Financial Specialist II

The Financial Specialist manages procurement and provides fiscal and accounting services to the faculty and staff of the Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) as part of the WEI Business Operations Team. On a day-to-day basis, this position oversees the purchase of necessary research supplies, processes financial reimbursements, and is involved with business transactions that keep the research moving forward. In line with UW Business Services schedules and policies, this position is responsible for ensuring accurate transactions; interpreting, communicating and staying up-to-date on complex processes; and acting as a first-in-line auditor by compiling and maintaining exact records. An integral part of the WEI Business Services team, this role contributes to process improvement by identifying and mitigating challenges that arise. This position may oversee student hourly employee(s) to support this work.

The successful candidate will provide excellent communication and customer service, be regularly engaged with the WEI Business Services Team, broader WEI staff, and counterparts around campus with the goal of making Institute fiscal services simple, efficient, and compliant.

Members of the WEI Business Services Team benefit from Institute leadership that respect and acknowledge their contributions, and a culture that prioritizes work-life balance.

At the Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI), we envision a world powered by sustainable and reliable energy that is affordable and accessible to everyone. As the home of collaborative energy research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we connect and empower researchers to help solve one of the world's greatest challenges: developing sustainable alternatives to meet society's ever-growing need for power, fuels, and chemicals. One major research program within WEI is the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), a U.S. Department of Energy-funded Bioenergy Research Center whose mission is to create biofuels and bioproducts that are economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

Principal Duties:
1. Audits, monitors, organizes, and updates fiscal records, reports, and affiliated materials
2. Creates general reporting for transactions
3. Audits or processes advanced transactions and assigns funding and account codes in accordance with established rules, regulations, and policies
4. Reconciles original purchase documents with payments, processes adjustments as needed
5. Answers advanced fiscal questions and provides information based on set materials and standards to various audience
6. Reviews transaction processing internal controls and recommends policies and procedures
7. Provide guidance on reimbursement rules, regulations and processes for travel.
8. Manages non-sponsored funding in WEI & affiliated UW Foundation funds
9. Documents financial and purchasing processes
10. Provides back-up payroll support
11. Supports site Property Manager
12. Other operations duties as assigned