Senior Accountant, Endowment

Senior Accountant, Endowment

Senior Accountant, Endowment 150 150 shaun.dow@supportuw.org
Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA)
Published
February 15, 2023
Location
Madison
Category
Job Type
Contact Name (not public)
Denise Jelinek
Main Phone
608-308-5195

Description

Overview

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA)*, the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is recruiting for a Senior Accountant.  The Senior Accountant, Endowment is responsible for the accounting and reporting related to the Organization’s approximately $3.0 billion endowment and for transactions and data within the endowment manager software.  Other responsibilities include general accounting tasks, mostly related to accounts/pledges receivable and contribution revenue.  This position is a hybrid role and will require you to work in the office at least two days weekly.

Who is WFAA?
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is a private, nonprofit corporation that encourages individuals and organizations to make gifts to the university and to connect with the UW. In 2014, the UW Foundation merged with the Wisconsin Alumni Association® to better serve a growing population of UW alumni and donors. We believe that private support grows out of good relationships between campus leaders, faculty and program staff who need support, and the alumni and friends who want to invest in UW–Madison. We provide important engagement opportunities to link UW–Madison alumni to each other and to their alma mater, building a strong community of Badgers.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Just as the university community benefits from differing viewpoints, perspectives, and experiences, inclusion and diversity are imperative for the success of our mission. WFAA values people and the differences that they bring to the organization, and creates an environment in which all staff members and constituents feel respected and have opportunities to thrive.

Essential Functions

Endowment Accounting and Management 

  • Maintain integrity of fund data and process transactions within the endowment management software 
  • Performs routine, periodic accounting / quarterly close procedures for all investment pools and the underlying funds, determining pool pricing, initiating purchases/sales of units, and determining updated market value 
  • Perform reconciliations between the investment custodian, the general ledger, and the endowment management software 
  • Review and provide approvals and recommendations regarding reinvestment requests, transfers into or out of funds, negative cash balances, and perform related accounting entries.  Requires understanding of UPMIFA, GAAP, and internal policies. 
  • Review endowment fund agreements and amendments as necessary 
  • Responsible for implementing new modules and/or enhanced user options within the endowment management software 
  • Initiate and/or respond to both written and oral communication designed to share fund-related information and build service-oriented relationships with fund stakeholders 

Reporting

  • Perform fund activity summaries, routine query reporting, as well as financial modeling and trend analyses, as needed, in support of both standard and ad-hoc reporting requirements. 
  • Prepare annual audit workpapers, financial statements schedules and footnotes related to endowments  
  • Communicate with and respond to client inquiries and requests for information, help manage expectations, and build service-oriented relationships with fund stakeholders. 
  • Responsible for the development of queries and reports related to donor requests for information, and stewardship of designated funds and fund groups. 

Policies, Procedures, and Internal Control 

  • Assist in development, implementation and documentation of policies and procedures designed to provide accurate, timely accounting information on both a periodic and ad hoc basis to donors, campus constituents, development officers and other interested parties. 
  • Performs review of internal controls relevant to fund accounting as part of the organization’s annual internal controls review program 

Receivable/Revenue & General Accounting 

  • Monitor and post pledge receivable activity provided to the general ledger from the CRM system, assuring accurate and timely fund-level reporting 
  • Complete pledge reconciliations, approve write-offs and calculate pledge discount and allowance 
  • Assist with accounting for donor challenge programs and related tasks to record allocations and track progress in collaboration with gift services 
  • Assist with reconciliation of revenue reporting between KPIs and general ledger 
  • Support general accounting department tasks  

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related Business field; or appropriate combination of education and experience 
  • Accounting and/or auditing experience in a not-for-profit setting, with demonstrable knowledge of GAAP, especially regarding net asset classes and donor restrictions  
  • Basic knowledge of investment accounting and fund accounting concepts 
  • 3+ years’ accounting experience 

 Other Qualifications: 

  • Previous supervisory or leadership experience  
  • Experience with accounting related to endowments & endowment management software (Fundriver a plus) and/or experience with investment concepts (mutual funds, unit pricing) 
  • General ledger system experience (Experience with NetSuite or Salesforce not required, but a plus!) 
  • Proficient excel skills and an ability to utilize advanced functions within excel to perform data analysis and reconciliations 
  • Ability to communicate effectively (both oral and written) and professionally with internal and external contacts 
  • Strong customer service and relationship building skills 
  • Demonstrated self-starter and ability to work independently 
  • Approach tasks and processes with a process improvement mindset 
  • Comfortable providing basic process/system guidance to small staff groups on a periodic basis 
  • Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, and ability to work on a variety of tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines 

 

WFAA is committed to provide our employees with an environment that is inspiring, creative and respectful. We offer competitive pay and an excellent benefits program, which includes a 10% 401k contribution after 1 year of service!

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer *The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is the “doing business as” name of the merged organization comprising the University of Wisconsin Foundation (supportuw.org) and the Wisconsin Alumni Association (uwalumni.com). Its legal corporate name is registered as the University of Wisconsin Foundation.

How To Apply