Director of Student Accounts

Director of Student Accounts Arkansas State University‑Newport The Director of Student Accounts is responsible for supporting the success of Arkansas State University - Newport, as well as the college’s short and long-term financial well‑being, through the effective management of student accounts and college accounts receivable, as well as through payment collection, administration, and reconciliations. The Director fosters a highly collaborative, enthusiastic, innovative, accessible, engaged, and service‑oriented culture for internal and external stakeholders. As a custodian of college funds, the Director of Student Accounts provides leadership and direction for tuition and fee structures, refund processing, billing, receivables, and payments. The Director of Student Accounts is also responsible for the development and implementation of policies and procedures related to student finances and other areas of responsibility. Finally, the Director is responsible for implementing and maintaining a dynamic and responsive advising and analysis program for students and stakeholders, ensuring compliance, working collaboratively with various college departments, and developing solutions to elevated requests and concerns.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct, supervise, and mentor employees to develop and maintain a high-performance culture that values accountability, leadership, sound planning, service, and excellent execution. Set and evaluate goals for team member performance and actively develop team members. Lead and participate in strategic planning, departmental goal setting and evaluation, and continuous process and service improvement. Present a consistent voice for the department and foster mutual respect and understanding among internal and external stakeholders in a manner that improves support services. Oversee the student accounts receivable program, including, but not limited to, billing, payment plans, account receivable reconciliations, payment administration, collection procedures, write‑offs, bad debt, resolving discrepancies, and communication. Coordinate the accurate preparation and completion of state and federal tax forms and reports including, but not limited to, form 1098‑T. Ensure timely submittal of payments and reports to the IRS and other government entities. Oversee the preparation, evaluation, and processing of student account refunds in accordance with Title IV regulations, federal and state law, and college policy. Oversee third‑party billings for payment by government entities, employers, and other outside organizations. Maintain and update billing tables in the college’s financial system to assure all revenue and expenses are reflected appropriately in the general ledger. Utilize discretion in the enforcement and application of college policies, including, but not limited to, holds, collections placements, late fees, and policy exceptions. Analyze student accounts for accuracy, resolve discrepancies in a timely manner and ensure the proper posting of all charges and payments. Oversee and maintain merchant and payment services, including, but not limited to, online and credit card payment systems. Ensure our processing methods are modern and meet the changing needs of those we serve. Serve as the principal liaison to partners and vendors associated with student accounts and merchant services, including, but not limited to, payment processing companies and collections agencies. In addition, this position is the principal audit liaison for student financial services and ensures the timely and accurate completion of audit requests. Collaborate with enrollment management, financial aid, registrar’s office, housing, student affairs, academic affairs, finance, and other internal departments to ensure student account accuracy and the proper flow of information. Using excellent judgment, create systems, structures, and processes to prioritize requests, activities, and workflows in a customer‑friendly manner. Facilitate the use of data to inform decision‑making and planning. Perform special studies, research, and analysis of financial, student account, AR & budget matters and provide recommendations for courses of action. Partner with the finance team to ensure the timely completion of monthly and year‑end close processes. Collaborate with the finance team to manage the college’s accounts receivable program, including, but not limited to, billing, processing payments, customer service, and collections. Ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, and institutional laws, policies, and procedures. Communicate effectively to students, parents, faculty, staff, partners, and other stakeholders via all communication methods. Participate in various college events and committees as assigned. Coordinate, in collaboration with financial aid and the finance team, the accurate posting of internal and external financial aid to student accounts to include, but not limited to, reporting, updating billing statements, and refund processing. Reconcile all bank deposits. These include ACH/EFC deposits, daily cashier deposits for three campuses (each with a separate bank), credit card deposits for both the bookstore and food service, deposits received from online payments both through payment plans and ACH payments. Prepare and submit the college’s monthly sales tax report to the state. Prepare, verify, and submit a yearly list of unclaimed property to the state. Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum requirements include a Bachelor’s Degree. At least 3 years of experience in accounting, business operations, banking or related financial business. Experience with Microsoft office suite and higher education software.

QUALIFICATIONS

Working knowledge of college and university business practices. Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills. Able to lead effectively. Experience in the resolution of complaints and disputes. Preferred qualifications: experience in higher education accounting, collections, AR, and student/customer financial services. Able to independently set priorities to meet the needs of the organization and achieve needed results. RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUNDS, PROPERTY and EQUIPMENT Responsible for employees who maintain cashier funds, requires periodic audit checks.

TOOLS

None

TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE

Intermediate: Word Processing/Typing, Alphanumeric Data Entry, Database, Presentation/PowerPoint, Spreadsheets

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

1 full‑time employee

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Strong communication skills are required. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of students, faculty, administration or the general public. The ability to speak clearly so others can understand your instruction.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of known variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram formats.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Under general direction, working from policies and general directives. Rarely refers specific cases to supervisor unless clarification or interpretation of the organization’s policy is required or to inform of actions taken.

PLANNING

Considerable responsibility with regard to general assignments in planning time, method, manner, and/or sequence of performance of own work, in addition, the organization and delegation of work operations for a group of employees engaged in similar activities.

DECISION MAKING

Performs work operations which permit frequent opportunity for decision‑making of significant importance and also frequent opportunity for decision‑making of major importance, either of which would affect the work operations of small organizational component and the organization’s customers.

ANALYTICAL ABILITY / PROBLEM SOLVING

Moderately structured. Fairly broad activities using moderately structured procedures with only generally guided supervision. Interpolation of learned things in somewhat varied situations.

USE OF MACHINES, EQUIPMENT AND/OR COMPUTERS

Regular use office equipment (desktop/laptop computer and software)

ACCURACY

Probable errors would normally not be detected in succeeding operations and could possibly affect organization‑patron relationship, involve re‑work, or additional expenditures in order to properly resolve the error. The possibility of such errors would occur quite frequently in performance of the job. May also cause inaccuracies or incomplete information that would be used in other segments of the organization as a basis for making subsequent decisions, plans, or actions.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Frequent contacts with general public, students, parents, or other outside representatives, wherein the manner of handling these contacts has a bearing on the organization’s position and operation.

EMPLOYEE CONTACT

Contacts with other departments or offices and also frequently with individuals in middle level positions; consulting on problems that necessitate judgment and tact in presentation to obtain cooperation or approval of action to be taken. Also, important contacts with associates as required in advanced supervisory jobs.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

None

PREFERRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

None

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is continuously required to talk or hear; frequently required to stand; frequently required to walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms; and occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

There are no harmful environmental conditions that are present for this position. Some equipment may be hazardous.

NOTIFICATION

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visa at this time. #J-18808-Ljbffr Kinsley Power Systems