Financial Operations Manager Jobs in Madison, WI

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Job Category:
Academic Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Financial Manager
Job Summary:
Working closely with departmental leadership, the individual advises on strategic financial decisions and risk management. This role partners and communicates directly with faculty on budget and sponsored research matters while supervising staff to ensure coordinated, compliant, and effective financial and research administration across the department.
The successful candidate will be a skilled leader and communicator with a strong financial background, able to function in a fast-paced, complex environment. Collaboration, prioritization of work, and problem-solving skills are critical for success.
This position provides strategic oversight of the department's research administration and financial operations. It supervises all pre- and post-award activities, ensuring proposals, awards, reporting, and compliance processes are accurate, timely, and aligned with federal, sponsor, and university requirements. The role includes oversight of complex mechanisms, including a T32 training grant, and monitoring of compliance and effort commitments across the department.
The position oversees departmental budgets across multiple non-sponsored funding sources, providing financial analysis, monitoring, and long-range planning to safeguard fiscal health. It directs the business operations of five revenue-producing facilities, including rate setting, compliance, and billing, and oversees purchasing processes to maintain strong internal controls and operational efficiency.
Hours are generally 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday--Friday. Hours are flexible and will be determined at the time of hire.
This position is eligible for partial remote work; or fully on-site. Remote work requires an approved remote work agreement (RWA) agreement. An RWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee.
Key Job Responsibilities:

• Analyzes financial information and makes recommendations to unit leadership

• Plans, directs, and engages in financial and/or accounting operations for multiple areas; coordinates data management, budget preparation and management, and financial reporting efforts

• Participates in the development, maintenance, and monitoring of automated financial information systems

• Recommends, interprets, disseminates, and implements unit-focused fiscal policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with established rule, regulations and financial guidelines

• Identifies, verifies, and audits financial charges, credits, and authorizes payments

• Serves as a subject matter expert to unit leadership regarding financial operations, status and reporting, and recommends process improvements

• May exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees

Department:
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), Department of Biochemistry-Administration
Compensation:
The starting salary for this position is listed at $90,000 annually, however, final salary will depend 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. Please review the summary of benefits for more information.
Required Qualifications:

• Significant work experience in financial operations for different types of accounts (such as sponsored federal projects, internal revenue-producing facilities, general revenue, etc.) across the full fiscal lifecycle, including budget prepation, disbursements, procurement services, reconciliation, etc.
• Experience working with financial and grant systems, tools, and platforms to manage financial data, perform transactions, audit/track/analyze data; (e.g., Workday, PeopleSoft, Smartsheet, eRA Commons, research.gov, MicroSoft Excel, etc.).
• Experience translating complex financial policies and procedures into actionable operational practices for diverse stakeholders.
• Significant experience managing direct reports or leading collaborative teams to successful project completion.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience applying UW, State, and Federal rules and regulations and/or experience managing finances within an institution of higher education.
• Proven ability to solve complex problems and make inclusive decisions that drive team alignment and collaboration.
• Significant experience in research administration with various sponsors (e.g. NIH, NSF, DOE, DOD, and non-federal entities).

Education:
Bachelor's Degree required
Field of finance, business, administration, or a related field preferred.
How to Apply:
Click on the "Apply Online" button to start the application process. You will be prompted to upload the following documents/application materials:

• Resume (required) - Detail your educational and professional background
• Cover letter (required) - Address each of the required and preferred qualifications as they relate to your work experience.

Finalists will be asked to provide contact information for three (3) references, including your current/most recent supervisor. References will not be contacted without prior notice.
It is important that your cover letter and resume reflect your experience for this position related to the Qualifications section. Your application materials will be used during our evaluation to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process
There is only one attachment field; please upload all application materials here. All listed application materials must be submitted for your application to be considered. Please submit only the materials specified; additional materials will not be reviewed.
The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States by the start of the appointment.
Contact Information:
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), Human Resources Manager, Erin Cook at erin.cook@wisc.edu
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), HR Generalist, Stefanie Lannoye at stefanie.lannoye@wisc.edu
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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.
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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 backgrounds and 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.
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