Director of Student Accounts

Position:

Director of Student Accounts

Reports to:

Chief Financial Officer

Job Summary:

Responsible for ensuring the integrity, accuracy, confidentiality and maintenance of student financial records in compliance with all state, accrediting and federal regulations. Respond to all inquiries during internal and external audits and to accreditation bodies. Manage tuition, billing, revenue recognition, bank deposits, cash receipts and the student refunds process. Oversee the accounts receivable portfolio of active and inactive students. Periodically review student records to ensure files contain current and accurate student data. Develop payment plans for students that take into account the students and families ability to pay tuition and fees. Requires superior customer service skills during frequent interactions with students and families with limited financial resources. Provides departmental leadership and guidance while managing Student Account department personnel. Consistently demonstrates a high degree of ethics, integrity and honesty.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Oversee student accounts and insure that accounting principles and practices are in compliance with all federal and state regulations.
2. Train, develop, and evaluate Student Account staff. Maintain and enhance customer service operations.
3. Responsible for accurate and on-time reporting of 1098-T records to third-party servicer and the IRS.
4. Manage all student billing, refunds and receivables in the Jenzabar system. Establish and implement all billing schedules and other semester processes to include Installment plans, Drop for Non-Payment, third party and late fees.
5. Collaborate with Business Office in implementing check depositing and reconciliation on campuses to reduce processing time and enhance revenue.
6. Maintain Account Receivable system rules in Jenzabar such as: registration fee assessment, contracts, Installment Plans, etc. Work with the Registrar’s Office to establish accurate parts of term dates and other semester set-up activities.
7. Oversee the application of payments from various sources to the student accounts records. Monitor all financial transactions to ensure timely and accurate postings and record keeping.
8. Manage the Jenzabar system interface of Student Accounts Receivable to Finance including application of payment. Anticipate and resolve issues with Finance Manager as needed.
9. Manage the aging of accounts, refunds, installment plans and collection of delinquent accounts through third party collections agencies and the State Intercept Program.
10. Facilitate and collaborate with the Bookstores and Information Systems to schedule bookstore credit periods. Reconcile these credits to the Student Accounts Receivable once posted. Review and authorize the payment of subsequent invoices each semester.
11. Analyze Student Accounts Receivable for patterns, trends and then implement changes to maximize collections. Provides other reports from data systems as needed.
12. System administrator of Transact that includes payment plan, e-bill, e-refund and e-payment solutions for students.
13. Provides accurate and timely communications to students and members of the college community regarding billing/student accounts. Ensure that all communication vehicles (web, text, email, website, print materials, phone, etc.) provide consistent and updated Student Accounts information.
14. Works closely with Information Technology to ensure data security and compliance within Federal and State guidelines. This includes, but is not limited to, compliance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI).
15. Determines, within College policies, when to authorize exceptions of outstanding debts and payment time frames. Reviews student appeals in regards to their overdue accounts. .
16. Oversee all operation of Financial Aid Office, as part of an audit team, to meet the requirements of the College’s annual A-133 Federal Audit, IPEDS and other compliance engagements as needed.
17. Ensure that the Student Accounts Policies and procedures are maintained for students, staff, the college community, and external auditors.
18. Oversees and manages additional services to students including, but not limited to small petty cash allowance.
19. Serve on college committees and teams as assigned.
20. Other duties as assigned by the Chief Financial Officer

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience with extensive knowledge of Title IV cash management regulations, administering federal and state aid programs
• Superior customer service skills, particularly interacting with students and families, many of whom with limited financial resources.
• Excellent project management skills; including planning, establishment of objectives, procedures and standards in order to develop and maintain records in a clear and logical manner.
• Excellent management and supervisory skills that include hiring, training, evaluating, motivating, coaching and developing staff.
• Must possess the analytical skills to gather and evaluate data from a variety of sources, draw conclusions, and make recommendations.
• Demonstrate a high degree of ethics, integrity, honesty and respect for confidential information.
• Ability to work effectively in a collegial environment.
• An appreciation and understanding of working in an inclusive, engaging and diverse college environment.
• Culturally sensitive, caring and friendly with a deep understanding and appreciation of a multi-cultural college community.
• At least five years’ of progressively responsible experience in Student Financial Services (Student Accounts and/or Financial Aid).
• Experience in accounting, billing and collecting accounts receivables in a college environment.
• Experience with financial aid processing and how it impacts the payment of a student’s bill is a must for this individual to succeed.
• Prior supervisory experience required.
• Demonstrated experience with student account/billing/receivable and financial aid systems utilizing a relational database is required. Experience with Jenzabar preferred.
• Excellent analytical, computational, written and verbal communication skills. Must be able to reconcile reports and systems, and communicate and resolve issues with various University constituents.
• Skills in problem solving, negotiation and advising are required.
• The ability to work as a member of a self-directed team in a learner-centered/customer-oriented, technology-intensive work environment. Demonstrated experience empowering and motivating staff to provide high quality service is required.
• Strong leadership and communication skills to successfully navigate a collaborative workspace.
• Ability to analyze, propose and implement solutions to problems. This individual must be well organized; detail oriented and possesses the ability to establish priorities.
• Demonstrated ability with Microsoft Office, in particular Excel and Word. Access experience is a plus. Ability to create reports from data systems
• Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to effectively interact with people of diverse socio-economic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds.
• Must be able to work occasional evenings and potentially weekends. Must have the ability to commute between campuses and to off campus events.

Please complete the application at: https://apply.appone.com/job/6a64213b2c7117f82a548cc8

For questions regarding the submission of application materials, please contact Anna Benefield, Director of Human Resources, at abenefield@thomasu.edu.