Student Accounts Manager

AgUpdate; Delaware (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio seeks an experienced leader to serve as Director of Student Accounts and Bursar. This role combines expertise in student financial services with operational leadership to support student success and campus mission.

The Director will oversee billing, cashiering, collections, reconciliations, and compliance, while partnering with Financial Aid, Enrollment Management, and other offices to promote financial literacy and seamless student experiences

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of experience in student accounts or bursar operations in higher education.
• Strong customer service, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Word.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of student billing, payment processing, cashiering, collections, and holds.
• Ensure accurate assessment of tuition, fees, payments, plans, refunds, and reconciliations.
• Develop financial literacy resources and educational programming.
• Provide financial counseling to students and families to support retention.
• Oversee cashiering, collections, third‑party and sponsor billing, and vendor relationships.
• Serve as administrator for Power Campus Student Accounts.
• Develop and maintain internal controls, policies, and PCI compliance.
• Collaborate with campus partners to provide exceptional service.
• Administer IRS 1098-T reporting and ensure FERPA compliance.
• Assist Controller with month‑end close and annual audit preparation.
• Supervise and develop Student Accounts staff.

Skills

Customer service

Excel

Word

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Power Campus (Ellucian)

Microsoft Dynamics GP

Flywire

Nelnet ePayment

Job description

Ohio Wesleyan University is seeking an experienced higher education student accounts leader to serve as its Director of Student Accounts and Bursar. This position offers a unique opportunity to combine student financial services expertise, operational leadership, and student engagement to support student success and the University’s mission.

The Director of Student Accounts and Bursar reports to the Controller and leads the University’s student accounts operations, including billing, cashiering, collections, account reconciliation, regulatory compliance, and student financial communications. The position also partners across campus to promote financial literacy, assist students and families in understanding their financial responsibilities, and support institutional retention efforts by helping students overcome financial barriers to enrollment and persistence.

What You’ll Do

As the University’s Director of Student Accounts and Bursar, you will:

• Lead all aspects of student billing, payment processing, cashiering, collections, account holds, and student account operations.
• Ensure the accurate assessment of tuition, fees, payments, payment plans, and refunds, including Title IV credit balances, and complete timely account reconciliations.
• Develop and deliver financial literacy resources and educational programming that support informed financial decision-making.
• Provide financial counseling and payment guidance to students and families while supporting student retention and persistence initiatives.
• Oversee cashiering operations, collection processes, third-party and sponsor billing, and relationships with external payment and collection vendors.
• Serve as the functional administrator for the University’s student accounts system (Power Campus Student Accounts).
• Develop, implement, and maintain internal controls, policies, and procedures that promote financial accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency, including payment card (PCI) compliance.
• Partner with Financial Aid, Enrollment Management, Student Success, Residential Life, the Registrar, Information Services, and other campus departments to provide exceptional service to students and families.
• Administer IRS Form 1098-T reporting and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and institutional regulations, including FERPA.
• Partner with the Controller on month-end reconciliations, year-end close activities, and annual audit preparation.
• Supervise and develop Student Accounts staff fostering accountability, continuous improvement, and outstanding customer service.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking an experienced higher education accounting professional who enjoys solving complex financial challenges while building strong relationships with students, families, and campus partners.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in student accounts, bursar operations, or student financial services within higher education.
• Strong customer service, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in one or more of the following is strongly preferred. We will support the right candidate in learning OWU-specific systems and procedures.

• IRS Form 1098-T reporting and FERPA compliance.
• Power Campus (Ellucian), Microsoft Dynamics GP, Flywire, Nelnet ePayment, or similar higher education enterprise systems.
• Title IV credit balance and refund processing, and coordination with Financial Aid.
• Cashiering, accounts receivable, and collections experience in a higher education setting.
• Financial counseling or financial literacy programming.
• Student retention or student success initiatives.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, and data analysis.
• Accounting process improvement, workflow automation, and operational efficiency initiatives and reporting.
• Supervisory experience and staff development.

Successful candidates will also demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, sound judgment, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to communicate financial information effectively to students, families, and colleagues from diverse backgrounds.

Why Ohio Wesleyan?

Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts university in Delaware, Ohio, committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and student-centered environment where employees make a meaningful impact every day. As Director of Student Accounts and Bursar, you’ll play an important role in helping students successfully navigate the financial aspects of their education while ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of the University’s student financial operations.