Assistant Director, Fund Administration and Compliance

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) is seeking an Assistant Director, Fund Administration and Compliance to join the Finance team. This individual‑contributor role leads fund administration activities throughout the fund lifecycle while supporting WFAA’s fund management and compliance programs. The position reports to the Director, Fund Accounting, Administration, and Compliance and serves as the primary operations resource for fund establishment, modifications, donor‑intent interpretation, policy application, and governance activities. The role works collaboratively across Finance, Development, Legal, and campus partners to ensure donor‑restricted and donor‑supported funds are administered consistently, accurately, and in accordance with donor intent, organizational policies, and regulatory requirements.

This position may be filled in a hybrid or remote capacity. Remote candidates must reside in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Texas, or Wisconsin.

About WFAA

WFAA is a private, nonprofit corporation that encourages individuals and organizations to make gifts to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and to connect with the university. Formed in 2014 by the merger of the UW Foundation and the Wisconsin Alumni Association, WFAA provides engagement opportunities that link alumni to each other and to their alma mater, building a strong Badger community.

Fund Administration

• Perform fund administration activities across the full fund lifecycle, including fund establishment, modifications, reinvestments, closures, and other governance actions.
• Interpret gift agreements, MOAs, MDMOAs, FOAs, and other governing documents in collaboration with the Senior Associate Director and Legal Affairs to ensure accurate fund structures and administration.
• Serve as the department’s primary operational resource for fund administration policies, procedures, classifications, and documentation.
• Partner with Development and campus partners to resolve fund administration questions and facilitate complex fund changes.

Compliance & Fund Management

• Apply donor intent, organizational policies, and regulatory requirements to fund administration activities.
• Conduct compliance reviews and identify potential risk areas, policy exceptions, or governance concerns requiring escalation.
• Support utilization monitoring, fund audit activities, and ongoing compliance initiatives.
• Assist with the development, implementation, and maintenance of fund management policies, procedures, and standards.
• Support continuous improvement of WFAA’s fund management program through operational analysis and process enhancements.

Fund Management Governance & Strategic Initiatives

• Support the operational implementation of WFAA’s fund management governance program and strategic initiatives.
• Coordinate governance‑related meetings, working groups, project activities, and follow‑up actions as assigned.
• Prepare analyses, reports, recommendations, presentation materials, and supporting documentation to inform fund management decisions and organizational priorities.
• Conduct research, benchmarking, and analysis to support the development and continuous improvement of fund management policies, procedures, standards, and best practices.
• Track action items, strategic initiatives, and operational improvements, coordinating implementation across internal stakeholders.
• Partner with the Senior Associate Director to identify opportunities to strengthen fund governance, compliance, stewardship, utilization, and operational effectiveness.

Process Improvement & Collaboration

• Identify opportunities to improve fund administration processes, internal controls, and operational efficiency.
• Partner with the Associate Director, Financial Systems and Fund Operations to implement technology enhancements supporting fund administration.
• Develop and maintain fund administration procedures, job aids, and workflow documentation.
• Participate in cross‑functional initiatives supporting organizational fund management priorities.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional experience in donor‑restricted fund administration, gift administration, advancement services, donor compliance, stewardship, financial operations, accounting, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience administering donor‑restricted funds throughout the fund lifecycle, including establishment, modifications, interpretation of governing documents, and ongoing compliance with donor intent.
• Experience interpreting complex financial, legal, or governing documentation and applying organizational policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while exercising sound judgment, attention to detail, and a high degree of accuracy.
• Strong analytical, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Experience within a higher‑education foundation, university advancement organization, healthcare foundation, or other complex nonprofit organization.
• Experience with CRM, financial, fund management, and reporting systems.
• Experience supporting governance, audit, compliance, reporting, or process‑improvement initiatives.
• Working knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards governing charitable funds and nonprofit organizations, including IRS charitable contribution regulations, UPMIFA, CASE Management Reporting Standards, and nonprofit accounting guidance.
• Strong analytical, documentation, collaboration, and stakeholder‑service skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to interact well with people of diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and experience; strong team orientation and ability to develop working relationships with internal staff, donors, and others.
• Ability to work on a variety of simultaneous tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Initiative and independence in meeting deadlines.

Benefits

• Competitive pay.
• Outstanding benefits program.
• Generous 10 % 401(k) contribution after just one year of service.
• Additional employee‑benefit details are available through WFAA’s benefits portal.