Collection Manager

Northeastern Illinois University; United States; On-site; USD 53,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern Illinois University seeks a Collections Manager to execute, oversee, and improve student account functions, including billing, payment plans, refunds, and collections, while delivering excellent customer service to students, parents, and the NEIU community.

Reporting to the Director of Student Payment Services, the role plans and implements policies and procedures, ensures regulatory compliance, and drives efficiency across receivables and collections functions on campus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, and/or business (minimum four years equivalent).
• Three years of collection experience at or above Collection Assistant Manager level or similar responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Oversees online tuition payment plan enrollments, cancellations, recalculations, communications, and delinquency notifications.
• Develops and revises policies for payment plan administration and collections processes.
• Ensures compliance with federal/state/university regulations and conducts quality control reviews of account setup, billing, and communications.

Skills

Collection experience

Customer service

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, and/or business

Tools

Ellucian Banner

Excel

Touchnet System

Job description

Northeastern offers a rewarding working environment for our students and employees. Our faculty and staff are smart, dedicated people who work to create an excellent urban university experience for bright and motivated students.

Job Summary:

The primary purpose of this management role is to execute, maintain, and oversee a variety of intricate student account functions, while providing excellent customer service to students, parents, and the NEIU community. This is an experienced, customer focused process and operations management role that is integral to the day-to-day operations of the Student Payment Services Office. Under the administrative direction of the Director of Student Payment Services, this role plans, implements, and continuously improves policies, procedures, and operational methods related to student account billing, payment plans, and collection functions, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and service quality.

Job Description:

Managing Online Tuition Payment Plan:

• Oversees plan enrollments, cancellations, recalculations, student communications, and delinquency notifications.
• Develops, implements, and revises policies and procedures related to payment plan administration and collections processes.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and university regulations related to billing and payment practices.
• Conducts quality control reviews to ensure accuracy of account setup, billing, and communications.
• Performs periodic operational reviews to improve efficiency, service delivery, and compliance.

Student Refund Processing:

• Serves as primary backup to the Director of Student Payment Services for student refund processing and related semester to semester transitions.
• Ensures adherence to accounting, auditing, and internal control standards in all refund-related processes.
• Assists in reviewing and improving business workflows related to refunds and account reconciliation.
• Interprets and applies institutional, state, and federal regulations impacting student refunds and financial transactions.

Collection & Emergency Loan Management:

• Approves, processes, and manages the collection of student emergency loans, including interest calculations and delinquency management.
• Oversees assignment to state offset and other collection mechanisms for delinquent accounts.
• Implements and monitors collection strategies, policies, and procedures to improve recovery rates and ensure compliance.
• Conducts quality assurance reviews of collection activities and account handling.
• Interprets and applies regulatory requirements governing collections and student financial obligations.

Accounts Receivable Support & Process Improvement:

• Assists the Accounts Receivable department with special projects and operational initiatives.
• Supports policy development, workflow optimization, and cross-functional coordination related to receivables and collections.
• Supports policy development, workflow optimization, and cross-functional coordination related to receivables and collections.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Additional Duties:

• May select, train, assign work, and evaluate performance of student aid, and student workers.
• Assists the Accounts Receivable department with special projects and operational initiatives.
• Supports policy development, workflow optimization, and cross-functional coordination related to receivables and collections.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimal Qualifications:

• Any one or any combination of the following, totaling four (4) years (48 months), from the categories below: A. Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, and/or business 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months) Associate’s Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months) 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months) Bachelor’s degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years (36 months) B. collection, consumer credit or business experience that required knowledge of collection methods and procedures
• Three (3) years (36months) of collection experience comparable to Collection Assistant Manager level or in other positions of comparable responsibility.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of Ellucian Banner system.
• Working knowledge of Excel and Word.
• Working knowledge with Touchnet System.

Work Schedule:

• Monday and Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
• Tuesday and Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
• Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM

Location:

NEIU Main Campus (5500 North St. Louis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625)

Setting:

Collections Manager is an on campus position, not eligible for Hybrid or Remote work.

This position requires a background check.

Salary Range

$53,000-$55,000

Benefits

University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS). Please visit our Employee Benefits page to learn more about our comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision benefits, sick and vacation days, and participation in the State Universities Retirement System.

Northeastern Illinois University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and invites applications from Women, Minorities, Veterans and Persons with Disabilities, as well as other qualified individuals.

Northeastern Illinois University's positions are contingent upon the University's receipt of its State of Illinois appropriation.

Northeastern Illinois University's Main Campus is located on 67 acres in a residential area on the Northwest Side of Chicago.

The University has three additional locations in the metropolitan area: the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, El Centro and the Center for College Access and Success.

Northeastern also is a founding member of the University Center of Lake County consortium campus in suburban Lake County, north of Chicago.

Northeastern offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure and endorsement programs.