This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Assistant Director, Financial Services based in the United States.
Overview
Take on a strategic financial leadership role within a mission-driven higher education environment, where your expertise will help strengthen financial performance and institutional sustainability. As Assistant Director, Financial Services, you will oversee external billing, accounts receivable, collections, and revenue cycle operations, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and compliance. You will lead a team of financial professionals while implementing strategies to accelerate collections, reduce outstanding receivables, and improve cash flow. By leveraging financial analytics, automation, and enterprise resource planning systems, you will drive continuous improvement and deliver actionable insights to senior leadership. This position offers the opportunity to collaborate with internal departments, external sponsors, government agencies, and business partners to resolve complex financial challenges. If you are a results-driven leader passionate about operational excellence, team development, and data-informed decision-making, this role offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on organizational success.
- Lead Financial Services and Revenue Cycle Operations
- Direct daily operations across external billing, sponsored billing, accounts receivable, collections, and related financial services.
- Oversee the full receivables lifecycle, from invoice preparation and payment processing to account reconciliation, collections, and resolution of outstanding balances.
- Develop and implement strategies to improve collection rates, reduce aged receivables, accelerate payment recovery, strengthen cash flow, and minimize financial risk.
- Ensure invoices are accurate, timely, supported by appropriate documentation, and compliant with contractual requirements, sponsor guidelines, institutional policies, and applicable regulations.
- Oversee cash application and account reconciliation processes to ensure payments are recorded accurately and consistently.
- Drive Financial Performance and Reporting
- Analyze financial and operational data to identify trends, assess risks, monitor performance, and uncover opportunities for improvement.
- Develop executive dashboards, performance indicators, forecasts, and reports that provide actionable insights into collections, receivables aging, and revenue cycle effectiveness.
- Present financial and operational findings to leadership and recommend strategies that improve efficiency, strengthen cash flow, and support long-term financial sustainability.
- Monitor operational expenditures, receivables performance, and collection outcomes to ensure accountability and alignment with institutional objectives.
- Optimize Processes, Systems, and Internal Controls
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on automation, workflow redesign, process standardization, and enhanced customer service.
- Oversee the effective use and ongoing optimization of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, particularly Workday, to support billing, collections, reporting, and financial operations.
- Establish, document, and monitor internal controls to ensure financial integrity, regulatory compliance, and consistent adherence to institutional procedures.
- Identify opportunities to improve reporting capabilities, reduce manual processes, and increase operational effectiveness across the revenue cycle.
- Build Relationships and Support Stakeholders
- Serve as a trusted financial partner to internal departments, external sponsors, government agencies, businesses, and other stakeholders.
- Collaborate across departments to resolve complex billing issues, address payment delays, manage invoice corrections, and ensure timely communication regarding contractual and compliance requirements.
- Promote a customer-focused approach while maintaining strong financial controls, collection standards, and responsible stewardship of institutional resources.
- Lead and Develop a High-Performing Team
- Supervise, coach, and mentor financial services staff, including overseeing recruitment recommendations, onboarding, training, performance reviews, and daily operations.
- Establish clear performance expectations and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, professional development, and continuous improvement.
- Support succession planning, employee engagement, motivation, and retention while encouraging staff to identify innovative solutions.
- Complete at least 19 hours of professional development annually, plus an additional 16 hours of leadership development required for people leaders.
- Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and institutional priorities.
Requirements
- Education and Professional Experience
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Accounting, Business, or a related field from an accredited institution.
- At least 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in accounts receivable, billing, collections, revenue cycle management, or financial operations.
- A minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience, including team leadership, performance management, and staff development.
- A master's degree in a related discipline is preferred.
- Experience in higher education finance, external billing, sponsored billing, and collections is highly desirable.
- Financial and Technical Expertise
- Strong knowledge of revenue cycle management, accounts receivable operations, third-party and contract billing, collection and recovery strategies, cash application, and account reconciliation.
- Understanding of internal controls, financial reporting, institutional policies, and applicable state and federal regulations.
- Experience using ERP platforms such as Workday, Banner, Colleague, Oracle, SAP, or comparable financial systems; prior Workday experience is particularly valuable.
- Familiarity with business intelligence, financial analytics, dashboard development, and performance reporting tools.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze complex financial and operational data, develop forecasts, and implement strategies that improve collections and cash flow.
- Experience leading process improvement initiatives is preferred, particularly Lean Six Sigma methodologies or comparable continuous improvement practices.
- Professional certifications such as PMP, CGFM, CRCP, CCCP, or other relevant credentials are advantageous.
- Leadership and Interpersonal Skills
- Strong leadership and team-building capabilities, with the ability to motivate employees, delegate effectively, establish accountability, and encourage collaboration.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, time-management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a high-volume, multi-fund public-sector environment.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present financial insights to executive leadership and communicate with external stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, improve business processes, and implement technology-driven operational enhancements.
- Strong interpersonal skills and a customer-service mindset, balancing stakeholder needs with financial stewardship and compliance obligations.
- A commitment to confidentiality, integrity, ethical conduct, and the mission of public higher education.
- Bilingual or multilingual proficiency is preferred.
- Additional Requirements
- Official academic transcripts must be provided.
- A valid driver's license is required.
- Successful completion of a criminal background check is required; some positions may also require fingerprint screening.
- Ability to work in a standard office environment, with reasonable accommodations available for qualified individuals who need them.
- Willingness to work occasional weekends or extended hours during peak registration periods and fiscal year-end closing.
- Availability for regular and predictable attendance and completion of required annual professional development activities.
Benefits
- Competitive salary: Minimum annual salary of $90,038, with final compensation subject to the applicable staff pay range and institutional compensation policies.
- Full-time employment: A standard schedule of 40 hours per week in a professional financial services environment.
- Professional development: Opportunities to strengthen leadership, financial management, analytical, and operational expertise through ongoing development programs.
- Leadership opportunities: The chance to manage and develop a team, influence financial strategy, and contribute to institution-wide operational improvements.
- Technology and process innovation: Opportunities to work with enterprise financial systems, analytics, dashboards, and automation initiatives.
- Mission-driven work: Contribute to the financial sustainability of a higher education institution focused on student success and community impact.
- Collaborative environment: Work with a broad network of internal departments, external partners, sponsors, and senior leadership.
- Potential hybrid flexibility: Positions may be eligible to apply for a hybrid arrangement after six months of employment, subject to job responsibilities, operational requirements, supervisor approval, and institutional policy. Certain remote-work arrangements may also be permitted under applicable Texas law.
- Equal opportunity and accessibility: A workplace committed to inclusion, belonging, equal employment opportunities, and reasonable accommodations.
