Director, Student Account Services

Job Description - Director, Student Account Services (DIV) Job Description Director, Student Account Services - ( DIV ) Description Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Director of Student Account Services (SAS) is an integral part of the leadership of Student Financial Services. This role has the responsibility of setting strategic directions, policies, and procedures for the area. Reporting to the AVP of Student Financial Services, the Director is responsible for supervision of the Student Account Services staff and will create an environment that is compliance oriented, customer service focused, and accountable for specific outcomes related to the administration and delivery of financial support and collections programs.

This role must exude strength on both a technical and interpersonal level with a results-driven mindset. This ability will align campus culture with a student-focused environment where staff are passionate about their roles, connected to SMU goals, work collaboratively, and understand their purpose to create a positive student experience, while managing tuition revenue recovery.

Manage a complex caseload with competing deadlines; lead a talented team through large-scale projects, and mentor team to communicate effectively to students, campus partners, and team members. Maintain a subject-matter expert level of knowledge on managing a significant student accounts services operation that is student-centered. Direct student account projects, caseloads and workflow for staff.

Develop effective working relationships across department and division boundaries to ensure that projects and initiatives are successful. Use technology and data informed strategies to streamline processes across teams to support access and retention strategies for students from various backgrounds. Ability to explain complex details about the student account and a wide range of business processes.

Leads professional, comprehensive, efficient and courteous customer service, post payments, removal of student account holds, manage payment plans, loan advisement, and process, analyze charges and payments, verify financial aid refunds and data. Triage and handle incoming mail, email and calls. Handle resolution of student/parent complaints, actively mentor direct reports.

Transfer funds in student accounts and assist with collections of past due accounts. Create strategies for payment collection, working closely with Financial Aid and Mane Desk partners. Identify students who need assistance and work with other campus leaders to support students in financial distress. Approve accounts for enrollment cancellation and communicate to the Registrar's Office.

In coordination with other staff, develop and lead staff training modules and sessions for new and current staff and the SMU community to stay abreast of changes to federal, state, and institutional guidelines, procedures, and regulations. Develop and maintain quality control processes for top customer service and accurate student accounts review.

Maintain strong relationships and…