Senior Manager, Collections

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Manager, Collections based in the United States. Overview Take the lead in shaping and optimizing collections operations within a mission-driven higher education environment. As Senior Manager, Collections, you will oversee end-to-end collection strategies, improve receivables recovery, reduce delinquency, and minimize bad debt exposure. You will use financial analytics, portfolio segmentation, and performance metrics to identify risks, improve cash flow, and deliver measurable results. Working closely with finance leadership and cross-functional teams, you will strengthen collection policies, optimize financial systems, and address the root causes of overdue accounts. You will also lead and develop a high-performing team, fostering accountability, ethical practices, and a culture of continuous improvement. This is an opportunity for an experienced financial leader to influence strategic decisions, modernize processes, and contribute directly to long-term financial sustainability. Accountabilities - Lead Collections Strategy and Operations - Develop and implement comprehensive collection strategies covering early-stage delinquency, intermediate and advanced collections, and external recovery activities. - Oversee the institution's external receivables portfolio, ensuring accounts progress efficiently through invoicing, payment follow-up, collection, reconciliation, recovery, and final resolution. - Establish collection protocols, portfolio segmentation criteria, escalation thresholds, recovery priorities, and operational performance standards. - Set annual and periodic collection targets, monitor progress against key performance indicators (KPIs), and recommend adjustments to improve results. - Review and enhance collection policies and procedures to strengthen consistency, efficiency, and compliance.

- Improve Financial Performance and Risk Management - Analyze receivables aging by customer, billing source, department, receivable type, outstanding balance, and risk level to identify trends and recovery opportunities. - Develop targeted collection initiatives to accelerate payment, prevent accounts from becoming increasingly overdue, and maximize recovery rates. - Prepare aging forecasts, collection projections, and financial performance analyses to support planning and decision-making. - Identify potential bad debt exposure and collaborate with accounting and finance leadership on appropriate reserves, write-offs, and risk mitigation strategies. - Recommend changes to payment terms, collection practices, and business processes when historical collection patterns indicate increased financial risk. - Develop executive dashboards and financial reports that translate complex data into actionable recommendations for senior leadership. - Optimize Processes, Systems, and Compliance - Lead continuous improvement initiatives that increase collection effectiveness, shorten recovery cycles, and strengthen overall invoice-to-cash performance. - Apply data analytics and process improvement methodologies to identify inefficiencies and implement scalable solutions. - Partner with technology teams to enhance Workday Financial Management and related enterprise resource planning systems. - Develop, maintain, and enforce collection policies, procedures, internal controls, and documentation standards. - Ensure collection activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, contractual obligations, institutional policies, and privacy requirements. - Lead and Develop a High-Performing Team - Provide strategic and operational leadership to the Collections Manager and/or collections team, establishing clear priorities, objectives, and performance expectations.