Director, Student Accounts

Job Title: Director, Student Accounts

Division: Enrollment and Marketing

Evaluation Group: Staff Administrator             

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Assistant Vice President, Student Financial Services

Positions Supervised: Manager, Corporate Accounts; Manager, Business Office Collections; Specialist, Senior Student Accounts; Senior Student Accounts Representative; Student Accounts Representative

The director of student accounts is responsible for providing leadership, training, and direction to the Student Accounts staff. Responsibilities include tuition and fee assessment, refund processing, student billing, managing receivables, payments, and collections. The director manages the collection process for current and past due accounts. This position resides within the Student Financial Services (SFS) department and provides senior-level administrative support to University leadership. The director of student accounts works closely with Financial Aid, and other departments, to ensure the highest level of service as well as efficient business operations.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and level of responsibility that will be required of positions given this title. This job description shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of this position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Job Responsibilities and Execution

• Develops and oversees effective strategies to collect student receivables from current and past due accounts
• Ensures the effective, compliant, and efficient daily management of all operational, financial, and business functions, including federal cash management and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations
• Provides financial counseling to students and parents on the resources available to afford a Lindenwood University education
• Prepares accurate billing statements to include tuition, fees, housing, meal plans, and other charges
• Manages the processing of tuition payments in a timely manner
• Monitors student refund processing for compliance and accuracy
• Responds to student account inquiries quickly, courteously, and correctly
• Oversees third-party billing with outside agencies
• Assists with the processing of 1098-T statements
• Monitors collection activity for out-of-school accounts
• Approves and processes account adjustments within acceptable thresholds determined by the chief financial officer (CFO) and vice president of enrollment and marketing
• Processes deposits for Athletics and various campus departments
• Assists in the preparation of critical reports and presentations

Leadership and Strategic Thinking

• Establishes long- and short-term strategic goals based on assessment data and ensures standards for the department and its field are met or exceeded
• Adapts and modifies leadership based on new information and/or data; works to set and unite people on the new direction
• Utilizes effective strategies to build collaboration for maximum execution
• Aligns division/department purpose and actions with relevant University initiatives and higher education trends
• Contributes to the development of strategic initiatives that support the University’s mission and goals

Employee Management and Development

• Supports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence
• Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University’s values
• Recruits, interviews, recommends, welcomes, observes, and monitors performance of department staff
• Sets clear performance expectations and holds employees accountable
• Conducts annual employee evaluations based on evidence, observation, and feedback

Job may require other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications – An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered. Additional requirements may be designated by position.

• Bachelor’s degree; master’s degree preferred
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in higher education student accounts/financial services

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – May be representative, but not all inclusive, of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform this job competently.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with board members, faculty, staff, colleagues, students, and community
• Effective problem solving, organizational, and prioritization skills
• Ability to work on multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to use good judgment, think critically, and demonstrate attention to detail
• Knowledge of general office hardware and computer software applications including Microsoft Office Suite

Work Environment – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of this job’s functions.  Please click here to view Lindenwood University’s flexible work designation descriptions

• General office setting
• Non-Standard Flex
• Designated quiet, distraction-free workspace with reliable, high-speed internet and camera for video calls
• Considerable phone and computer time, utilizing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) system

Physical Abilities – The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to work effectively at a computer for extended time daily
• Ability to sit for extended time periods
• Adequately mobile to attend meetings and events on campus
• Ability to use repetitive wrist, hand, and finger movements to type regularly
• Ability to lift/carry items commonly found in an office setting including, but not limited to, documents, laptops, etc.
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function