Post-Award SPGC Accountant

Universities of Wisconsin • Madison, WI

2d • $60,000 - $75,000

About The Position

This position performs professional sponsored project accounting activities for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) Administration, including the CALS Research Division and Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station (WAES) units. Daily responsibilities are multifaceted and driven by activities and priorities that arise each day. The accountant works with researchers, departments, and centers to monitor and reconcile sponsored-program data at the school, college, or divisional level. The role serves as a liaison between departments and central campus business units to resolve financial challenges and assist with sponsored-project post-award tasks and closeout activities. The incumbent may interact directly with project sponsors on detailed financial reporting, invoicing, and auditing to ensure compliance. The position also serves as Grant Manager, reviewing expenses posted to sponsored funding for allowability and allocability.

Requirements

• Experience working in a financial-related field, such as finance, accounting, grant management, or financial specialist work.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, plan, establish priorities, and organize varied and complex work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Demonstrated customer service experience, such as providing comprehensive support, responding to inquiries, providing technical support, or guiding customers through transactions.

Nice To Haves

• Experience applying governmental cost accounting principles and standards.
• Experience identifying audit-risk expenditures and implementing corrective plans of action, such as seeking approval or processing cost transfers.
• Experience interpreting state statutes, federal regulations, administrative rules, university/college/department/center policies and procedures, or travel and purchasing policies specific to the State of Wisconsin, UW System, or UW-Madison.
• Experience using UW financial and grant systems or comparable higher-education platforms, software, and applications for accounting or financial transactions, such as Workday, eRA systems, Huron grant products, Smartsheets, spreadsheets, OneNote, or virtual video platforms.
• Associate's degree.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Pre-Award Administrator (CPRA), or Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA).

Responsibilities

• Advise departments or researchers on appropriate post-award modifications and related processing.
• Communicate and ensure compliance with financial requirements under federal, state, university, and sponsor regulations on behalf of the school, college, or division.
• Collect or prepare documentation required for compliance or audits involving sponsored grants, contracts, or agreements.
• Maintain and analyze accounting and financial functions associated with USDA 142 Formula-funded sponsored projects.
• Ensure departmental or divisional post-award processing and tasks are completed appropriately and on time.
• Review and approve financial transactions, including managing fiscal closeout of awards and projects.
• Review expenses posted to sponsored funding to determine whether they are allowable and allocable.
• Work with researchers, departments, centers, and central campus business units to monitor and reconcile financial data and resolve financial challenges.

Benefits

• Generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off.
• Competitive insurances and savings accounts.
• Retirement benefits.

What This Job Offers

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