Bursar

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences•Yakima, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Bursar leads the University’s student accounts function and is responsible for the effective administration of student billing, tuition and fee assessment, payment processing, financial aid disbursement coordination, student refunds, collections, account reconciliation, and related student financial services. The position ensures that student financial activity is accurate, timely, properly documented, and reconciled between the University’s student information and financial systems. The Bursar serves as Finance’s primary resource for student accounts and collaborates closely with Financial Aid, Enrollment Services, academic programs, Finance, and other University departments to support students while maintaining strong financial controls and regulatory compliance. The Bursar directly supervises the Assistant Bursar and leads improvements to student account policies, procedures, systems, and service delivery. As a leader of others, the Bursar coaches and develops the Assistant Bursar, sets clear expectations and holds the team accountable with care, builds trust-based relationships across the departments that touch a student’s financial experience, and models the compassionate, student-focused service PNWU expects in every student interaction.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field from an accredited institution.
Four years of progressively responsible experience in student accounts, accounts receivable, accounting, financial aid, or a closely related financial function, including experience training, guiding, or supervising others.
An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential functions of the position.
Strong understanding of student financial operations, account reconciliation, and the federal and state requirements affecting student accounts, billing, refunds, and tax reporting.
High degree of integrity, accountability, confidentiality, and professional judgment.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate and timely financial information, with the ability to recognize unusual transactions, reconciliation problems, and control concerns and escalate significant matters appropriately.
Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
Strong written and verbal communication and customer-service skills, including the ability to explain complex financial information clearly and kindly to students and non-financial audiences.
Ability to collaborate effectively across Finance, Financial Aid, Enrollment Services, academic programs, and other University departments.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines and cyclical workloads.
Demonstrated ability to coach and develop staff, set clear expectations, recognize good work, and hold people accountable with directness and care.
Ability to build a cohesive team environment grounded in trust, psychological safety, and open communication in every direction.
Skill in delegating thoughtfully, matching responsibility to capability and readiness, and providing clear technical guidance.
Ability to lead through change and periods of transition with stability and transparent communication.
Ability to resolve conflict constructively and to address performance concerns early, directly, and with compassion.
Ability to connect the team’s work to PNWU’s mission and to the students and communities the University serves.
Commitment to internal controls, documentation, process improvement, and responsible stewardship of University resources.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and for the duration of their employment with PNWU. Employment eligibility will be verified in accordance with federal law.

Nice To Haves

Experience with student information systems (SIS) and related financial systems.

