Financial Specialist III

Universities of Wisconsin; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Universities of Wisconsin is seeking a Financial Specialist III to provide transaction processing support for SMPH departments. You will initiate departmental activities related to financial reporting, processing, and advising on UW‑Madison financial policies.

You will join a team of accountants supporting multiple departments within SMPH. The role may require some on-site work with potential remote work options.

Qualifications

• Two years of professional experience in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration.
• Experience with double-sided accounting entries and accrual-based accounting.
• Experience utilizing Microsoft Office, specifically Excel, to maintain accurate and compliant financial records.

Responsibilities

• Reviews and approves complex transactions and assigns funding codes in accordance with established rules, regulations, and policies.
• Reallocates expenses to appropriate funding strings.
• Drafts communications and reports and maintains organization of varied records to provide administrative support within a specified work unit.
• Answers complex fiscal questions and provides information based on set materials and standards to various audiences.
• Reviews transaction processing internal controls and recommends policies and procedures.
• Serve as a unit liaison to leadership providing financial advice, recommendations, and financial status updates.
• May train staff on financial processes and best practices.
• Monitors financial transactions and fund balances and generates and reconciles complex reports and statements in accordance with established rules and regulations.

Skills

Accounting Principles

Analytical Thinking

Communication Skills

Financial Reporting

Transaction Compliance

Education

Associate’s Degree Preferred

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Financial Specialist III

Job Summary:

Under the direction and supervision of the SMPH Associate Director of Finance, the Financial Specialist provides transaction processing support for SMPH departments. This position serves as the primary initiator for departmental activities related to financial reporting, transaction processing, and providing expert guidance on UW-Madison’s financial policies. The incumbent will be part of a team of accountants supporting multiple departments within SMPH.

• 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.

Success in this role requires the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Accounting Expertise

• Ability to effectively apply core accounting principles, including double-sided accounting entries and accrual-based accounting.

Analytical Thinking & Problem-solve

• Ability to problem-solve or Escalate to appropriate parties based on severity, complexity, or urgency of a situation.

Communication & Customer Support

• Effective written and verbal communication skills to serve as a consultative point of contact and advise on financial policies and procedures.
• Ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintain them over time.

Financial Reporting & Process Management

• Strong attention to detail to ensure accurate recording and reporting of financial transactions.
• Adaptability to effectively manage individual workload through shifting priorities to meet deadlines.

Transaction Processing and Compliance

• Ability to interpret and apply UW policies and procedures for accurate and compliant transaction processing.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Reviews and approves complex transactions and assigns funding codes in accordance with established rules, regulations, and policies

• Reallocates expenses to appropriate funding strings

• Drafts communications and reports and maintains organization of varied records to provide administrative support within a specified work unit

• Answers complex fiscal questions and provides information based on set materials and standards to various audiences

• Reviews transaction processing internal controls and recommends policies and procedures

• Serve as a unit liaison to leadership providing financial advice, recommendations, and financial status updates

• May train staff on financial processes and best practices

• Monitors financial transactions and fund balances and generates and reconciles complex reports and statements in accordance with established rules and regulations

Department:

School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Administration – Fiscal Affairs

The Office of Fiscal Affairs provides fiscal and administrative support to more than 50 departments, centers, institutes and administrative units within the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. The office also provides assistance for a variety of funding types, including school funding, grants, gifts and recharge funds.

Compensation:

The starting salary for the position is $55,500 annually but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage and the SMPH FAASLI Benefits Flyer 2026.

Required Qualifications:

• At least two years of professional experience in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration
• Experience with double-sided accounting entries and accrual-based accounting
• Experience utilizing Microsoft Office software, specifically Excel and/or other comparable financial management technologies, to maintain accurate and compliant financial records.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience processing financial transactions and/or reports in Workday
• Experience working with WISER, UW purchasing and other UW financials systems

Education:

• Associate’s Degree Preferred

Contact Information:

Aisha Liebenow, [e-mail]

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 OpportunityEmployer.

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 backgroundsand 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.