Finance Director

Overview

The position is located within the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH), which operates under the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The WSLH is the state’s public health, environmental health, and occupational health laboratory. We serve to protect the health and safety of Wisconsin’s people and environment and provide training to other professionals.

As one of the nation’s leading and larger public health laboratories, the WSLH manages an annual operational budget of approximately $60 million and employs approximately 400 staff. The Finance Director is directly supervised by the WSLH Laboratory Director and supports financial planning, review, and approval for all units within the laboratory. The Finance Director oversees the areas of Budgeting and Accounting, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable, Contracts, and Procurement.

Noted responsibilities include planning and oversight of fiscal activities and operations related to finance, accounting, purchasing, budget and grant administration, and third‑party billing (private insurance and Medicare) for WSLH; coordinating budget priorities with divisions and outside agencies; and providing administrative support to supervisory and management staff. Additional duties include day‑to‑day operations of the fiscal unit and ensuring fiscal policies and controls are in place and aligned with the laboratory’s budget.

• Oversees, reviews, develops, recommends, and implements policies and procedures for internal and external financial reporting, budgeting and financial operations.
• Participates in the development, maintenance, and monitoring of automated financial information systems and budgets, and disseminates updates and results to leadership when appropriate.
• Directs strategic planning initiatives and establishes objectives for multiple finance functional areas to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources and alignment with the strategic plan.
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
• Serves as a divisional representative and subject matter expert to institutional leadership and internal and external stakeholders providing financial direction and information, fostering collaborative relationships across multiple functional areas, and representing the interests of the division.

Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene – Finance Division

Negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and saving accounts; retirement benefits.

• Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in a financial management role with progressive responsibility and a record of significant accomplishments. 3-5 years’ experience in a leadership and management role is preferred.
• Prior experience as a Finance Director, Controller, or Senior Financial Manager in a complex organization (university, government agency, health system, or similar) with state funds, federal grants, fee-for-service revenue, and multiple restricted funding sources.
• Experience collaborating with PIs and/or program directors to ensure compliance and accurate financial tracking for grants and contracts.
• Budget planning, preparation and management, process improvement, and automated financial systems experience; knowledge of fiscal accountability in a diverse organization with multiple revenue streams.
• Strong communication skills with senior leadership, managers, supervisors, staff, and external stakeholders.

Proficiency in Workday Finance, federal grant and contract administration, third-party billing for private insurance and Medicare, and leading financial modernization efforts. Knowledge of public-sector procurement practices.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, business administration, accounting or related field, required.
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