Budget & Financial Accountant

University of Wisconsin Stout•Madison, WI

9h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Budget and Financial Accountant (official title: Accountant II) organizes and facilitates the division’s annual budget process, quarterly forecasting, financial reporting, and financial management. Successful performance requires a comprehensive understanding of the department’s accounting structures, educational services, and programming. The role supports divisional units, business units, and program managers in budgeting, forecasting, interpreting financial results, and managing resources in accordance with state and university financial policies and practices. The position is in the Office of Online & Professional Learning Resources, which supports the Universities of Wisconsin Administration and all 13 UW universities in online and continuing education, teaching, learning, and workforce skills training. The office partners with the universities to develop and deliver online semester- and competency-based degrees, certificates, courses, and other credentials. This is a full-time, salaried, exempt academic staff position. The starting annual salary range is $65,000–$75,000, commensurate with education, related experience, and qualifications. The office is located at 780 Regent Street, Madison, Wisconsin. Telecommuting or hybrid options may be available, with at least two days per month in the office; additional in-office attendance may be requested based on business needs. Residency in or relocation to Wisconsin is required, and telecommuting agreements may change.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least one year of experience in a financial or business-related environment.
Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Demonstrated ability to provide excellent service to others.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to research and resolve issues in a timely manner.
Ability to work independently, be self-motivated, and learn and pursue process improvements.
Ability to work in an environment of change and occasional ambiguity.
Organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to evaluate, prioritize, and handle multiple priorities while meeting deadlines.
Residency in or relocation to Wisconsin is required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
Experience using enterprise-wide financial systems, such as Workday, Adaptive budget system, and ShopUW+.
Knowledge and understanding of generally accepted governmental accounting and auditing principles and State and University financial policies, procedures, and practices.

Responsibilities

Organize and facilitate annual divisional budget processes, including communicating budget guidelines and processes to internal departments and program managers.
Prepare and maintain revenue, expense, and pay plan budget models; consolidate, summarize, collect, and reconcile divisional budget data.
Compare budget and operational data with current-year budgets and prior-year actual results, and analyze and explain variances involving GPR, FTE, program assumptions, revenues, payroll, and non-payroll expenditures.
Provide financial planning and analysis support to internal departments and program managers, maintain divisional budget records, and enter, review, and reconcile data in the Adaptive budget system.
Organize and facilitate timely, accurate monthly financial reporting for revenue and expense monitoring; prepare and update budget-versus-actual models and compile and report budget-versus-actual revenues.
Consolidate and summarize monthly financial data and provide analysis to divisional business units and program managers, helping them interpret financial results and understand accounting and budget structures.
Organize and facilitate quarterly forecasting; consolidate forecast operational and financial data against current-year budgets and prior-year actual results, and analyze and explain forecast variances.
Reconcile collaborative and competency-based program revenue data with student enrollment data.
Collaborate with UW partner campuses to reconcile and initiate transfers of collaborative and competency-based program revenues.
Work with business units and program managers to understand financial needs for educational services provided to campus partnerships and programs, supporting goals within budget and in accordance with state and university financial policies and practices.
Organize information from a variety of sources to establish data banks for budgeting, forecasting, operational analysis, and program financial models.
Remain compliant with state and university financial policies and practices; coordinate and execute changes in financial practices and policies that improve financial operations.
Communicate and explain financial concepts and practices throughout the division, and train new program managers and other applicable new hires on financial operations.
Work with the Director of Finance & Business Services on unique budget, forecast, and reporting requirements, process changes, and special projects.
Represent the division on institutional committees as requested and lead financial-related projects as requested by the OPLR leadership team.