Collections & Accounts Receivable Manager

Howard University

About The Position

The Collections & Accounts Receivable Manager oversees university-wide past-due account management, directs internal and external collections efforts, and ensures compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. The role monitors aging, resolves complex account issues, manages payment plans, supports audits, and collaborates with campus partners to maintain accurate, student-centered financial operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required, a degree in business, finance, accounting, public administration, or a related field preferred.
Minimum of 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in student accounts, collections, accounts receivable, billing, loan servicing, or a related financial operations environment.
Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and institutional regulations related to billing and collections (e.g., FERPA, FDCPA, Title IV implications, state collection laws).
Experience managing, monitoring, and analyzing aging reports, receivables trends, and collections performance metrics.
Proven ability to resolve complex account issues involving financial aid, registration, refunds, payment plans, and account adjustments.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage professionally and empathetically with students, families, and campus partners.
Experience working with ERP systems (Workday preferred) and comfort using reporting tools to extract, interpret, and present financial data.
Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail and accuracy.
Ability to develop, document, and refine workflows, standard operating procedures, outreach templates, and compliance processes.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams such as Financial Aid, Registrar, General Accounting, and Treasury.
Ability to handle confidential information responsibly and maintain the highest level of discretion.

Responsibilities

Oversee the full lifecycle of student accounts receivable, including monitoring balances, aging, past-due accounts, and collections activity across all student populations.
Lead internal and external collections efforts, including coordination with third-party collection agencies, federal loan servicers, and internal stakeholders to ensure timely and compliant recovery of outstanding balances.
Develop, implement, and refine collections strategies, outreach protocols, payment arrangement guidelines, and escalation pathways that align with university policy and regulatory requirements.
Provide high-level review of student accounts requiring specialized consideration— including financial hardship, bankruptcy, deceased student cases, fraud concerns, and payment disputes—and recommend appropriate actions.
Collaborate with external vendors and internal team including Financial Aid, Registrar, Treasury, and General Accounting to address account discrepancies, apply adjustments, and resolve issues affecting student billing or aid eligibility.
Maintain accurate and organized documentation of collections activity, payment plans, communications, and account adjustments to support compliance, audit readiness, and institutional reporting.
Prepare and analyze regular collections, aging, and performance reports for leadership, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities for process improvement.
Oversee and support the design and execution of payment plans, including eligibility review, approval workflows, and monitoring adherence to established terms.
Ensure compliance with FERPA, FDCPA, federal and state regulations, and institutional policies governing billing and collections activities.
Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, internal workflows, staff training materials, and quality-control measures to promote consistency and continuous improvement.
Provide coaching, guidance, and support to collections staff, helping them strengthen customer-service skills, documentation accuracy, and regulatory awareness.
Serve as an escalation point for complex student or family inquiries, providing clear, professional, and empathetic guidance while maintaining institutional integrity and compliance.