Finance Operations Specialist

About the role

As a Finance Operations Specialist, you will play a key role in supporting day-to-day financial operations during this transition to a shared services model. Reporting to the Finance Operations Manager, you will assist partner units with purchasing, accounts payable, expense reimbursement, and general accounting tasks. This position involves initiating and reviewing financial transactions in Workday—including expense reports, purchase requisitions, supplier invoice payments, and cost transfers—while ensuring compliance with university policies. You will serve as a liaison to faculty, staff, and students, providing financial guidance, resolving inquiries, and generating reports to support decision-making. As part of a collaborative team, you will help shape a more strategic and effective finance landscape across campus, delivering high-quality service and fostering strong relationships with the units you support.

Responsibilities

• 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
• 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

Qualifications

Required:

• Professional experience in accounting, finance, or business administration
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly, professionally, and courteously to a diverse internal and external audience
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• High attention to detail and the ability to accurately interpret and apply written rules, policies, and regulations
• Demonstrated commitment to providing excellent customer service and maintaining positive working relationships

Preferred:

• Experience working in cross-functional teams or shared services environments
• Familiarity with financial systems (e.g., Workday, ShopUW+, WISER, SFS, Excel, etc.)
• Degree in finance or related field preferred

Compensation

Well qualified applicants can expect to earn between $44,543 - $65,000 with final salary based on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

This position will be on site a minimum of one day per week, with the ability to work remotely up to four days per week.

Benefits

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurance and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/).