"Accounting Manager"

Job Details

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title: Accounting Manager

Job Category: Academic Staff

Employment Type: Regular

Job Profile: Financial Manager

Job Duties:

The Accounting Manager works in Business Services under the general supervision of the Controller and is responsible for managing staff who utilize the university's financial systems to process accounting transactions. This position oversees grant accounting, 501(c)(3) accounting, capital equipment inventory, banking, account reconciliations, and financial reporting for the university.

The Accounting Manager's responsibilities include reviewing journal entries, reconciling accounts, maintaining ledgers, developing procedures, preparing reports, and updating records in the university’s financial systems. The Manager is also involved with establishing internal controls and serves as a campus liaison for issues related to financial systems and transactions.

Candidates are expected to have a strong understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and to acquire knowledge of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL), Universities of Wisconsin (UW) Administration, and State of Wisconsin financial policies and procedures.

The Division of Administration and Finance is committed to providing quality campus services to faculty, staff, students and external constituencies in support of the university’s mission of teaching, research, and public service. The division includes Business Services, Budget Office, Facilities Planning & Management, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, and University Police & Parking Services.

The review of applications starts on January 27, 2026. Applications received on or before January 27th are prioritized and review will continue until the position(s) is/are filled. Initial interviews will be conducted virtually, with shortlisted candidates invited to campus.

UW-La Crosse does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources at 608-785-8013.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Accounting Staff Supervision

• Manage staff workloads to ensure the quality and timely completion of responsibilities.
• Establish performance standards. Monitor employee progress and regularly provide mentoring, training, and performance feedback.
• Address and resolve staff conflicts while maintaining a professional environment.
• Administer counseling sessions and corrective discipline where applicable to ensure work rules are being met.
• Ensure staff are provided with professional development opportunities, adequate training, and other resources to perform their job responsibilities.
• Establish work schedules and review leave requests.
• Hold regular staff meetings to keep staff up to date on relevant information.

Financial Reporting

• Monitor the processing of daily financial reports; resolve processing problems with campus and Information Technology Services (ITS) staff.
• Assist the Controller with coordinating the preparation of campus GAAP reports as directed by UW Administration annually for inclusion in the University of Wisconsin Annual Financial Report.
• Develop, create, and analyze financial management reports; work with campus management to resolve discrepancies in the reports.
• Develop reports for management, campus personnel, UWSA, and others, as requested.
• Oversee the capital equipment inventory and asset management system for GAAP reporting, annual equipment inventory, and various reports requiring capital equipment tracking.

Accounting Management

• Oversee journal entry processing in accounting systems.
• Ensure that adequate internal controls are established, operate as designed, and effectively protect the integrity of transactions, while maintaining proper audit trails.
• Conduct integrity checks of general ledger transactions to ensure the accuracy of transactions and to identify and resolve problems as quickly as possible.
• Facilitate campus training on fund accounting, the WISER financial system, and related processes that affect the general ledger. Provide ongoing support for issues and questions related to these items.
• Implement new initiatives related to the general ledger, such as financial system upgrades, policy changes, and system-to-system interfaces.
• Coordinate the month-end and fiscal year-end closing procedures, including developing schedules, communicating with UW Administration and UWL stakeholders, and working with staff to meet deadlines.
• Perform necessary year-end closing entries and prepare financial statements.
• Establish, implement, and maintain written policies and procedures for departmental functions relating to financial transactions and systems. Ensure procedures maintain institutional compliance with UW Administration, State of Wisconsin, and U.S. Federal reporting requirements.
• Communicate process changes and updates related to financial transactions and system functions to the campus stakeholders, including the maintenance of web pages, guides, etc.
• Oversee preparation and accuracy of various reconciliations (bank, student loan, scholarship, etc.), ensuring variances are explainable for Controller review.
• Assist with developing the institutional internal control plan and provide support for internal and external audits, including implementing recommendations related to financial transactions and systems.
• Review new account requests for reasonableness and assign account numbers based on the university's financial structure.
• Develop, establish, and maintain reporting processes for financial information.
• Collaborate with campus departments to manage the account tables and trees in the Shared Financial System (SFS); perform ongoing maintenance and date changes for reporting purposes.

Assist the Controller

• Assist with special reports, surveys, and audits requested by the Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) and Department of Administration (DOA).
• Assist with various projects related to internal control assessments and make recommendations for processing methods to ensure the integrity and security of financial assets.
• Develop training programs for faculty and staff related to financial processes and systems.
• Review and recommend updates to the Business Services web pages.
• Conduct campus training related to financial transactions, including the use of WISER, providing ongoing support for issues and questions.
• Communicate changes or updates to processes related to accounting functions to the campus community, including maintaining and updating web pages and publications.
• Identify opportunities for process automation to provide efficient, accurate, and cost-effective accounting operations for the university.
• Other duties as assigned by the Controller.

Department: Business Services

Compensation: $80,000 - $90,000 / year to commensurate with experience

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a business-related field from an accredited institution.
• Minimum five years of professional financial experience with demonstrated increasing responsibility.
• Knowledge of GAAP.
• Strong aptitude for understanding and analyzing accounting systems.
• Strong ability to review, analyze, and interpret financial data, policies, procedures, and regulations to create reports, complete reconciliations, prepare projections, and provide advisement.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in the use of Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to interact respectfully with people with diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Ability to conduct oneself with personal integrity and to perform work with high ethical standards.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in accounting or business administration from an accredited institution.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure.
• Supervisory experience.
• Experience in higher education.
• Knowledge of governmental or fund accounting.
• Proficient in the development of computer queries to extract accurate data and reports.

How to Apply:

Required application documents:

Cover letter (that addresses the required and preferred qualifications)

CV / Resume

Contact Information:

Mark Haakenson mhaakenson@uwlax.edu