Financial Analyst​/Accountant

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The State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) manages more than $162 billion in assets, including those of the fully-funded Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). SWIB operates at a level more often seen in top-tier global asset managers than in typical public pension funds. SWIB is a home for top talent. Approximately 61 percent of SWIB’s investment professionals are Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holders.

The City of Madison, the state capitol and home of Wisconsin’s flagship university, makes regular appearances on lists of best places to live, eat, and play. SWIB offers a modern workspace, hybrid work options, and competitive compensation and benefits.

Serving over 692,000 WRS beneficiaries, SWIB is driven by a clear mission: securing the financial future of those who serve Wisconsin. When you work at SWIB, you know your work matters.

The Finance Division (Finance) serves the entire organization and is under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer. Finance is responsible for several critical functions at SWIB and comprises six teams:
Fund Administration (FA), Finance Operations (Fin Ops), Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Vendor Engagement and Oversight (VEO), Performance, and Operational, Financing & Counter party Risk Management (OFCR).

The Financial Analyst/Accountant is an early career role within the Finance Division focused on ensuring complete and accurate accounting information is produced and available for critical SWIB processes. This is a great opportunity to gain practical experience through ownership of a diverse slate of responsibilities at a leading financial institution. This position will work closely with other Fin Ops team members and report directly to the Financial Manager while also collaborating with teams across Finance and SWIB more broadly.

• Perform a variety of accounting activities including calculating expense accruals, performing expense reconciliations, recording key journal entries, processing payments to vendors, and facilitating SWIB’s payroll process.
• Own most of SWIB’s internal operating expense and revenue accounting.
• Record accounting entries into SWIB’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and provide accounting instructions to SWIB’s custodian and other reporting books.
• Develop a deep understanding of SWIB’s ERP system, Workday, and collaborate across SWIB divisions to develop, test, and implement ERP enhancements and controls.
• Support VEO/Procurement with contract management workflows and other ad hoc procurement activities.
• Manage SWIB’s travel expense management and reporting activities.
• Assume a leading role navigating Fin Ops’ key systems.
• Assist with the production of the annual WRS and SIF financial statements and related footnotes including research and analysis on new Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GB pronouncements.
• Understand complex investment strategies and determine the proper financial reporting treatment for each.
• Collaborate with management to review processes and implement changes.
• Perform complex, ad-hoc project as requested.
• Proficiently use software applications including MS Office and the ERP systems employed by both SWIB and the State of Wisconsin (Workday and People Soft).

• Holds a bachelor’s degree or higher in accounting, finance, or related field.
• Overall post-degree work experience of 0 to 2 years.
• Is comfortable navigating complex applications and can apply that experience to learn new platforms.
• Leverages their intellectual curiosity to continually learn and develop their skills.
• Is a self-starter with the ability to nimbly manage competing priorities.
• Can efficiently consume, distill, and communicate complex issues.
• Confidently manages both team and enterprise-level relationships through a focus on collaboration.
• Is driven by results, but focused on process.
• Challenges the status quo when appropriate.
• Is proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, most notably Excel.
• Possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Possesses…