Associate Director for Finance

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Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Finance Associate Director (B)

Job Summary:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering (COE) Finance & Administrative office provides leadership, management and oversight of the college’s budget, finance, human resources, payroll/benefits, and facilities that enable the strategic goals and mission of the CoE. The college consists of eight academic departments and 40+ research centers, which along with the Dean’s Office, has 3000 faculty, academic staff, university staff, employees in training, graduate, and undergraduate employees and an annual budget of $313M from multiple funding sources. On an annual basis, the CoE receives funding from multiple sources including General Purchase Revenue (GPR), tuition & fees, fee-for-service activities, service based programs, UW Foundation Gifts, Federal Grants and Industrial Grants. As a result, the CoE has complex financial and budgeting needs that require oversight, coordination, and forecasting.

The Associate Director for Finance is a key team member of the COE Finance & Administrative Office, providing budget and financial support for academic and non-academic support units across the college. Reporting to the College of Engineering Associate Dean for Finance & Administration, this position will work collaboratively with other members of the Finance team, college leadership, and department and unit administrators.

The position works closely with the Associate Dean for Finance & Administration to develop financial reports, budgets, and forecasts to support the academic and non-academic units. The position will be responsible for establishing financial controls to manage resources effectively and in accordance with applicable policies and procedures. This position performs responsible professional budgeting practices requiring the knowledge and application of budget and accounting theories and principles for the College of Engineering. This position involves a variety of fiscal management, accounting and budgeting activities including: monitoring and coordination of the annual budget process, coordination of fiscal year end closing, future financial planning and projections, monitoring budget to actual expenditures, recommending action on various budget and forecasting questions, and ensuring the financial plan of the college aligns with the College Strategic Plan Framework. This position will supervise two key members of the finance team.

The ideal candidate must provide excellent customer service and be able to represent and communicate financial data to broad audiences. The candidate must be proactive, with a focus on communication, training, and continuous improvement in the areas of budget and financial management. Successful candidates will exhibit strong communication and interpersonal skills and be able to build trusting relationships with multiple stakeholders at all levels of the organization. The successful candidate will implement initiatives through coalition-building, often exercising influence without direct authority. This position requires demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret complex financial data using a variety of software tools and ERP systems. Including activity-based and metric based budget modeling experience. The successful candidate will also know how to prioritize multiple workflows demands, coordinate backup support across departments and the dean’s office, possess the ability to determine priorities, work independently, and serve as a subject matter expert. The Associate Director for Finance must have strong analytical and problem-solving skillset, be dependable, trusted, and think critically.

Additional Information:

Remote work eligibility:

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. The anticipated hybrid work schedule will be up to 2 days remote, with 3 days onsite after an initial 3 month training period which will require working 5 days on site.

Please be aware that successful applicants are 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 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 would have to provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.

The College of Engineering is not an E-Verify employer and therefore we cannot accept F-1 OPT STEM Extensions for employment eligibility.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• 10% Exercises 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 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

• 25% Plans, schedules and directs financial operations, budgets, allocations and compensation plans for a specific fiscal work unit.

• 25% Participates in the development, maintenance, and monitoring of automated financial information systems and accounts and ledgers for multiple functional areas.

• 5% Implements the unit personnel resource allocation plan including hiring, training, supervision, and resolution of personnel issues.

• 5% Develops and monitors gift funds to ensure resources are utilized effectively and within the intent of the donor.

• 5% Directs the solicitation, review, and awarding of funds from grant programs and integrated research projects occasionally.

• 25% Recommends, interprets, disseminates and implements unit-focused fiscal policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with established rules, regulations and financial guidelines.

Department:

College of Engineering, Department of Fiscal Affairs

Compensation:

The starting salary for the position is $125,000, but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications. 

Required Qualifications:

• High level budget or financial experience
• Experience preparing budgets, financial reports, and spreadsheets
• Experience interpreting and analyzing financial data.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive years of budget or financial experience.
• Higher education experience.
• Workday experience.
• Staff supervisory experience
• General knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, University, State, Federal and/or Non-federal rules and regulations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills as well as ability to independently determine priorities.
• Skills in computer applications (ERP systems, spreadsheets, pivot tables, databases).Experience with activity-based and metric based budget modeling.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability and willingness to learn and adapt to new systems.
• Ability to develop and provide training is preferred
  
  

Education:

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field is preferred.

How to Apply:

Please go to the “Apply Now” area and select your current UW Employment Status. Applicants are required to upload a resume and a cover letter outlining relevant qualifications and experience as it pertains to the required and preferred qualifications outlined in this job posting. Your cover letter should address how your training and experience aligns with the required and preferred qualifications listed above.

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.

Contact Information:

Adam Whitehorse, adam.whitehorse@wisc.edu, 608-890-4668

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information. 

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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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