LANGUAGE INSTITUTE FINANCIAL SPECIALIST

Job no: 250036-AS
Work type: Partial Remote, Staff-Full Time
Department: L&S/LANGUAGE INSTITUTE
Location: Madison
Categories: Accounting, Financial Operations, and Reporting



Job Summary:

Focus: Management of unit's budget, finance, and procurement; financial grant management

Position Summary: This position is responsible for budget, accounting, financial, and procurement management for the Language Institute, with a considerable attention devoted to the financial management of the unit's federal and other grants, including budget reconciliation and reporting, closely working with Research and Sponsored Programs, and originating and processing transactions. The Language Institute administers the Doctoral Program in Second Language Acquisition, manages the undergraduate Russian Flagship Program, has a strong federal grant portfolio, and leads other programs and activities.

The position functions under the direct supervision of the Language Institute's Associate Director.

Principal duties

Financial and procurement management (unit)
- Assists in the management of the unit's budget, accounts, payments, monitors fund balances and purchases and reconciles all expenses, while maintaining generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP); provides regular updates to unit faculty and staff.
- Prepares and updates complex financial statements, accounts, and reports for various finance needs within an automated financial system to ensure that all financial accounting complies with GAAP.
- Utilizing WISER transaction reporting system, manages and monitors unit-level accounting to track expenses for all department funds and grant funds, including 101, 131, 133, 135, 136, 144, 150, 161, and 233 funds, UW Foundation accounts, gift, and trust funds. Develops customized financial status reports for the unit and provides regular reporting on all accounts.
- Creates and maintains systems and protocols to monitor revenues and expenditures by utilizing the automated system and self-developed shadow accounting for each project and its funding.
- Initiates and manages salary and non-salary cost transfers, interdepartmental payments, and utilizes Shop@UW purchasing and payables system for direct payments, payments to individuals, checks and invoices, and procurement.
- Manages unit's purchases, department card, processes travel transactions and e-reimbursements.
- Processes fellowships and awards for graduate students; scholarships for undergraduate students.
- Acts as a unit resource for budget- and finance-related questions. Interprets complex payment policies and procedures for payment to internal and external parties. Advises unit faculty and staff.
- Performs other related duties and special projects as assigned by the Language Institute leadership.

Financial and procurement management (grants)
- Assists with the preparation of budgets for federal and other grants.
- Manages complex federal grant budget, budget trends and financial commitments.
- Prepares and submits grant budget and financial reports, following requirements of federal and other external funders, while meeting pre- and post-award institutional guidelines and procedures.
- Provides training and financial guidance for PI's, project coordinators and other project faculty and staff on financial policies and procedures that are unique to each project budget, its rules, and regulations.
- Audits grant expenditures, including invoices, requisitions, and reimbursement requests by adhering to Federal, State, University, and L&S policies and procedures.
- Provides advice to project staff regarding rate of spending, personnel and other commitments, projected balances/deficits.
- Reviews allocation/expenditure patterns and recommend course of action or corrective measures as necessary.

About the Job:

Financial Specialist III (FN008)

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.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Education:

Required
Bachelor's Degree
Finance or accounting degree or equivalent experience in finance, accounting, or related role required.

Qualifications:

At least one year of professional experience in preferably higher education is required.

This position requires a high level of attention to detail and accuracy and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with stakeholders from varied backgrounds. It is important for the colleague in this position to be professional, dependable and flexible with shifting tasks, priorities, and deadlines; be able to prioritize workload in order to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively, as well as have a strong desire to learn in order to efficiently and proficiently engage with complex institutional systems.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office computer software, especially with Microsoft Excel is required.

Knowledge of higher education financial policies, procedures, tools and systems, and sponsored grants management is preferred.

COVID-19 Considerations:

UW-Madison continues to follow necessary health and safety protocols to protect our campus from COVID-19. All employees remain subject to the COVID-19 Workplace Safety Policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-5086 . Please visit https://covidresponse.wisc.edu for the most up-to-date information.

Department(s):

A486200-COL OF LETTERS & SCIENCE/LANGUAGE INSTITUTE

Work Type:

Full Time: 100%

This position requires 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.

Appointment Type, Duration:

Ongoing/Renewable

Salary:

Minimum $39,400 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications

How to Apply:

Please click on the "" button to start the application process.

To apply for this position, you will need to upload a cover letter, resume and contact information for at least three professional references, including your current supervisor. References will not be contacted without advance notice.

Your cover letter should address your qualifications as they pertain to the qualifications listed above.

Contact:

Jana Martin
jcmartin4@wisc.edu
608-890-4585
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1 (out-of-state: TTY: 800.947.3529, STS: 800.833.7637) and above Phone number (See RELAY_SERVICE for further information. )





Official Title:

Financial Specialist III(FN008)

Employment Class:

Academic Staff-Renewable

Job Number:

250036-AS

The University of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/

Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding 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 .

Applications Open: Jan 21 2022 Central Standard Time
Applications Close: Feb 4 2022 11:55 PM Central Standard Time