Business Partner Services Section Chief – State Controller’s Office

State of Wisconsin; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 102,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation/holiday leave

Health, vision, dental benefits

Pension plan with employer match

Well Wisconsin Wellness Program

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Job summary

State of Wisconsin’s Department of Administration seeks the Business Partner Services Section Chief in the State Controller’s Office, headquartered at 101 East Wilson Street, Madison. You will lead statewide financial operations, direct enterprise financial programs, and guide policy development to ensure compliance, data integrity, and risk mitigation.

Remote/hybrid work with in-office presence required two days per week.

Qualifications

• Experience using a complex accounting/financial system (e.g., PeopleSoft).
• Perform professional accounting duties including transactions and reconciliations.
• Experience implementing financial changes or processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Business Partner Services Section statewide.
• Direct enterprise financial programs and STAR system activities.
• Establish statewide financial policies and internal controls.
• Coordinate with agencies, auditors, and partners on statewide solutions.

Skills

Financial management

Accounting

Process improvement

Education

Certified Public Accountant Licensure

Tools

PeopleSoft

Job description

Introduction

Join an organization that strives to exceed customer expectations by delivering efficient, high-quality state government services. The Department of Administration (DOA) provides direct services to state agency customers and designs and leads initiatives to make government more innovative and cost-effective. Working at DOA offers you the opportunity to make an impact on the quality of life in Wisconsin.

The Division of Executive Budget and Finance (DEBF), State Controller’s Office (SCO) provides centralized financial management, accounting, and internal control services; maintains the books of account, capital accounting services, cash management services, and summarizes and publishes necessary financial information, including the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and the budgetary-based Annual Fiscal Report.

Position Summary

This position will lead the Business Partner Services Section within the State Controller’s Office and will be headquartered at the DOA State Administration Building: 101 East Wilson Street, Madison, WI 53703. Based on current DEBF policy and the business needs within the unit, this position would work from their headquarter location at least two days per week with the possibility of working from home the remaining days.

This position with serve as the Business Partner Services (BPS) Section Chief. The incumbent provides statewide leadership, direction, and oversight for Business Partner Services financial operations within the State Controller’s Office. The position is responsible for directing enterprise financial programs supported by the State’s accounting system (STAR), including vendor and customer data governance, select statewide payment processes, ad hoc financial reporting, and related operational activities.

The position establishes and maintains statewide financial policies, procedures, internal controls, and business processes to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements, promote data integrity, mitigate financial risk, and improve operational effectiveness. This role leads enterprise financial system initiatives, process improvement efforts, fraud prevention strategies, and automation projects that enhance the accuracy, security, and efficiency of statewide financial operations.

The position oversees assigned statewide tax reporting requirements, and serves as a key liaison with state agencies, financial stakeholders, auditors, and enterprise partners to resolve complex issues and implement effective statewide solutions.

For a full list of duties of this role, please view the complete position description.

Salary Information

This is a career executive level position in schedule-range (81-02) with an annual salary between $101,920 and $110,240 ($49.00/hr - $53.00/hr). An additional $1.00/hr CPA add-on may be given depending on qualifications. A 2-year trial period is required. Pay for current state employees will be set in accordance with the Wisconsin State Compensation Plan.

Benefits

• Substantial leave time including at least 3.5 weeks of vacation/personal holiday to start, 9 paid holidays, and 130 hours of sick time that rolls over each year.


• Excellent and affordable health, vision, and dental benefits


• An exceptional pension plan with employer match and lifetime retirement payment


• Well Wisconsin Wellness Program – a free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well‑being


• Use this Total Rewards Calculator to see the total value of our competitive benefits package!

Job Details

Due to the nature of the position, DOA will conduct background checks on applicants prior to selection. DOA does not sponsor work visas and is not an eligible OPT (Optional Practical Training) employer for F-1 international students. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States, and to complete the required employment eligibility form.

Certain positions within this Department may allow remote/work from home flexibility for a portion of their work schedule, depending on the needs of the position and the work unit. This topic and any remote work flexibility that may be available will be discussed in more detail in the interview process. Current DEBF policy requires a minimum of 2 days per week in office.

Qualifications

• Utilizing a complex accounting/financial management system such as PeopleSoft or similar


• Performing professional accounting duties such as processing transactions and performing reconciliations, preparing financial reports, or suppler/customer management


• Experience with implementing financial changes or processes

In addition to the minimum qualifications, well-qualified applicants may have the following:

• Experience supervising or leading a team of professional staff (leading a team could be project management - professional staff may include but is not limited to accountants, auditors, or financial specialist)


• Certified Public Accountant Licensure


• Experience developing and/or modifying policies or procedures related to accounting practices

The State of Wisconsin is committed to providing opportunities to all applicants from all backgrounds. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Any applicants and employees with a disability may request reasonable accommodations.

The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program.

Questions can be directed to Michelle Bassuener at [e-mail].

Deadline to Apply

Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm on Thursday, September 3, 2026.