Associate Bursar

Southern Connecticut State University is a diverse and student-centered university dedicated to academic excellence, access, and service for the public good. Southern provides a supportive and welcoming environment for all members of its community through a campus wide commitment to social justice. Founded as a teacher’s college in 1893, Southern has evolved over the past century into a comprehensive public university of more than 9,000 students, offering graduate and undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and professional disciplines. It is one of four universities in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System. The University is located in New Haven, a city rich with arts and culture, and less than 90 miles from New York City and 140 miles from Boston.

The Associate Bursar is primarily responsible for assisting the Bursar in planning, directing, and coordinating the operations of the Student Accounts Office. These responsibilities include technical systems management, administration of the student health insurance program, tuition and fee assessment maintenance, management of the payment plan program, monitor and provide training for compliance with federal and state regulations, and direct oversight of the billing process, collection efforts, and communications for student receivables.

Position Responsibilities

Assist the Bursar with the management and administration of the University’s enterprise resource planning system and electronic billing and payment system.

Responsible for updating tuition and fee assessment, billing timelines, and various departmental deadline information within the University’s systems.

Oversee the payment plan program to ensure accessibility to students and promote collection of accounts receivable.

Assist the Bursar with direction of the daily operations of the Student Accounts Office.

Assist the Bursar with the management, supervision, selection, training and evaluation of the Office’s professional staff, clerical staff, and student workers.

Coordinate the past due payment processes, including drop for-nonpayment and the placement / removal of accounts receivable student holds.

Monitor delinquent receivable accounts, tax write-off procedures, internal collection efforts, and assignments to contracted collection agencies.

Assist the Bursar in overseeing the procedures related to the federal programs, cash management, and accounts receivable functions primarily performed by the Assistant Bursar’s.

Assist the Bursar in research and development of technologies that will maximize efficiency for the department and enhance the student experience with the Student Accounts Office.

Represent the department in discussions with various University Offices and committees internal and external to the organization on behalf of the Bursar.

Assist the Bursar in compiling data and writing reports for internal and external communication of accounts receivable activity, to prepare audit request submissions, to implement and maintain compliance checkpoints, and to monitor performance.

Maintain the student health insurance program, including technical systems, timelines, bill reconciliation, and providing direction to staff regarding the collection of payment and waivers.

Maintain and update the Student Accounts Office website and communication materials as needed.

Assists in the review and processing of all Federal Student Aid / Plus loan refunds and refunds associated with overpayments to ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations.

Assist the Bursar in supervising the receipt and deposit of all revenues collected by the University.

Remain current in best practices specific to areas of responsibility and ensures compliance with all board policies, state regulations, and federal regulations.

Recommend and implement policies and procedures related to all areas of responsibility.

Support the Bursar in researching opportunities to optimize the student experience through effective communication plans and efficient processing.

Conduct presentations on financial responsibilities and University policies during orientation programs.

Counsel students and parents regarding financial responsibilities to the University.

Resolve students’ needs and billing problems in conjunction with the Financial Aid Office, Registrars, Records, Admissions and Residence Life.

Perform other duties related to those described above that do not alter the basic level of responsibility of the position.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or related field required. Master’s Degree preferred. A minimum four years of experience in collections required, tuition experience preferred, supervisory experience preferred, and demonstrated knowledge of current federal regulation concerning due diligence and bankruptcy regulation preferred. Candidate must possess excellent communication skills with demonstrated competence in handling complex information and the ability to relate positively to students, parents and University staff. Experience with computers and windows based software is required, experience with ERP systems (Banner) preferred. These qualifications may be waived for individuals with appropriate alternate experience.