Areas of Intereset: Finance and Accounting
Functional Areas: Finance & Business Strategy
Department: Bursars Office
Requisition Number: 12668
Location: Boulder, CO
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full-Time


Job Summary

The Bursar's Office is now welcoming applications for a Bursar. The Bursar for the University of Colorado Boulder reports to the Assistant Vice Chancellor and Controller for the Boulder campus and is a key member of the Campus Controller’s Office leadership team. This position oversees and is accountable for the programs and services provided by the Bursar’s Office (41 full-time employees) including: Student Financial Services, the Office of Cash Management, Student Billing, and University Student Loans and Debt Management. The Bursar provides leadership and direction in financial management; fiscal policy review and revisions; and ensures compliance with standard accounting procedures, as well as university, state, and federal regulations.

Working with CCO leadership and campus partners, the Bursar will create a vision and a strategic plan for the Bursar’s Office. The Bursar will be responsible for developing and implementing short and long-range goals aligned with the strategic plan, developing systems and methods to track, measure, and evaluate progress toward goals. The Bursar collaborates with other campus areas regarding student tuition and fees, including Budget & Fiscal Planning, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, and the Graduate School.

The Bursar is responsible for assessing and ensuring excellent customer service performance standards: establishing and monitoring meaningful metrics; and analyzing and implementing procedures to address areas of concern. This position is responsible for leading a high performing group of managers as they seek to continuously innovate and improve to keep pace with a rapidly changing, complex, and competitive university environment.

The Bursar is responsible for managing staff, equipment and facilities; determining resource needs and priorities; and making recommendations to campus administration and key stakeholders internal and external to the University. This position will demonstrate the ability to communicate and work effectively with a diverse population of students and families as well as staff and administrators.

Working in conjunction with Office of Information Technology (OIT) and University Information Systems (UIS) as well as other financial systems and financial management personnel, the Bursar develops automated and non-automated database management procedures for processing all student charges through the student receivables system of the Student Information System. The Bursar serves as the Functional Team Leader and subject matter expert for the Student Financial Services team on system implementation projects.

Who We Are

The mission of the Bursar’s Office at the University of Colorado Boulder is to efficiently enable and assist students and departments in meeting their financial obligations, with a focus on financial integrity and accountability. The Bursar’s Office is responsible for the management of key university financial resources and records, and acts as a central collection point for university receipts.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Management and Leadership

• Serve on the leadership team of the Assistant Vice Chancellor and Controller; recommend and participate in the development of University processes, policies and procedures.
• Design, establish, and maintain an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish the organization’s goals and objectives; overseeing recruitment, training, supervision, and evaluation of staff.
• Create and maintain a positive, cooperative work culture, encouraging customer-oriented staff interaction with students, parents, and administrators.
• Oversee the overall operations of student finance including student accounts, cashier's, collections, and student billing.
• Serve as the appointing authority and determines the broad goals and overall organizational structure for the Bursar’s Office. Create a culture of inclusive excellence continuous learning through strategic planning, shared governance, innovative best practices, and the promotion of knowledge development and succession planning; provide resources for and establishes expectations that managers and supervisors will act as stewards of employees’ professional development.
• Develop, implement, and monitor vision and strategic goals for the Bursar’s Office and reporting units.
• Determine training needs for staff and make appropriate arrangements for provision of training.
• Develop and manage annual budgets for the Bursar’s Office. Perform periodic cost and productivity analysis.
• Serve on the leadership team of the Assistant Vice Chancellor and Controller; recommend and participate in the development of University processes, policies and procedures.

Relationships and Communication

• Seek out engagement opportunities with university stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain internal and external relationships and communications to respond to inquiries, and provide information and expertise.
• Represent the University to various campus offices as well as to governmental agencies, vendors, students and their parents, and the general public.
• Build and maintain effective, collaborative working relationships with the Enrollment Management Offices (Admission Office, Office of Financial Aid, Registrar’s Office) to ensure services to our clients are effective and provide exceptional customer service, particularly when processes span multiple offices.
• Perform as an active member of the Campus Controller's Office team and collaborate with CCO peers to ensure consistent customer service and efficient processes across the entire organization.

Reporting and Fiscal Management

• Ensure timely and accurate completion of federal and state reports related to student tuition, student loans, collections, and aid disbursed; participate in annual financial audit and accounting review for year-end close.
• Oversee central cashiering operations for students and departments including: coordination of annual tuition assessment and aid disbursement schedule.
• Oversee business project and process operations to provide analytics and ensure efficient process standards and procedures.
• Define and implement baseline metrics to measure office productivity.
• Identify and implement process improvements.
• Plan, develop and maintain university wide policy and procedures for responsible units.
• Ensure compliance with University policies, federal and state regulatory requirements.
• Interact with internal and external auditors, participate in auditing projects, or provide information and access to accounting records as required.

System Implementation and Data Base Management

• Working in conjunction with UIS and OIT and other financial management personnel, develops automated and non-automated database management procedures for processing all student charges through the student receivables system of the Student Information System.
• Serves as Functional Team Leader and subject matter expert for the Student Financial Services team on system implementation projects.
• Aid with the development of campus training on new systems.
• Identify and actively manage technology for the department and campus where applicable.

What We Can Offer

Anticipated Starting Salary is $130,000.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be Statements

Be Effective. Be Supportive. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field from an accredited college or university.
• Seven years of related experience managing a large complex accounting office encompassing accounting, accounts receivable, business management.
• Two years of experience in higher education in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Working knowledge of Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and state and federal requirements regarding data privacy and security related to electronic banking and credit card transactions.
• Candidate must successfully pass a criminal and financial background check.

What You Will Need

• Strategic thoughtful leadership with a process improvement mentality.
• Strong interpersonal, problem solving, and communication skills to effectively direct operations and interact with other departments across the university.
• Proven management skills in managing diverse professional and support staff, often in stressful situations. Developing teams to identify and solve problems, assuring delegated work is performed on time and with the highest quality.
• Ability to develop and administer effective financial systems and functions in the billing and collection of student receivables.
• Extensive analytical skills in accounting, finance, information technology, mathematics and business administration are essential.
• Establishes and maintains policies, procedures, and internal controls for accounting and depositing of payments, monitoring receivables, and optimizing collections.
• Balance of customer service attitude as well as the requirement to enforce university and federal policies, in order to improve the collection rate and cash flow of the university.
• Ability to motivate staff and provide strong leadership for the all areas of the Bursar’s Office.
• Change management expertise coupled with a positive attitude, a high level of ethics and integrity, open to change and new information, able to inspire and foster team commitment, spirit, pride, and trust.
• The individual in this position will reflect the university’s commitment to diversity.

What We Would Like You To Have

• Master’s degree in accounting or finance; or CPA.
• Experience in a higher education Student Finance/Bursar’s office, preferably as an Associate Bursar or Bursar.
• Knowledge of Federal Title IV and state financial aid regulations.
• Experience with PeopleSoft Campus Solutions and document imaging system technology.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. A current resume.
2. A cover letter that specifically addresses how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications and responsibilities of the position.

You will not be asked to upload references at this time.

The University of Colorado is aiming to fill this position by early November. The posting will remain open until the position is filled, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: HRESmail@colorado.edu

The University of Colorado is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer

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