exempt and eligible for overtime under the applicable employment classification.
Students should consider how the working schedule fits alongside their academic responsibilities.
Who Can Apply?
This position has unusually clear student eligibility requirements.
Applicants must be:
Current JMU students in good academic standing.
In addition, the university states that student employees must be degree-seeking students enrolled at least half-time.
That means a minimum enrollment of:
- 6 credits for undergraduate students
- 5 credits for graduate students
Students who do not satisfy these enrollment requirements should not assume they are eligible.
Can International Students Apply?
The vacancy does not present this as an internationally recruited position.
All new hires must complete Form I-9 and provide documentation establishing their identity and eligibility to work in the United States.
James Madison University also uses E-Verify to confirm identity and employment authorization.
International JMU students should therefore determine whether their existing U.S. immigration and student-employment status permits them to accept this position.
The vacancy does not state that visa sponsorship is provided.
Job Location
The vacancy is associated with James Madison University in:
Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States.
JMU is located in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
The university describes Harrisonburg as a community of approximately 52,000 people, located around 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia.
About James Madison University
James Madison University is a public institution offering programmes across liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines.
The supplied vacancy states that JMU has approximately 21,000 undergraduate students and 1,800 graduate students, supported by more than 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.
The university offers programmes at undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels.
How to Apply
Candidates should apply through the official James Madison University recruitment platform.
Apply for the JMU Student Financial, Data & Operational Support Assistant Position
Before applying, students should ensure that they:
- Are currently enrolled at JMU.
- Are in good academic standing.
- Meet the minimum enrollment requirement.
- Can legally work in the United States.
- Have the required basic Excel skills.
- Can work accurately with numerical information.
- Can maintain confidentiality.
- Prepare application materials according to JMU’s instructions.
The vacancy was opened on August 31, 2026.
Application Deadline
The supplied vacancy does not state a specific closing date.
It also does not provide a beginning review date.
Interested eligible JMU students should therefore check the live vacancy and apply according to the university’s current recruitment instructions.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Employer | James Madison University |
| Job Title | Student Financial, Data & Operational Support Assistant |
| Year | 2026 |
| Department | Academic Affairs |
| Location | Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA |
| Position Type | Institutional Employment |
| Employment Status | Part-Time |
| Pay | $15.45 per hour |
| Current JMU Student Required | Yes |
| Good Academic Standing | Required |
| Minimum Undergraduate Enrollment | 6 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Enrollment | 5 credits |
| Excel | Required at basic level |
| Advanced Excel | Preferred |
| Power BI | Preferred |
| Adobe Sign | Preferred |
| U.S. Work Eligibility | Required |
| Date Opened | August 31, 2026 |
| Closing Date | Not stated |
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
The JMU student assistant position combines finance, data and administration rather than concentrating on only one area.
A student could gain practical experience working with budgets and financial reports while simultaneously improving their Excel and data-analysis capabilities.
Exposure to Power BI, Adobe Sign, SharePoint, financial reporting and university administrative processes could also provide useful experience for students considering careers in:
- Data analytics
- Financial analysis
- Accounting
- Business administration
- Information systems
- Public administration
- Higher education administration
The position also provides direct experience supporting senior Academic Affairs leadership.
Final Thoughts
The Student Financial, Data & Operational Support Assistant Job 2026 at James Madison University is a paid, part-time opportunity combining financial administration, data analysis and operational support.
The successful student will work with Excel, financial data, Power BI dashboards, electronic workflows, records and administrative processes, while earning $15.45 per hour.
However, this is a restricted student employment opportunity rather than a general U.S. vacancy.
Applicants must be current JMU students in good academic standing, and they must be degree-seeking students enrolled at least half-time.
For publication, a strong search-friendly headline is:
Student Financial & Data Support Assistant Job 2026 at James Madison University: Earn $15.45 Per Hour
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