Accounting Associate Jobs in Columbus, WI (NOW HIRING)

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Job Category: Academic Staff
Employment Type: Regular
Job Profile: Accountant I
Job Summary:
Under the direction and supervision of the SMPH Associate Director of Finance, the Accountant I provides financial management and transaction processing support for SMPH departments. This position serves as the primary resource for departmental activities related to financial reporting, transaction processing, and providing expert guidance on UW-Madison's financial policies. The incumbent will be part of a team of accountants supporting multiple departments within SMPH.
Additional position details:

• This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.After the candidate has successfully passed the probationary period of 12 months, some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work locationup to 2 days per week.

Success in this role requires the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Accounting Expertise

• Ability to effectively apply core accounting principles, including double-sided accounting entries and accrual-based accounting.

Analytical Thinking & Problem-solving

• Ability to problem-solve or escalate toappropriate partiesbased on severity, complexity, or urgency of a situation.

Communication & Customer Support

• Effective written and verbal communication skills to serve as a consultative point of contact and advise on financial policies and procedures.
• Ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintain them over time.

Financial Reporting & Process Management

• Strong attention to detail to ensure accurate recording and reporting of financial transactions
• Adaptability to effectively manage individual workload through shifting priorities to meet deadlines.

Transaction Processing and Compliance

• Ability to interpret and apply UW policies and procedures for accurate and compliant transaction processing.

Candidates who additionally demonstrate the following will be given first consideration:

• Knowledge of post award management requirements and processes to monitor expenditures on sponsored funding and assist with award/grant closeout.
• Ability to analyze financial data, trends, and business needs to contribute to strategic financial management, budgeting, and expense planning.
• Ability to collaborate with peers, management, and stakeholders to maintain financial dashboards for PIs.
• Knowledge of standard budgeting and financial projection methods.
• Proficiency in processing journal entries, non-salary and salary cost transfers, billing, purchasing, and reimbursement transactions within UW financial systems (Workday, WISER, UW Purchasing, etc).

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Post Award Management

• Answers questions and provides accounting related information to internal and external stakeholders according to established policies and procedures

• Prepares and analyzes financial data, reports and records, identifies discrepancies, investigates, recommends, and implements basic solutions as needed

• Assists in preparing budgets and financial projections

• Assists with accounting and reviewing reconciliations, journal entries, schedules, and reports

• Prepares and/or approves financial transactions and payments

• Organizes, prepares, and updates basic financial statements, monthly and year-end journal entries, accounts, ledgers, and reports for various financial needs within an automated financial system to ensure accurate recording and reporting of financial transactions

Department:
School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Administration - Fiscal Affairs
The Office of Fiscal Affairs provides fiscal and administrative support to more than 50 departments, centers, institutes and administrative units within the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. The office also provides assistance for a variety of funding types, including school funding, grants, gifts and recharge funds.
Compensation:
The starting salary for the position is $55,500 annually; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to thecampus benefitswebpage and theSMPH FAASLI Benefits Flyer 2026.
Required Qualifications:

• At least two years of professional experience in Accounting, Finance, or BusinessAdministration
• Experience with double-sided accounting entries and accrual-based accounting
• Experience utilizing Microsoft Office software, specifically Excel and/or other comparable financial management technologies, to maintain accurate and compliant financial records.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience processing financial transactions and/or reports with Workday.
• Experience working with WISER, UW purchasing and other UW financial systems
• Experience in Research Administration

Education:

• Minimum Associate's Degree preferred; focus in Accounting preferred

How to Apply:
For the best experience completing your application, we recommend using Chrome or Firefox as your web browser.
To apply for this position, select either "I am a current employee" or "I am not a current employee" under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.
Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the following documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area. Failure to submit the required documents will result in no longer being considered for the position.

• Cover letter (required)
• Resume(required)

Your cover letter should address how your training and experience aligns with the Required and Preferred Qualifications listed above. Please specifically provide examples from your experience that demonstrate each of the following:

• How your relevant experience in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration will contribute to success in this role;
• How you have applied double-sided accounting entries and accrual-based accounting principles in your professional work;
• How you have used Microsoft Office, specifically Excel and/or other comparable technologies, in your processes or workflows to monitor, identify, investigate, or resolve discrepancies in financial reports.

Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to determine which applicants move forward in the process. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified once the search concludes and a candidate is selected
University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship and TN visas. The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility. If you are selected for this position, you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.
The department will not be able to support a request for a J-1 waiver. If you choose to pursue a waiver and apply for our position, neither the UW nor UWMF will reimburse you for your legal or waiver fees.
Contact Information:
Aisha Liebenow,liebenow@wisc.edu
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. SeeRELAY_SERVICEfor further information.
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodationfor any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying to.Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.