Financial Specialist Iii

Job Summary: UW-Madison Recreation & Wellbeing (Rec Well) looks forward to welcoming a new member to the Finance Team of this dynamic organization. The Finance Team supports the Rec Well departments that run our programs, maintain our beautiful facilities, and ensure a great experience for our student and community members. Within the positive and energetic workplace culture of Rec Well, the Finance Team operates as a cohesive and supportive unit, with a strong customer-service and continuous-improvement orientation.
The Financial Specialist III is a critical member of the Finance Team. This team member serves as purchasing card (credit card) site manager, leader of Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance measures, department approver of Travel Expense Reports, and requester in the campus purchasing system (ShopUW+). The successful candidate will also provide back-up for processing of invoices, refunds, and other critical functions. Additional roles include producing reports and entering data to support budget and forecasting processes.
UW System is undergoing a large-scale Administrative Transformation Program () that includes major changes in financial systems. Learning the new financial system (Workday) and supporting others in embracing change will be integral to this position over the next 2-3 years.
Under the leadership of the Associate Director for Finance, the Finance Team works together to develop and execute projects that help us ensure the integrity of our financial data, produce and share financial reports to support sound decision making, and improve internal systems to reduce bottlenecks and create clarity. Team members are empowered as individuals and collectively to make a meaningful difference in the financial operations of Rec Well.
Responsibilities: Primarily reviews, approves, and advises on a variety of complex financial transactions. Reconciles transactions. Maintains financial records, provides administrative processing support, and provides customer service for staff and customers in an assigned program area to support program financial management. Recommends controls and process improvements and troubleshoots complex financial errors. May be a lead or resource for others in the unit. 20% Monitors financial transactions and fund balances and generates and reconciles complex reports and statements in accordance with established rules and regulations 15% Reviews and approves complex transactions and assigns funding codes in accordance with established rules, regulations, and policies 5% Reallocates expenses to appropriate funding strings 20% Answers complex fiscal questions and provides information based on set materials and standards to various audiences 20% May train staff on financial processes and best practices 10% Organizes, prepares, and updates financial information and transactions within an automated financial system to ensure accurate recording and reporting of financial data, including recommending controls to support system reliability and data integrity 10% Prepares and/or approves financial transactions and payments 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.
For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion
Education: Required
Associate's Degree

Qualifications: Required:
-Minimum of two years of experience in a position with responsibilities related to financial, budgetary, and/or data management, with a customer service focus
-Demonstrated proficiency in Excel, Google Sheets, and/or similar spreadsheet programs
-Experience working in a team and supporting colleagues
-Strong customer service skills
-Ability to move things forward in an environment with many rules and policies
-Ability to learn new information and incorporate it into existing processes
Preferred:
-Experience with UW-Madison Purchasing, fiscal, travel, and/or administration
-Experience training others
-Experience supporting others through change
-Experience supporting others in navigating complex systems
Work Type: Full Time: 100%
This position requires most 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, up to one day per week, if desired.
Appointment Type, Duration: Ongoing/Renewable

Salary: Minimum $51,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
The minimum starting salary for this position is $51,000 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see: .
Additional Information: University Recreation & Wellbeing:
Rec Well is part of Student Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, led by the vice chancellor for student affairs. Our staff is dedicated to serving students and to helping them succeed in and out of the classroom in areas including health and well-being, identity and inclusion, leadership and engagement, and student advocacy. Student Affairs includes departments led by the dean of students; departments that provide identity-based spaces and leadership resources; the Wisconsin Union; University Health Services; and University Recreation and Wellbeing.
About the University of Wisconsin-Madison:
Since its founding in 1848, the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus has been a catalyst for the extraordinary. As a public land-grant university and prolific research institution, our students, staff, and faculty members partake in a world-class education and solve real-world problems. With the Wisconsin Idea as our guiding principle, we're not only changing the 936 acres we call home-Badgers are also creating a better future for Wisconsin, the nation, and the world.
About the City of Madison:
With a population of 255,000, Madison, WI has small town feels and big city amenities. Known for its natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and thriving social scene, Madison boasts impressive numbers. Nestled on an isthmus between 15,000 acres of lakes and an extensive network of 270+ parks and 200+ miles of biking trails. Madison is one of only five platinum-level bike cities, home to 370 restaurants, shops, and exceptional art institutions. The city is consistently recognized as a great place to live:
#1 Top 100 Best Places to Live - Livability.com , 2022
#1 Cities with the Best Work-Life Balance - smartasset.com , 2020
#1 Best Hospitals in Wisconsin - U.S. News & World Report, 2020
#2 Best Cities for Bikes - peopleforbikes.org , June 2020
#2 Happiest Cities in America - menshealth.com , December 2020
How to Apply: Please click the "Apply Now" button to begin the application process. As part of the application process, you will be required to upload a current resume and a cover letter addressing your work-related experience and qualifications related to this position. You will also be asked to provide contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted until candidate is a finalist and will not be contacted without notifying the applicant.

Contact: Cameron Theisen


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

Official Title: Financial Specialist III(FN008)

Department(s): A80-RECREATION & WELLBEING/FINANCE

Employment Class: Academic Staff-Renewable

Job Number: 295548-AS

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 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 through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website:
Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding 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 .
About University of Wisconsin Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison has been a catalyst for the extraordinary since its founding in 1848. Our students, staff, and faculty partake in world-class education and conduct prolific research that solves real-world problems. Our guiding principle is the Wisconsin Idea, a commitment to outreach that creates a better future for our state, our nation, and the world. We value the contributions of each person and recognize that diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation.
Connections working at University of Wisconsin Madison