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This position has closed. University of Wisconsin-Madison removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Non-Profit Financial Manager

University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI

Posted Sep 11, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you found an error in financial reports after they went out. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they correct mistakes openly and quickly, which protects trust with boards and auditors.

How do you supervise AP and AR staff so controls are strong without slowing everything down?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance internal controls with day-to-day efficiency.

What would you do

The Executive Director of Friends wants to spend on a new initiative mid-year. How do you help them decide?

What they are checking: Whether they can be a useful partner who shows the tradeoffs rather than just saying no.

How would you explain the organization's financial health to a board member who doesn't read financial statements?

What they are checking: Whether they can turn numbers into a clear story for volunteer leaders.

You'd start with Friends of PBS Wisconsin and later support Wisconsin Public Radio's group. How would you learn two organizations without dropping either?

What they are checking: Whether they can plan their onboarding and keep both organizations well served.

About the work

You'd run finances for legally separate 501(c)(3)s that work closely with a university division. How would you keep their books and decisions properly separate?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the governance and accounting boundaries between a friends group and a public university.

Walk me through how you lead the preparation for an annual financial statement audit.

What they are checking: Whether they can run an audit cleanly with schedules, reconciliations and timelines ready before the auditors arrive.

What parts of Form 990 take the most care, and how do you make sure it's accurate?

What they are checking: Whether they know the public, detailed nature of the 990 and handle it with care.

How do you account for restricted gifts, pledges and multi-year donations?

What they are checking: Whether they know nonprofit revenue recognition and donor restriction rules.

What financial support do fundraising events need, and how do you track whether they actually make money?

What they are checking: Whether they can measure event net revenue honestly, including costs that are easy to miss.

How do you manage treasury and banking relationships for a smaller nonprofit?

What they are checking: Whether they think about cash flow, investment policy and bank controls.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at University of Wisconsin-Madison from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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. Job Category: Academic Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Financial Manager Job Summary: Play a vital role in the success of PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio as our new non-profit financial manager! This position will manage the financial operations of the legally separate fundraising organizations for PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio, focusing initially on Friends of PBS Wisconsin (Friends). This position will work closely with the finance team within the Wisconsin Public Media (WPM) Division of the University of Wisconsin-Madison while running the financial operations of the 501c3s including: financial reporting and analysis, budgeting, treasury/banking relations, supervision of accounts payable and receivable, fundraising event support, and various other financial duties. The non-profit financial manager will serve as the lead in the preparation of the annual financial statements which are audited, and annual Form 990 tax filings. The non-profit financial manager reports to the WPM Finance Director and is a key partner for the Executive Director of Friends and the Wisconsin Public Radio Association (WPRA). This position supervises non-profit finance staff. As legally independent organizations, Friends and WPRA use a separate accounting system from UW-Madison. The non-profit financial manager will have oversight of all aspects of the accounting system, including the chart of accounts and report creation. This is a full-time, 40-hour-a-week, ongoing/renewable position. You’ll receive a competitive salary, recognition of work-life balance and excellent benefits as part of UW-Madison. This position is a hybrid position and will require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. For example, the Non-Profit Financial Manager will be responsible for the cash controls at fundraising events. The final schedule can be discussed in the offer stage, but fully remote candidates will not be accepted. Remote work requires an approved flexible work arrangement (FWA). A FWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee. You’ll join a fun-loving, hard-working finance team whose work supports bringing PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio to the residents of Wisconsin. Key Job Responsibilities: • Recommends, interprets, disseminates, and implements unit-focused fiscal policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with established rule, regulations and financial guidelines • Identifies, verifies, and audits financial charges, credits, and authorizes payments • Serves as a subject matter expert to unit leadership regarding financial operations, status and reporting, and recommends process improvements • May exercise 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 FTE or equivalent employees • Analyzes financial information and makes recommendations to unit leadership • Plans, directs, and engages in financial and/or accounting operations for multiple areas; coordinates data management, budget preparation and management, and financial reporting efforts • Provide financial oversight and cash controls at events (i.e., Great Wisconsin Quilt Show and Garden and Green Living Expo) • Participates in the development, maintenance, and monitoring of automated financial information systems • Prepare and present financial reports with accompanying explanations for a governance body/board • Work with external auditors to prepare annual financial statements in accordance with GAAP • Prepare the annual tax filings (Form 990 and applicable state filings) Department: UWMSN | WPM | PBS WI Development Administration PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio are part of Wisconsin Public Media, a Division of UW-Madison. The person in this position will be required to comply with the Wisconsin Public Media Code of Ethics: https://wpm.wisc.edu/policies/, in addition to the UW-Madison code of ethics. Compensation: Expected salary range for this position is $95,000 up to $105,000. Actual pay will depend on experience and qualifications. Actual pay will depend on experience and qualifications. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf . Required Qualifications: • 3+ years of progressive, multi-faceted experience in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, accounting, financial analysis, or related functions • Experience working with financial management software and reporting tools, including Microsoft Excel or similar spreadsheet software • Experience building collaborative relationships with leaders, business partners, governance boards, or external stakeholders • Strong verbal and written communications skills Preferred Qualifications: • Certified Public Accountant strongly preferred • Experience preparing and/or auditing GAAP financial statements in a complex reporting environment • Accounting or financial experience with non-profit organizations, public media, university or governmental entity • Supervisory experience Education: A Bachelor’s Degree or higher in accounting, finance, or related field is required How to Apply: Click the "Apply" button to start the application process. Please note, there is only one attachment field. You must upload all of your documents in the attachment field, either as one combined document, or separate documents. The following must be received for your application to be complete. Failure to submit the required documents will result in no longer being considered for the position: 1) A cover letter referring to your related work experience 2) A resume detailing your educational and professional background Failure to follow these application instructions may result in applications receiving less competitive consideration. We are eager to learn more about how your experience may align with this position. Please submit a cover letter referring to your related work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background. Please keep in mind your cover letter and/or resume should address your experience and how it relates to the position qualifications. Application reviewers will rely on the written application materials to determine which candidates may advance to first-round interviews. Materials will be evaluated based on how clearly they demonstrate the Required and Preferred Qualifications for the position, as well as grammar and writing mechanics. Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. Finalists will be asked to provide a list of at least three professional references with titles, emails, and phone numbers (including at least one supervisory reference). Note that references will not be contacted without your prior knowledge. Contact Information: Lili Gagliano, lili.gagliano@wisc.edu, 608.890.4747 Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information. Institutional Statement on Diversity: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website . To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you. Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department .