We’re seeking session proposals for the Finance@UW Conference, designed for finance professionals across UW—Madison and the Universities of Wisconsin. Content tracks include Strategic Leadership, Financial Operations and Compliance, Operational Excellence and Productivity, Collaboration and Customer Service, Career Management, and Financials Across Campus. Presenters are encouraged to offer practical insights, innovative strategies, or success stories. If you have expertise, tools, or experiences to share, we invite you to contribute.
Criteria
Audience
Conference participants are UW–Madison employees in finance, including staff in the finance job group, as well as administrative specialists, department administrators, and others whose positions include responsibility for financial functions. The conference typically brings together 600+ participants.
Honorarium
All selected speakers are provided with complimentary registration to attend the full conference, however, the Office of Human Resources, nor the Division of Business Services, provide an honorarium for presentations at the Finance@UW Conference. Presenters should cover all their individual travel expenses if selected to present in-person.
Guidelines
Each facilitated breakout session will be 75-minutes in length and must be linked to one or more of the conference topics listed below. Individuals should refrain from self-promotion of products and/or services. Each proposal will be reviewed for:
- Clarity: Well-defined learning objectives that can be met in the allotted time-frame
- Relevance: Timeliness of topic/content is clearly stated; offers clear, specific, and useful best practices
- Quality: Objective for the proposal is clearly stated and supported by the information provided; depth of information; measurable outcomes; expertise of proposed speaker(s)
- Ability to Replicate: Viable, current best practices that can easily be replicated in participants’ units/departments; provides practical approaches that can be quickly adopted
2026 Important Dates and Timelines
- Proposal Submission Period: September 13 – December 19, 2025
- Notice of Acceptance: January 2
- Tech and Logistical Information Due: January 16
- Presentation Materials Due: March 10
- Conference Date: March 17
Topics
- Strategic Leadership
- Financial Operations & Compliance
- Operational Excellence and Productivity
- Collaboration and Customer Service
- Career Management
- Financials Across Campus
Explore leading with purpose, navigating complexity, and supporting big picture institutional goals and systems.
- Capital budgeting and financing
- Campus budget approach
- Adaptive leadership
- Leadership agility and innovation
- Financial planning and analysis for institutional growth
- Building a culture of financial stewardship
- Leading through change
Support day-to-day financial management, policy adherence, and audit readiness.
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Internal controls and risk management
- Navigating federal and state compliance
- Grants and sponsored programs financial management
- New or updates to state or federal guidelines, regulations, and/or requirements
Focus on tangible tools and strategies for process improvement, time management, and performance optimization.
- Time management and prioritization strategies
- Data-driven decision-making
- Project management essentials
- Change management and implementation
- AI and integration of technology into workflows
- Workday trainings and updates
Enhance collaboration and service by strengthening relationships across campus and improving the financial experience for all stakeholders. This track focuses on practical strategies for communication, partnership, and user-centered service delivery in university finance operations.
- Cross functional collaboration
- Communicating financial information with clarity and impact
- Customer service best practices in financial operations
- Building financial literacy for non-finance employees
- Navigating difficult conversations
- Building trust within and across teams
- Giving and receiving constructive feedback
Learn about your professional development, career planning, growth, mentorship, and skill advancement best practices and opportunities on campus.
- Employee resources for their career growth
- Career mapping and goal setting
- Navigating career transitions
- Building a professional network
Gain insight into the financial landscape of the university by exploring the history, current operations, challenges, and future initiatives of financial units across campus. This track introduces attendees to the people and projects that shape financial decision-making and support institutional success.