Associate Director of Student Accounts
The Chicago SchoolAbout the role
Job Description:
Associate Director of Student Accounts
The Community Solution Education System
Job Title: Associate Director of Student Accounts
Department: Student Accounts
Job Purpose:
The Associate Director of Student Accounts provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Office of Student Accounts across the colleges of The Community Solution. This position directs and mentors a team of student accounts advisors, develops and implements departmental processes and procedures, and ensures compliance with institutional, federal, and state regulations.
The Associate Director serves as a collaborative partner with the Registrar's Office, Academic Advising, and Title IV Financial Aid Administration to support holistic student success. This role also leads staff training and development efforts, ensuring a knowledgeable, high-performing team.
The Associate Director is student-centered and has a strong command of customer service and the student finance lifecycle.
Position responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Operations & Compliance
- Co-manage the day-to-day operations of the Student Accounts Office, ensuring efficient workflows, service consistency, and a high-quality student experience.\
- Oversee the assessment and posting of all tuition and fees, including manual posting of items not captured through automated systems, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with institutional billing policies.
- Conduct weekly quality assurance reviews of Title IV credit balances, ensuring accuracy and compliance with federal financial aid regulations
Student Engagement & Retention
- Develop and deploy proactive engagement strategies to guide students toward timely commitment to financing plans, reducing barriers to enrollment and retention.
- Analyze billing hold trends within CNS, partnering with college Student Services teams to develop data-informed strategies that support student retention and re-enrollment.
- Monitor past-due student accounts and oversee advisor outreach, ensuring consistent follow-up and timely resolution.
- Develop and execute targeted student communications to address outstanding balances, billing updates, and financial deadlines in a clear and student-centered manner.
Team Leadership & Development
- Supervise and evaluate team performance through regular QA reviews of advisor calls, form processing, and customer service scorecards, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
- Lead new hire onboarding and training, equipping incoming staff with the knowledge and tools to deliver exceptional student financial services.
- Serve as the primary escalation resource for complex or sensitive student inquiries, providing timely resolution and guidance to Student Accounts Advisors.
Reporting & Analysis
- Compile and distribute monthly KPI reports related to email and phone volume, translating data into insights that inform staffing and service delivery decisions.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the Director of Student Accounts.
Required Qualifications:
Knowledge and Skills
- Demonstrated knowledge of business and management principles, including strategic planning, resource allocation, and human resource modeling, with the ability to translate organizational goals into actionable team outcomes.
- Proven ability to apply, adapt, and enforce policies and procedures to achieve specific operational and compliance objectives.
- Excellent customer service skills, including the ability to maintain quality standards and evaluate student satisfaction.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex financial information to students and staff.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Excel, Word, and Teams.
- Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills, with the ability to handle complex or sensitive situations with confidence
- Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Higher Education Administration, or a related field required.
Experience:
- Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in higher education, accounting, finance, or a related field, with a demonstrated track record of growth a
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