Post-Award Accountant

University of Wisconsin Madison • Madison, WI

1d • $70,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) is one of the oldest and highest-ranked family medicine departments in the nation. We are deeply committed to improving the health and well-being of the people of Wisconsin and the nation - a goal fundamentally linked to the mission of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. To support our growing research enterprise, we are seeking a highly motivated Post-Award Accountant to join our team. In this role, you will collaborate closely with Principal Investigators (PIs) and their research teams, providing essential financial management, budgeting, and compliance support for an expanding portfolio of externally funded research projects. Reporting to the Post-Award Financial Manager, the incumbent will play a pivotal role in ensuring the fiscal integrity of these projects, from award setup through project closeout. Our department offers a supportive and collaborative work environment, valuing teamwork, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. This position presents an exciting opportunity for a finance professional interested in contributing to impactful research in a dynamic, mission-driven setting. This position is full or part-time, 80%-100%. 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.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of post-award financial management, governmental accounting, or audit experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex financial data with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Excel (e.g., formulas, filters/sorting, pivot tables or similar tools used for financial analysis).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain financial/compliance concepts to non-financial stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to organize work, meet deadlines, and manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.

Nice To Haves

• Current or recent post-award accounting / sponsored projects financial management experience in higher education, strongly preferred within the Universities of Wisconsin.
• Demonstrated experience independently managing a portfolio of sponsored awards in a large, complex research environment (e.g., multiple investigators, multiple funding sources, concurrent deadlines).
• Working knowledge of federal award requirements and sponsor terms and conditions (e.g., Uniform Guidance; NIH/NSF terms), including applying allowability, allocability, and documentation standards.
• Experience supporting health sciences or a medical school research environment (e.g., NIH-funded projects, clinical research activity, complex payroll/effort scenarios).
• Demonstrated experience with Workday (or equivalent enterprise reporting tools) for sponsored project monitoring, reconciliation, and/or compliance review.
• Experience with sponsored project closeout activities (e.g., final financial review/reporting coordination, resolving deficits, cost transfers, documentation cleanup, audit readiness).
• Experience advising faculty and research staff, demonstrating ability to translate complex requirements into clear guidance, reduce risk, and support good stewardship.
• Experience managing awards that include subawards (monitoring, invoicing review, closeout coordination).
• Experience supporting a portfolio that includes multi-year and/or high-dollar awards.

Responsibilities

• Provides expertise and advice related to payroll cost allocation, effort allocation, and allowable charges
• Assists principal investigators with financial management of sponsored program budgets and directs day-to-day fiscal transactions
• Prepares and processes financial reporting and/or invoicing information
• Provides expertise and advice related to procurement and allowable charges
• Reviews financial expenditures for accuracy on sponsored grants and contracts

Benefits

• generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave
• competitive insurances and savings accounts
• retirement benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree