Accounts Receivables Manager

Role Description

About this role

In a customer focused, complex and fast paced environment, as Accounts Receivable Manager you will be responsible for the effective and efficient operation of the income and accounts receivable function of the University. This will include all aspects of invoicing, income collection, account reconciliation, and debt collection processes. You will need the ability to think logically and provide guidance on complex and diverse funding criteria, ensuring adherence to strict financial and antifraud compliance regulations including debt recovery legislation. 

You will take ownership of service delivery outcomes, providing effective leadership to a multi-disciplinary team of seven. You will be accountable for establishing performance frameworks including setting clear objectives and measurable indicators while maintaining the operational agility to deploy resources to meet service requirements You will undertake a range of specialised, administrative activities that contribute to the effective and efficient operation of the income and fees office and ensure the accurate generation and collection of student/sponsor fees, on a timely basis in line with the University's student cycle and commercial/research/sundry income for the University. 

Moreover, you will be responsible for managing  student, sponsor and commercial/research debt within a customer focussed environment, to ensure the effective and prompt collection of amounts due including resolving queries, liaising with external organisations including SLC negotiating payment plans and using external debt collection services where required. You will lead the proactive management and improvement of systems, processes and policies relating to student fee generation and collection. 

Department

The role sits within the Universities Finance Department, reporting into the Assistant Director of Finance Shared Services and has direct line management responsibility for a team of eight. The team consists of two Senior Fees & Income Officers and six Accounts Assistants. 

Key responsibilities

• Leadership and ongoing development of the team, setting and monitoring of KPI’s and targets. Ensuring ongoing performance management and addressing any performance concerns
• Ensure the team are multiskilled and can effectively carry out all team activities as required.
• Within a customer focussed environment, ensure the accurate generation of student/sponsor fees (on a timely basis in line with the University's student cycle) and commercial/research/sundry income for the University.
• Manage student, sponsor and commercial/research debt to ensure the effective and prompt collection of amounts due including resolving queries, liaising with external organisations including SLC (Student loan company) negotiating payment plans and using external debt collection services where required in line with policies and procedures.
• Develop and implement strategies and procedures to maximise the collection of relevant fees, charges and commercial sums owed. Working collaboratively with stakeholders as appropriate.
• Review income and fee activities for potential fraud and money laundering and undertake relevant investigations with supporting records and follow up with relevant internal groups and external agencies
• Identification and delivery of ongoing improvements, systems and procedures and informational materials on tuition fees and income, in consultation with colleagues.
• Dealing with student informal and formal complaints relating to fees. 

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

Ideal candidate will bring to this role:

• Experience of managing a financial customer services team in a complex, high volume, fast paced environment.
• Proven experience of agreeing/setting KPI’s and team performance management
• Numeracy skills with a good understanding of finance, and the ability to analyse data and financial information with a high level of accuracy
• Understanding of financial compliance regulations, including debt recovery legislation.

If you have experience of managing an accounts receivables team and / or of higher education, fees generation and funding solutions, that would be a bonus.

Interview date:To be confirmed

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact: Janet Richards, Assistant Director of Finance Shared Services on 01904 324034

Condition of employment

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Consequently, all applicants will be asked to declare both unspent and spent convictions on their application form.

Appointment of the successful candidate will be conditional on a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive  – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork

As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum (essential) criteria for each position will be offered an interview.  Read more about the University of York’s commitments under the Disability Confident scheme.