Job Description

Job Summary:
The Center for Dairy Research (CDR) is seeking a multi-purpose financial specialist to support a growing innovative unit on the UW-Madison campus. Housed in a new, state-of-the-art facility in Babcock Hall, CDR is the largest dairy foods research program in the US. The Center has over 60 full-time staff, supports graduate and undergraduate research, and provides technical and training support services to hundreds of dairy producers and processers around the globe.

The financial specialist will oversee and reconcile fund activity for over 20 grant funded research projects, operating funds from state and federal grant programs and revenue generating activities, and designated foundation funding. The position is critical to ensure compliance with campus policies, state law, and the uniform administrative requirements for federal awards. Other responsibilities will include managing accounts receivable and invoicing activities, approving expense reimbursements for staff and guests, and providing support to the procurement assistant. The financial specialist will be a member of a dynamic administrative team that provides guidance, organization, and oversight of essential CDR processes allowing our researchers, educators, production staff, and dairy industry experts to bring innovation, entrepreneurship, and education to the dairy industry.

The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) is committed to maintaining and growing a culture that embraces diversity, inclusion, and equity, believing that these values are foundational elements of our excellence and fundamental components of a positive and enriching learning and working environment for all students, faculty, and staff. At CALS, we acknowledge that bias, prejudice, racism, and hate have historically occurred in many forms that cause significant and lasting harm to members of our community. We commit to taking actions each day toward a college that is inclusive and welcoming to all.

Responsibilities:
Primarily reviews, approves, and advises on a variety of complex financial transactions. Reconciles transactions. Maintains financial records, provides administrative processing support, and provides customer service for staff and customers in an assigned program area to support program financial management. Recommends controls and process improvements and troubleshoots complex financial errors. May be a lead or resource for others in the unit.
20% Monitors financial transactions and fund balances and generates and reconciles complex reports and statements in accordance with established rules and regulations
20% Reviews and approves complex transactions and assigns funding codes in accordance with established rules, regulations, and policies
10% Reallocates expenses to appropriate funding strings
10% Drafts communications and reports and maintains organization of varied records to provide administrative support within a specified work unit
20% Answers complex fiscal questions and provides information based on set materials and standards to various audiences
5% Reviews transaction processing internal controls and recommends policies and procedures
10% Serve as a unit liaison to leadership providing financial advice, recommendations, and financial status updates
5% May train staff on financial processes and best practices
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: http://diversity.wisc.edu">Diversity and Inclusion

Education:
Preferred
Associate's Degree in financial or business-related field preferred

Qualifications:
Required:
- Relevant experience working in finance, accounting, or closely related field
- Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft 365 products, especially Excel and Outlook, or equivalent applications
- Working knowledge of financial systems supporting tracking and reporting of financial accounts, procurement, grant management, accounts receivable, and/or travel reimbursement
- Demonstrated attention to detail
- Demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize, and manage competing tasks and responsibilities throughout the day/week

Preferred:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal
- Experience with or ability to learn and comply with complex organizational, state, and federal policies and procedures
- Working knowledge of any of the following UW financial systems and tools: SFS, Wiser, Workday, Procurement Software (Shop UW+), UW Cost Transfer Tool
- Ability to work independently on projects after being provided general direction and guidance