Responsibilities

Oversee student accounts receivable operations and ensure transactions are processed accurately and timely.
Coordinate and review tuition, fees, charges, credits, payments, waivers, scholarships, and other student account activity.
Ensure tuition and fee schedules and related configurations are accurately established and maintained in the student information system.
Coordinate financial setup for new programs, tuition rates, fees, and other student charges.
Review student accounts for unusual balances, discrepancies, incorrect charges, unapplied activity, and other issues requiring resolution.
Ensure student account adjustments are properly authorized, documented, and processed.
Establish and maintain procedures and timelines for recurring student account processes.
Work closely with Financial Aid to coordinate the application of federal, state, institutional, and other financial aid to student accounts.
Oversee the review and processing of financial aid disbursements and ensure activity is accurately reflected in student accounts and the general ledger.
Oversee student refunds and ensure they are accurately calculated, authorized, processed, and recorded on a timely basis.
Monitor returned or rejected student payments and refunds and coordinate resolution.
Support compliance with applicable requirements governing student financial transactions and refunds.
Partner with Financial Aid and Finance to investigate and resolve discrepancies involving student balances, aid disbursements, or financial reporting.
Ensure timely reconciliation of student accounts receivable and related activity between the student information system, general ledger, bank activity, financial aid records, and other applicable systems.
Review and approve recurring student account reconciliations and investigate significant or unusual reconciling items.
Work with accounting staff to ensure tuition, fees, receivables, deferred revenue, financial aid, refunds, and other student-related activity are recorded accurately and in the proper accounting period.
Support the establishment and maintenance of appropriate accounting structures for new programs, tuition and fees, scholarships, and other student financial activity.
Provide student account and tuition information needed for monthly and year-end financial close.
Identify accounting errors, reconciliation issues, unusual activity, and control concerns and promptly communicate significant matters to the Director of Budget & Financial Planning.
Oversee processing and posting of student payments and other assigned University receipts.
Ensure cash, checks, ACH, electronic payments, and other receipts are appropriately recorded, safeguarded, deposited, and reconciled.
Maintain appropriate controls over payment processing, deposits, refunds, and other student financial transactions.
Coordinate with Finance staff regarding bank activity and reconciliation of student-related cash transactions.
Support continued movement toward secure and efficient electronic payment and refund processes.
Serve as the primary University resource for complex student account questions and escalated financial matters.
Ensure students receive accurate, timely, and understandable information about balances, charges, payments, refunds, and other student financial matters, delivered with patience, respect, and an understanding of the challenges many PNWU students face.
Oversee payment arrangements and collection activities in accordance with University policies.
Monitor past-due student accounts and coordinate appropriate follow-up and collection activity.
Coordinate accounts placed with external collection agencies and monitor collection status as applicable.
Develop and maintain student account policies and procedures that balance responsible financial stewardship with compassionate, consistent student service, and examine existing practices through the lens of PNWU’s values.
Collaborate with University departments to resolve financial matters that may affect enrollment, registration, graduation, or other student activities.
Coordinate annual preparation and reporting of Forms 1098-T and related student tax reporting requirements.
Maintain knowledge of applicable federal and state requirements affecting student accounts, billing, refunds, and financial transactions.
Maintain records and supporting documentation consistent with University policies, regulatory requirements, and record-retention standards.
Support compliance activities related to federal student aid and other student financial programs in collaboration with Financial Aid and other responsible departments.
Establish and maintain effective internal controls and appropriate segregation of duties within Student Accounts.
Prepare Student Accounts schedules, reconciliations, reports, and supporting documentation for the annual financial statement audit and other audits or reviews.
Respond to auditor requests and assist with research and resolution of Student Accounts questions.
Identify unusual transactions, reconciliation differences, policy exceptions, control concerns, and compliance risks and promptly escalate significant matters to the Director of Budget & Financial Planning.
Implement corrective actions arising from audits, reviews, or identified control deficiencies.
Serve as Finance’s primary functional resource for Student Accounts within the University’s student information system.
Participate actively in implementation, testing, configuration, training, and optimization of Student Accounts functionality within the SIS and related financial systems.
Ensure Student Accounts configurations, interfaces, and financial processes support accurate student records and general ledger reporting.
Identify opportunities to improve and automate billing, payments, refunds, reconciliations, collections, and student-service processes.
Maintain current written procedures, processing calendars, documentation, and training materials for Student Accounts.
Partner with Financial Aid, Enrollment Services, Information Technology, Finance, and other departments to strengthen student financial workflows and data integrity.
Supervise, train, and establish clear performance expectations, accountabilities, and priorities for the Assistant Bursar.
Coach and develop the Assistant Bursar toward their full potential and career goals, providing timely, specific, and growth-oriented feedback, technical guidance, and professional development opportunities.
Delegate thoughtfully, matching responsibility to capability and readiness, and expand delegated authority as skill and confidence grow.
Assign and monitor work to ensure recurring responsibilities and deadlines are completed accurately and timely, and recognize good work.
Address performance concerns early, directly, and with care, creating space for learning and growth.
Build a Student Accounts team culture grounded in trust, psychological safety, and open communication, where the Assistant Bursar has a voice in decisions that affect their work.
Establish appropriate cross-training and backup coverage for critical Student Accounts responsibilities.
Provide technical guidance to the Assistant Bursar and other University employees regarding student financial processes.
Lead the Student Accounts function through system implementations and periods of change with stability and transparent communication, regularly asking whether the function is doing the right things for students and the University.
Model accountability, transparency, service, collaboration, timely communication, and continuous improvement, and hold the team accountable for results and for the way those results are achieved.
Perform job duties in accordance with safety, legal, and regulatory requirements; University policy and procedures; and accepted business practices.
Act with the highest level of professional ethical standards in all aspects of job performance, in accordance with the mission and values of PNWU.
Understand and adhere to accreditation standards and expectations specific to the department.
Other duties as assigned