Assistant Director, Financial Services

<h3>Accountabilities</h3><li>
<strong>Lead Financial Services and Revenue Cycle Operations</strong>
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<li>Direct daily operations across external billing, sponsored billing, accounts receivable, collections, and related financial services.</li><li>Oversee the full receivables lifecycle, from invoice preparation and payment processing to account reconciliation, collections, and resolution of outstanding balances.</li><li>Develop and implement strategies to improve collection rates, reduce aged receivables, accelerate payment recovery, strengthen cash flow, and minimize financial risk.</li><li>Ensure invoices are accurate, timely, supported by appropriate documentation, and compliant with contractual requirements, sponsor guidelines, institutional policies, and applicable regulations.</li><li>Oversee cash application and account reconciliation processes to ensure payments are recorded accurately and consistently.</li><li>
<strong>Drive Financial Performance and Reporting</strong>
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<li>Analyze financial and operational data to identify trends, assess risks, monitor performance, and uncover opportunities for improvement.</li><li>Develop executive dashboards, performance indicators, forecasts, and reports that provide actionable insights into collections, receivables aging, and revenue cycle effectiveness.</li><li>Present financial and operational findings to leadership and recommend strategies that improve efficiency, strengthen cash flow, and support long-term financial sustainability.</li><li>Monitor operational expenditures, receivables performance, and collection outcomes to ensure accountability and alignment with institutional objectives.</li><li>
<strong>Optimize Processes, Systems, and Internal Controls</strong>
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<li>Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on automation, workflow redesign, process standardization, and enhanced customer service.</li><li>Oversee the effective use and ongoing optimization of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, particularly Workday, to support billing, collections, reporting, and financial operations.</li><li>Establish, document, and monitor internal controls to ensure financial integrity, regulatory compliance, and consistent adherence to institutional procedures.</li><li>Identify opportunities to improve reporting capabilities, reduce manual processes, and increase operational effectiveness across the revenue cycle.</li><li>
<strong>Build Relationships and Support Stakeholders</strong>
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<li>Serve as a trusted financial partner to internal departments, external sponsors, government agencies, businesses, and other stakeholders.</li><li>Collaborate across departments to resolve complex billing issues, address payment delays, manage invoice corrections, and ensure timely communication regarding contractual and compliance requirements.</li><li>Promote a customer-focused approach while maintaining strong financial controls, collection standards, and responsible stewardship of institutional resources.</li><li>
<strong>Lead and Develop a High-Performing Team</strong>
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<li>Supervise, coach, and mentor financial services staff, including overseeing recruitment recommendations, onboarding, training, performance reviews, and daily operations.</li><li>Establish clear performance expectations and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, professional development, and continuous improvement.</li><li>Support succession planning, employee engagement, motivation, and retention while encouraging staff to identify innovative solutions.</li><li>Complete at least 19 hours of professional development annually, plus an additional 16 hours of leadership development required for people leaders.</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 or higher in Accounting, Business, or a related field from an accredited institution.</li><li>At least 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in accounts receivable, billing, collections, revenue cycle management, or financial operations.</li><li>A minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience, including team leadership, performance management, and staff development.</li><li>A master's degree in a related discipline is preferred.</li><li>Experience in higher education finance, external billing, sponsored billing, and collections is highly desirable.</li><li>
<strong>Financial and Technical Expertise</strong>
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<li>Strong knowledge of revenue cycle management, accounts receivable operations, third-party and contract billing, collection and recovery strategies, cash application, and account reconciliation.</li><li>Understanding of internal controls, financial reporting, institutional policies, and applicable state and federal regulations.</li><li>Experience using ERP platforms such as Workday, Banner, Colleague, Oracle, SAP, or comparable financial systems; prior Workday experience is particularly valuable.</li><li>Familiarity with business intelligence, financial analytics, dashboard development, and performance reporting tools.</li><li>Demonstrated ability to analyze complex financial and operational data, develop forecasts, and implement strategies that improve collections and cash flow.</li><li>Experience leading process improvement initiatives is preferred, particularly Lean Six Sigma methodologies or comparable continuous improvement practices.</li><li>Professional certifications such as PMP, CGFM, CRCP, CCCP, or other relevant credentials are advantageous.</li><li>
<strong>Leadership and Interpersonal Skills</strong>
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<li>Strong leadership and team-building capabilities, with the ability to motivate employees, delegate effectively, establish accountability, and encourage collaboration.</li><li>Excellent analytical, organizational, time-management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a high-volume, multi-fund public-sector environment.</li><li>Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present financial insights to executive leadership and communicate with external stakeholders.</li><li>Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, improve business processes, and implement technology-driven operational enhancements.</li><li>Strong interpersonal skills and a customer-service mindset, balancing stakeholder needs with financial stewardship and compliance obligations.</li><li>A commitment to confidentiality, integrity, ethical conduct, and the mission of public higher education.</li><li>Bilingual or multilingual proficiency is preferred.</li><li>
<strong>Additional Requirements</strong>
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<li>Official academic transcripts must be provided.</li><li>A valid driver's license is required.</li><li>Successful completion of a criminal background check is required; some positions may also require fingerprint screening.</li><li>Ability to work in a standard office environment, with reasonable accommodations available for qualified individuals who need them.</li><li>Willingness to work occasional weekends or extended hours during peak registration periods and fiscal year-end closing.</li><li>Availability for regular and predictable attendance and completion of required annual professional development activities.</li><h2>Benefits</h2><li>
<strong>Competitive salary:</strong>Minimum annual salary of $90,038, 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>Professional development:</strong>Opportunities to strengthen leadership, financial management, analytical, and operational expertise through ongoing development programs.</li><li>
<strong>Leadership opportunities:</strong>The chance to manage and develop a team, influence financial strategy, and contribute to institution-wide operational improvements.</li><li>
<strong>Technology and process innovation:</strong>Opportunities to work with enterprise financial systems, analytics, dashboards, and automation initiatives.</li><li>
<strong>Mission-driven work:</strong>Contribute to the financial sustainability of a higher education institution focused on student success and community impact.</li><li>
<strong>Collaborative environment:</strong>Work with a broad network of internal departments, external partners, sponsors, and senior leadership.</li><li>
<strong>Potential hybrid flexibility:</strong>Positions may be eligible to apply for a hybrid arrangement after six months of employment, subject to job responsibilities, operational requirements, supervisor approval, and institutional policy. Certain remote-work arrangements may also be permitted under applicable Texas law.</li><li>
<strong>Equal opportunity and accessibility:</strong>A workplace committed to inclusion, belonging, equal employment opportunities, and reasonable accommodations.</li>