Senior Manager, Collections

<h3>Accountabilities</h3><li>
<strong>Lead Collections Strategy and Operations</strong>
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<li>Develop and implement comprehensive collection strategies covering early-stage delinquency, intermediate and advanced collections, and external recovery activities.</li><li>Oversee the institution's external receivables portfolio, ensuring accounts progress efficiently through invoicing, payment follow-up, collection, reconciliation, recovery, and final resolution.</li><li>Establish collection protocols, portfolio segmentation criteria, escalation thresholds, recovery priorities, and operational performance standards.</li><li>Set annual and periodic collection targets, monitor progress against key performance indicators (KPIs), and recommend adjustments to improve results.</li><li>Review and enhance collection policies and procedures to strengthen consistency, efficiency, and compliance.</li><li>
<strong>Improve Financial Performance and Risk Management</strong>
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<li>Analyze receivables aging by customer, billing source, department, receivable type, outstanding balance, and risk level to identify trends and recovery opportunities.</li><li>Develop targeted collection initiatives to accelerate payment, prevent accounts from becoming increasingly overdue, and maximize recovery rates.</li><li>Prepare aging forecasts, collection projections, and financial performance analyses to support planning and decision-making.</li><li>Identify potential bad debt exposure and collaborate with accounting and finance leadership on appropriate reserves, write-offs, and risk mitigation strategies.</li><li>Recommend changes to payment terms, collection practices, and business processes when historical collection patterns indicate increased financial risk.</li><li>Develop executive dashboards and financial reports that translate complex data into actionable recommendations for senior leadership.</li><li>
<strong>Optimize Processes, Systems, and Compliance</strong>
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<li>Lead continuous improvement initiatives that increase collection effectiveness, shorten recovery cycles, and strengthen overall invoice-to-cash performance.</li><li>Apply data analytics and process improvement methodologies to identify inefficiencies and implement scalable solutions.</li><li>Partner with technology teams to enhance Workday Financial Management and related enterprise resource planning systems.</li><li>Develop, maintain, and enforce collection policies, procedures, internal controls, and documentation standards.</li><li>Ensure collection activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, contractual obligations, institutional policies, and privacy requirements.</li><li>
<strong>Lead and Develop a High-Performing Team</strong>
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<li>Provide strategic and operational leadership to the Collections Manager and/or collections team, establishing clear priorities, objectives, and performance expectations.</li><li>Oversee recruitment, selection, hiring, coaching, mentoring, professional development, and other personnel decisions in alignment with organizational objectives and budgetary requirements.</li><li>Conduct timely performance evaluations, manage employee development plans, and support succession planning and workforce planning.</li><li>Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer service, ethical collection practices, and continuous improvement.</li><li>Implement initiatives that strengthen employee engagement, motivation, productivity, and retention.</li><li>Complete at least 19 hours of professional development annually, plus an additional 16 hours of leadership development each academic year.</li><li>Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and institutional priorities.</li><h2>Requirements</h2><li>
<strong>Education and Professional Experience</strong>
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<li>Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.</li><li>At least five years of progressively responsible experience in collections, accounts receivable, billing, revenue cycle management, or financial operations.</li><li>At least three years of supervisory or management experience, including team leadership, performance management, and staff development.</li><li>A master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related discipline is preferred.</li><li>Experience in higher education, government, or a large, complex organization is advantageous.</li><li>Experience managing centralized collections operations is preferred.</li><li>Official academic transcripts are required.</li><li>
<strong>Financial and Technical Expertise</strong>
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<li>Advanced knowledge of accounts receivable operations, collection management, and the end-to-end invoice-to-cash revenue cycle.</li><li>Strong expertise in receivables aging analysis, portfolio management, recovery strategies, and collection performance measurement.</li><li>Sound financial judgment and the ability to assess credit and collection risks, identify potential bad debt exposure, and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.</li><li>Experience developing KPIs, financial dashboards, forecasts, and executive-level reports that support strategic decisions.</li><li>Knowledge of internal controls, financial compliance, risk management, and applicable regulatory requirements.</li><li>Experience with Workday Financial Management or comparable enterprise resource planning systems is preferred.</li><li>Demonstrated experience implementing collection technologies, analytics solutions, or process transformation initiatives is an advantage.</li><li>Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification is preferred, as is the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) designation.</li><li>
<strong>Leadership and Interpersonal Skills</strong>
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<li>Proven ability to develop and execute collection strategies that improve recovery rates, reduce delinquency, and strengthen financial performance.</li><li>Strong strategic thinking, operational management, and analytical decision-making capabilities.</li><li>Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, manage organizational change, and implement continuous improvement programs.</li><li>Excellent written, verbal, and executive communication skills, including the ability to translate complex financial information into clear recommendations.</li><li>Strong coaching, mentoring, and team development skills, with the ability to build accountability and empower employees.</li><li>Ability to manage competing priorities, solve complex problems, and maintain operational effectiveness in a dynamic environment.</li><li>Bilingual or multilingual proficiency is preferred.</li><li>Commitment to ethical collection practices, confidentiality, collaboration, and responsible financial stewardship.</li><li>
<strong>Additional Requirements</strong>
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<li>A valid driver's license is required.</li><li>Successful completion of any required pre-employment screening and applicable employment checks.</li><li>Ability to work in a standard office environment, with reasonable accommodations available for qualified individuals as needed.</li><li>Willingness to work occasional weekends or extended hours during peak registration periods and fiscal year-end closing.</li><li>Regular and predictable attendance and completion of mandatory annual professional development activities are required.</li><h2>Benefits</h2><li>
<strong>Competitive compensation:</strong>Minimum annual salary of<strong>$68,840</strong>, with final compensation subject to the applicable staff pay range and institutional compensation policies.</li><li>
<strong>Full-time employment:</strong>A standard schedule of 40 hours per week in a professional financial services environment.</li><li>
<strong>Potential flexible work arrangements:</strong>Eligibility for a FlexWork arrangement may be considered based on business needs, job responsibilities, employee performance, management approval, and institutional policies.</li><li>
<strong>Potential remote-work flexibility:</strong>Certain remote arrangements may be permitted under applicable Texas law and institutional guidelines.</li><li>
<strong>Professional development:</strong>Opportunities to strengthen financial leadership, strategic planning, analytics, and operational management expertise.</li><li>
<strong>Leadership opportunities:</strong>Direct responsibility for developing a collections team, influencing financial strategy, and improving institution-wide recovery performance.</li><li>
<strong>Technology and innovation:</strong>Opportunities to optimize enterprise financial systems, introduce data-driven collection strategies, and lead process transformation initiatives.</li><li>
<strong>Meaningful organizational impact:</strong>Contribute to improved cash flow, reduced financial risk, and the long-term financial sustainability of a higher education institution.</li><li>
<strong>Collaborative environment:</strong>Work closely with finance leadership and cross-functional teams to address complex financial challenges and improve operational effectiveness.</li><li>
<strong>Inclusive workplace:</strong>Join an organization committed to equal employment opportunities, accessibility, diversity, and a culture of belonging.</li>