Assistant Director of Housing – Business Services Director

UW-Madison Housing; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 167,000 - 204,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive retirement package

Paid time off and holidays

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

University Housing at the University of Wisconsin–Madison seeks an experienced financial leader for the Director of Business Services role. This executive will guide budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, debt and financial reporting while supporting COOP and continuity planning.

The position reports to the AVP for Finance and Administration/Director of University Housing and sits on the senior leadership team.

Qualifications

• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in Finance and Business Service leadership roles, including supervision of staff.
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience.
• Experience generating long‑term financial forecasts for complex organizations.
• Strong background in internal controls, financial information systems, budget, and customer service.

Responsibilities

• Directs strategic planning initiatives and sets objectives for multiple finance areas aligning with the strategic plan.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, debt management and long‑term financial sustainability.
• Oversee accounting, budgeting and financial reporting to support decision making.
• Ensure compliance and strengthen internal controls through policies, risk management, and audits.

Skills

Financial leadership

Strategic planning

Budgeting

Forecasting

Internal controls

Team leadership

COOP planning

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance

Master's preferred

CPA preferred

Tools

ERP systems

Financial reporting software

Job description

Job Summary

The Division of University Housing at the University of Wisconsin - Madison is seeking an experienced financial professional for the position of Director of Business Services. University Housing is a forward-looking and innovative organization with a well-established tradition of excellence. This position reports directly to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration/Director of University Housing and is a member of the senior leadership team for the Division, as well as a highly visible partner on the university campus.

The Business Services Director for University Housing provides strategic vision, leadership, and oversight to ensure the long‑term financial stability and operational effectiveness of the Division of University Housing. This position leads the Business Services team through the direct and indirect supervision of approximately eight employees and serves as a trusted subject matter expert for internal and external stakeholders, including campus committees, workgroups, and institutional leadership.

As a member of the Division's Leadership Team, the Director of Business Services contributes to the overall management of the Division, including policy development, strategic planning, and organizational decision‑making. Leadership Team members are responsible for advancing the Division's mission, vision, and core values through collaborative leadership and strategic stewardship.

In addition, the Director serves on the Division's Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Executive Management Team, providing leadership and guidance to support business continuity, risk management, and organizational resilience initiatives.

Job Responsibilities

• Directs strategic planning initiatives and establishes objectives for multiple finance functional areas to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources and alignment with the strategic plan
• Provide strategic leadership of Housing’s financial operations, including budget development, forecasting, capital planning, debt management, and long‑term financial sustainability.
• Direct accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting functions to ensure accurate financial management, analysis, and organizational decision support.
• Ensure compliance and strengthen internal controls by overseeing financial policies, regulatory requirements, risk management, and audit activities.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of financial systems, processes, and procedures to enhance operational efficiency and accountability.
• Supervise and develop financial and administrative teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and business partner to Housing leadership and stakeholders, providing financial analysis, recommendations, and guidance to support organizational goals.
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full‑time equivalent (FTE) employees.
• Provide a clear onboarding program for Business Services staff.
• Demonstrate the ability and willingness to delegate effectively and to hold direct reports accountable; promoting the professional growth and development of the entire team.
• Be a strong decision‑maker, with transparency in decision‑making and management; the ability to make good, consistent, and fair decisions.
• Provide a comprehensive and continuous program to support retention of employees including professional development, training, and coaching for all Business Services staff.
• Serves as a divisional representative and subject matter expert to institutional leadership and internal and external stakeholders providing financial direction and information, fostering collaborative relationships across multiple functional areas, and representing the interests of the division.
• The ability to work with and support cross‑functional teams and to foster teamwork.
• Be proactive and positive; interact professionally with a diverse group of associates, peers, managers, suppliers, clients and customers.
• Participates in the development, maintenance, and monitoring of automated financial information systems and budgets, and disseminates updates and results to leadership when appropriate.
• Oversees, reviews, develops, recommends, and implements policies and procedures for internal and external financial reporting, budgeting and financial operations.
• Serves on Divisional leadership team.
• Member of the Executive Management Team (EMT) for University Housing’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and is authorized and expected to activate COOP, as needed. Provide leadership and make decisions regarding emergency management and/or the COOP plan whenever the plan is partially or fully activated. Members of the EMT are expected to provide after‑hours contact information.
• Determines personnel needs and the personnel resource allocation plan.
• Partner with Housing Human Resources to ensure a holistic plan for personnel resource planning and forecasting.

Work Schedule

Primary schedule is 8:00am – 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Extra hours as priorities dictate. Schedule will be determined at time of offer. University Housing is a 24/7 operation and may require the Director to be available for late night or weekend work/events.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Serves as a divisional representative and subject matter expert to institutional leadership and internal and external stakeholders providing financial direction and information, fostering collaborative relationships across multiple functional areas, and representing the interests of the division
• Participates in the development, maintenance, and monitoring of automated financial information systems and budgets, and disseminates updates and results to leadership when appropriate
• Oversees, reviews, develops, recommends, and implements policies and procedures for internal and external financial reporting, budgeting and financial operations
• Determines personnel needs and the personnel resource allocation plan
• Directs strategic planning initiatives and establishes objectives for multiple finance functional areas to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources and alignment with the strategic plan
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full‑time equivalent (FTE) employees

Department

Division of University Housing, Business Services

The Division of University Housing houses over 9,000 residents within 21 residence halls and 2,400 residents in three graduate and family apartment neighborhoods. University Housing's Dining program serves the residents of the residence halls, as well as all UW‑Madison students, faculty, staff, and the public. University Housing’s annual budget is just over $150 million dollars. Food is provided through a number of venues across campus, including dining markets, coffee shops, and convenience stores. The Division of University Housing employs over 475 full‑time employees and 2,000 student employees. In addition, the Division's summer conference program hosts approximately 17,000 guests attending over 130 different programs.

Everything we do in University Housing is to ensure the success of our residents, guests, customers, and employees in their experience on this campus and beyond. Whether we're launching new academic support services, testing out a new recipe, renovating resident spaces, organizing welcome events, inviting a new summer youth camp, cleaning our facilities, or training our staff on new work skills, it's all done to serve our residents and to support the mission of UW‑Madison.

Compensation

The starting annual salary is $185,000 or higher based on qualifications with a competitive retirement and benefits package, including vacation, holidays, and paid time off. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/)

Required Qualifications

• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in Finance and Business Service leadership role(s) including supervision of finance and business services staff.
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience.
• Experience generating long‑term financial forecasts for complex organizations.
• A strong background in internal controls, financial information systems, budget, and customer service is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in Finance and Business Service leadership role(s) including supervision of finance and business services staff.
• Experience in the financial leadership of a university housing system or other university auxiliary enterprise.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to exercise sound judgment decision‑making based on accurate and timely analyses.
• Understanding of business‑related legal matters.
• Experience presenting financial analyses and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, including the ability to explain complex financial information to non‑financial audiences.

Education

A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field is required. A master's degree in business administration/finance or related field is preferred. CPA certification preferred.

Additional Information

This position has been identified as an executive position of trust with financial/fiduciary responsibilities. The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial criminal background check to be eligible for employment and then every four years thereafter.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

University Housing may communicate with you about your application status using a text messaging service. To opt‑out please reply "STOP" to text messages received or contact University Housing HR at [e-mail] or 608‑262‑2766. Message and data rates may apply.

Contact Information

University Housing Human Resources, [e-mail], 608‑262‑2766

Relay Access (WTRS): 7‑1‑1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

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.

The University of Wisconsin‑Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy‑related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre‑employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including 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.