Assistant Vice President, Student Accounts

Mercer University•Macon, GA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Vice President, Student Accounts provides executive leadership and strategic oversight for all student financial services within the university. This role is pivotal in aligning operational initiatives with broader institutional goals, focusing on the development and implementation of long-term strategies for revenue collection, financial aid integration, cash flow optimization, and student retention. This position oversees the development, testing, and integration of financial systems and technology platforms, leading efforts to modernize student financial services and improve user experiences through technological advancements. The Assistant Vice President serves on multiple committees, including the Strategic Planning and Policy Review Team (SPPRT), Undergraduate and Graduate Councils, and the Associate Deans Council, where they provide critical financial insights and recommendations for new academic programs, resource allocation, and tuition pricing. As Chair of the Retroactive Enrollment and Refund Appeals Committee, this role ensures that student appeals are evaluated in compliance with Title IV regulations while balancing fiscal responsibility and student success. Additionally, the Chair of the Student Services Advisory Committee facilitates collaboration among student service offices to assess the impact of policy changes on the university, ensuring financial implications are effectively communicated and addressed. The Assistant Vice President, Student Accounts leads initiatives to enhance student financial accessibility, retention, and satisfaction, including managing the university’s Cohort Default Rate. This includes collaboration with external auditors, legal counsel, and regulatory entities to ensure compliance and audit readiness, as well as negotiating contracts for student financial services and managing vendor partnerships. Key responsibilities also encompass the oversight of internal controls, conducting risk assessments, and implementing effective policies for student financial services. This includes ensuring the accurate preparation and compliance of the 1098-T forms, as well as providing training and educational opportunities for staff on compliance issues and best practices in student account management. With executive oversight of Assistant Bursars and senior staff across multiple campuses, the Assistant Vice President leads strategic workforce planning and staff development initiatives that align with the university's mission and goals. This role possesses decision-making authority on policies that affect student accounts and financial aid disbursement, ensuring adherence to federal and state regulations.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, or a related field from an accredited college/university.
A minimum of five years of related experience, which must include accounting, accounts receivable, and business management.
Two years of which must be in a supervisory role.
A valid driver's license.
Must be insurable by the university's carrier.
Strong analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a senior management team.
Resume
Cover letter
List of three professional references with contact information

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Business Management or Accounting.
Prior Higher Education Bursar/Student Loans experience.

Responsibilities

Provides executive leadership and strategic oversight for all student financial services within the university.
Aligns operational initiatives with broader institutional goals, focusing on revenue collection, financial aid integration, cash flow optimization, and student retention.
Oversees the development, testing, and integration of financial systems and technology platforms.
Serves on multiple committees, including the Strategic Planning and Policy Review Team (SPPRT), Undergraduate and Graduate Councils, and the Associate Deans Council.
Chairs the Retroactive Enrollment and Refund Appeals Committee.
Chairs the Student Services Advisory Committee.
Leads initiatives to enhance student financial accessibility, retention, and satisfaction, including managing the university’s Cohort Default Rate.
Collaborates with external auditors, legal counsel, and regulatory entities to ensure compliance and audit readiness.
Negotiates contracts for student financial services and manages vendor partnerships.
Oversees internal controls, conducts risk assessments, and implements effective policies for student financial services.
Ensures accurate preparation and compliance of 1098-T forms.
Provides training and educational opportunities for staff on compliance issues and best practices in student account management.
Leads strategic workforce planning and staff development initiatives.
Possesses decision-making authority on policies that affect student accounts and financial aid disbursement.