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 and Work Arrangements Hours are generally 8:00 am–4:30 pm, 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) and successful candidates must provide their own high‑speed internet and phone to use a university‑provided computer. Per university policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not reimbursable and will be at the employee’s expense. 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 rules, 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 and Benefits The starting salary for this position is $90,000 annually. 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; and 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 preparation, 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. A field of finance, business, administration, or a related field is preferred. 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 serve as students, faculty, and staff. Equal Opportunity Employer The University of Wisconsin‑Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard 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. Contact Information College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), Human Resources Manager, Erin Cook – View email address on click.appcast.io College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), HR Generalist, Stefanie Lannoye – View email address on click.appcast.io #J-18808-Ljbffr