Divisional Finance Officer

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Job Profile:

Job Duties:

Under the general direction of the Dean or Division Head, the Divisional Finance Officer (DFO) serves as the senior financial and business officer for an assigned division at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. The DFO provides leadership and direct oversight of the division’s day-to-day business and financial operations, including annual budget development, budget management, forecasting, and comprehensive oversight of divisional finances across many funding sources (including funds such as: state, tuition, grant & contract, gift, auxiliary, etc). This role requires interaction across division leadership and staff, university administration, central finance and business offices, human resources partners, and the UWM Foundation. 

As a member of the division’s leadership team, this role advises leadership on the financial implications of strategic initiatives, personnel and staffing decisions, grants and contracts, and long-range planning, while ensuring compliance with university, UW System, state, and external policies and regulations. The DFO supervises and develops financial staff and promotes excellence, effectiveness, and efficiency in business operations through sound fiscal stewardship and continuous improvement. The position plays a critical role in supporting the financial integrity, sustainability, and mission success of both the division and the university.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Serves as the primary business advisor, liaison, and partner to divisional leadership and key stakeholder groups.
• Develops the division's financial strategy including planning, forecasts, budgets, and cash management that focus on attaining and sustaining long-term financial equilibrium in collaboration with university leadership.
• Works with senior administrative and academic leadership to design, establish, and maintain an administrative organizational structure to effectively and efficiently accomplish goals and objectives while appropriately defining duties and mitigating risk.
• Directs and coordinates all accounting and budgetary functions of the Division, including purchasing, employee payroll, travel reimbursements, deposits, program revenue accounting, and state appropriations budget and accounting, and grants management.  
• Assesses processes, staffing, and systems to identify opportunities for improvement and streamlining on a regular basis.
• Serves as a major point of contact and catalyst for problem resolution. Provides insightful and diplomatic communications.
• 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 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
• Serves as member of the Division’s Leadership Team, working collaboratively to establish and support the overall vision and strategic direction of the division.
• Partners with key financial management offices in Business & Financial Services and the Office of Research.

Compensation:

$110,000 - $165,000 (Final salary offer will be determined based on qualifications and experience)

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in accounting, business administration, finance, relevant field, or a relevant professional certification.
• 3+ years of professional work experience performing directly related work within a similar function. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of financial principles, budgeting practices, and accounting standards, with experience applying this knowledge to planning, forecasting, and resource allocation decisions. 
• Strong analytical skills, including experience performing complex financial analysis, developing forecasts, and preparing management-level financial reports to support decision-making. 
• Experience working independently in a complex organizational environment, exercising sound judgment and attention to detail. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior supervisory experience, with demonstrated ability to lead and develop a team.
• Directly related experience working in Finance in a public university setting 
• Proven track record of collaboration and advancing initiatives across all levels of an organization.
• Experience with Restricted Funds, Grants Management or similar externally funded programs. 
• Advanced proficiency with financial analysis and reporting tools, including complex spreadsheet modeling, financial systems, and dashboards. 
• Experience with ERP Systems, including Workday or similar platforms.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants are required to apply online and provide a cover letter and resume addressing your professional level work experience as it relates to all required and preferred qualifications.

Note: Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required documents prior to submitting the online application. Applications missing any of the required documents listed prior to the application deadline will be marked as incomplete and will not be considered. 

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from the candidates' application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they may be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications. Additional documents submitted aside from a cover letter and resume will not be reviewed.  

Finalist candidates(s) will be asked to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified. 

Apply electronically by the application deadline date of June 25, 2026. Questions about this position should be directed to Joshua Xiong at [email protected] 

Reasonable Accommodations
Pursuant to university policy, UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact [email protected] or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC and Reference Check Policy
Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)
For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/, or call UWM’s Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at (414) 229-4632 for a paper copy.

Employment Authorization
In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.