University Bursar

University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition benefits

Retirement plans

Time away from work

Flexible work hours

Job summary

University of Pennsylvania seeks a highly professional, strategic leader to serve as University Bursar in SRFS. This role oversees billing, receivables, and collections for over $1.4B in student accounts and $4M in loan receivables, partnering with academic and administrative stakeholders to ensure transparent, compliant processes.

The Bursar reports to the AVP of SRFS and directs budgeting, financial reporting, and system improvements to enhance the student financial experience and wellness

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 7–10 years of progressive experience in higher education finance, student accounts, or tuition management.
• Experience with Ellucian Banner AR tuition and fee modules.
• Ability to configure and manage student financial systems.
• Data-driven policy recommendations and cross‑functional collaboration required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across a broad audience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee billing, receivables, collections, and tuition payments.
• Lead budgeting, financial reporting, and policy development.
• Improve financial operations and student financial systems and services.
• Collaborate with academic and administrative stakeholders across the university.
• Ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory policies.

Skills

Data-driven policy recommendations

Strong communication skills

Collaboration with stakeholders

Financial systems configuration

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Business Administration

Master's degree in Finance or Higher Education Administration

Tools

Ellucian Banner AR

TouchNet systems

Job description

University Bursar

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer inPhiladelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research,and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranksamong the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & WorldReport survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provideopportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education,all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach toscholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been rankednationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbeswho named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Posted Job Title

University Bursar

Job Profile Title

Director D, Business and Finance

Job Description Summary

The University of Pennsylvania is seeking a strategic andcollaborative leader to serve as University Bursar within Student Registration and Financial Services (SRFS). In this key leadershiprole, the Bursar oversees student billing, accounts receivable,collections, and student financial operations supporting more than$1.4 billion in student account activity. Responsibilities includeensuring accurate and compliant financial transactions, partneringwith university stakeholders to enhance financial processes,supporting financial wellness initiatives, and leading efforts to improve the student financial experience. The position also provides leadership in budgeting, financial reporting, policydevelopment, and continuous improvement of student financialsystems and services. Candidates should possess significantexperience in higher education finance, student accounts, andfinancial systems administration.

To learn more about Student Registration & Financial Services(SRFS), visit: https://srfs.upenn.edu/

Job Description

The University of Pennsylvania seeks a highly professional,experienced, and strategic leader to serve as the University Bursarwithin Student Registration and Financial Services (SRFS). Thiscritical leadership role is responsible for overseeing the billingand collection of over $1.4 billion in student accounts receivable,including tuition, financial aid disbursements, housing, mealplans, and various student fees. Additionally, the Bursar willmanage student loan receivables and collections for a portfoliototaling over $4 million. As a collaborative leader, the Bursar will partner with academicand administrative stakeholders across the university to ensureefficient, transparent, and compliant financial processes relatedto tuition, fees, and student accounts. This position also leadsinitiatives to strengthen financial operations and assist infinancial wellness, working closely with university leadership to improve accessibility. This includes billing and receivablesoversight, tuition collections, assisting with financial aiddisbursement, and ensuring the accuracy and integrity of allstudent financial transactions. Additionally, the position supportsbudgeting, financial reporting, and general financial operationswithin the university. The Bursar will report to the Associate Vice President of StudentRegistration and Financial Services, collaborating with senioruniversity leadership to develop long-term financial strategies,operational policies, and student financial systemimprovements.

Key Responsibilities

The University Bursar is responsible for managing student accountsand financial operations to ensure accuracy, efficiency, andcompliance with institutional and regulatory policies. Thisincludes overseeing student billing, receivables, collections, andtuition payments while ensuring seamless coordination withfinancial aid disbursement processes. The Bursar also plays a vitalrole in financial reporting, budgeting, and compliance auditing,ensuring transparency and adherence to financial regulations.Providing excellent customer service, the Bursar educates studentsand families on financial processes and policies while addressinginquiries and resolving billing concerns. Additionally, theposition supports financial wellness initiatives, enhancesoperational efficiency, and collaborates with external agencies tomanage collection efforts. The role also includes participation inuniversity-wide committees, vendor contract negotiations, andcontinuous improvement of financial systems and processes.

Qualifications & Skills

Required Qualifications:

• The University Bursar role requires a bachelor's degree inFinance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a relatedfield.
• Candidates should have 7 to 10 years of progressive experiencein higher education finance, student accounts, or tuitionmanagement.
• Expertise in Ellucian Banner AR, particularly with tuition andfee assessment modules, is essential.
• Strong technical proficiency, including the ability toconfigure and manage student financial systems, is necessary.
• Additionally, candidates must demonstrate the ability tocollaborate with university stakeholders and provide data-drivenpolicy recommendations.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills arerequired to effectively convey complex financial information to abroad audience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A master's degree in Finance, Higher Education Administration,Business, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in higher education student financialservices and tuition management is highly desirable.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and institutionalregulations governing tuition and fees is preferred, as well asexperience with TouchNet systems and international paymentvendors.
• Strong background in financial compliance, audit processes, andtax reporting (e.g., 1098-T regulations) is advantageous.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Division of Finance

Pay Range

$135,327.00 - $150,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications,experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to therequirements of the position, and in alignment with salary rangesbased on external market data for the job's level. Internalorganization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer.Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race,color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenshipstatus, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state, or local law.

Special Requirements

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer ismade. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to therequirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Pennoffers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health,dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and yourfamily's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spendingaccounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent careexpenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuitionbenefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can gettuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are alsoeligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans tohelp you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, andSupplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on apre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investmentoptions through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with asubstantial amount of time away from work during the course of theyear. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personalaffairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time withfamily-whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with GenworthFinancial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible familymembers) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of thecosts of long-term care services received at home, in the communityor in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, youwon't have to provide proof of good health or be subject tounderwriting requirements. Eligible family members must alwaysprovide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed tosupporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competingdemands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a widevariety of programs and resources to help you care for your health,your family, and your work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides anarray of resources to help you advance yourself personally andprofessionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community,you have access to a wide range of University resources as well ascultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of theUniversity's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit ourarboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on atPenn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latestmusic or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the PennRelays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a memberof the Penn community, you're right in the middle of theexcitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of theseactivities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts andentertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find greatdeals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts andcultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admissionand memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoysubstantial savings on other goods and services such as new carsfrom Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movietickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offercreative approaches for completing work while promoting balancebetween work and personal commitments. These approaches involve useof non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or jobstructures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivableloan for eligible employees interested in buying a home orcurrently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used forclosing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligibleemployees on qualified expenses in connection with the legaladoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for upto two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer.Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race,color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenshipstatus, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state, or local law.