Student Financial Services Director and University Bursar
The Student and Academic Services team seeks a visionary Student Financial Services Director and University Bursar to lead the strategic management of the university's student financial services and programs, while maintaining and enhancing the high level of services expected by our students, our parents and other key stakeholders. This role oversees the billing and collection of over $1.2 billion in student accounts receivable, including tuition, financial aid disbursements, housing, meal plans, and various student fees. Additionally, the director will manage student loan receivables and collections for a portfolio totaling over $35 million. The director will also be a key partner in collaborative leadership and advocacy for the university’s student financial wellness program, Mind Over Money.
Reporting to the Associate Vice Provost for Student and Academic Services and University Registrar with a dotted line to the Executive Director of Financial Compliance and Operations, the Director/Bursar will collaborate and serve as a thought partner with senior management to envision and develop long-term plans, financial strategies, and policies. This role involves leading the Student Financial Services team, directing, enhancing, and evolving the office’s programs, maintaining a strong system of internal controls, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations governing student aid programs, data privacy, tax collection, and banking regulations. Stanford University’s Director/Bursar is a leader in and active contributor to the national higher education student financial services field.
Your Responsibilities include:
Management & Leadership
- Design, establish, and maintain clear roles and an organizational structure to accomplish the organization's goals and objectives effectively; oversee recruitment, training, supervision, coaching, and evaluation of staff;
- Lead with a coaching culture of high-support and high-performance to ensure staff are trained, mentored, assessed, and meet the highest standards of productivity and service.
- Provide inspiring leadership for the Student Financial team by articulating a clear and compelling vision. Ensure this vision is effectively communicated and embraced by all team members.
- Exemplify fairness and consistency in all interactions, fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity. Train managers to uphold these values, creating a supportive and equitable workplace for everyone.
- Recognize and leverage the existing strengths of team members while identifying areas for improvement. Collaborate with staff to enhance skills and drive overall performance.
- Champion professional development opportunities for the Student Financial staff. Actively engage with individuals to set and pursue personal growth objectives, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement aligned with the latest trends in higher education financial services.
Operations & Compliance
- Continuously assess and refine the delivery of services to students, parents, alumni, academic departments, and colleagues. This includes leveraging technology, establishing business policies, enhancing communication, and evaluating staff performance.
- Manage operations, including process improvements, project management, and campus-wide collaboration to achieve an elevated level of effectiveness and efficiency.
- Design and establish appropriate programs to provide a strong system of internal controls to protect and steward university resources.
- Enforce policy regarding billing and collection of university tuition and fees, and ensure accountability of the Student Services staff and campus partners.
- Proactively work with internal and external systems to ensure that PeopleSoft and other enterprise systems adequately support the student financial business, functions, and mission of the Bursar’s Office.
- Serve as liaison with University colleagues in academic departments, Financial Aid Offices, the Registrar’s Office, the Controller’s Office, the Office of the Treasurer, the Student Services Center, the Budget Office, Student Life Offices, and others as needed to ensure Student Financial Services is competently and proactively managing programs and services related to student financial needs.
- Exhibit exceptional collaboration, accountability, and leadership when working with staff, departments, senior management, external vendors, and contractors. Ensure operational transparency and create clear channels for feedback and engagement.
Strategy & Innovation
- Direct high-visibility process redesign and innovation projects; champion university initiatives, and develop and drive implementation of projects.
- Lead, execute, and communicate operational and long-range budgets, forecasting and strategy; direct business operations and administrative functions.
- Identify and resolve strategic problems that affect the overall functioning beyond the immediate school/unit with a potential university-wide impact.
- Make strategic decisions using complex, comprehensive analyses and high-level financial modeling; provide information and context to leadership to support senior leadership decisions.
- Provide strategy, vision, and direction with broad scope and impact, make recommendations, and influence university finance and accounting policy issues.
- Partner across the university to determine new and ongoing business and technology initiatives.
* The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
To be successful in this position, you will bring:
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Education & Experience:
Master’s degree and eight years relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:
- Five years of direct experience managing a Student Financial Services organization for an R1 research university.
- CPA
- Proven ability to direct complex projects with strategic partners
- Proven ability to advocate for funding and other resources in a campus setting
- Experience managing or integrating with a campus financial wellness program
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- In-depth knowledge of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), internal controls and auditing, management of accounting, financial or higher education operations.
- Advanced knowledge of PeopleSoft, Oracle, or other business financial systems.
- Advanced understanding of financial principles.
- Advanced oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to clearly and effectively present information to internal and external audiences, client groups, and all levels of management.
- Strong analytical skills to review and analyze complex accounting and financial information.
- Strong leadership skills, previous experience in strategic management and leading large multi-functional teams, including problem-solving, conflict resolution, utilization of technology to support services and knowledge of the programs and services in higher education related to financing an educational experience.
- Demonstrated competency in project and operational management of high-volume ongoing and cyclical work.
- Experience working successfully with PIs, their administrative staff, the office of sponsored research, and external sponsors.
- Demonstrated success in performing meticulous, high quality and compliant work; thorough knowledge and experience implementing federal and state regulations governing federal student aid programs, collections practices, IRS tax requirements and related banking regulations.
- Ability to work extended hours during peak cycles and travel to school/unit sites across the university.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Constantly sitting.
- Frequently perform desk-based computer tasks, use telephone, write by hand, sort/file paperwork.
- Occasionally stand/walk, lift/carry objects weighing 11-20 pounds.
- Rarely reach/work above shoulder.
WORK STANDARDS:
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues, clients, and external organizations.
- Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
- Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University’s Administrative Guide.
* Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form.
Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
