Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field required.
3 to 5 years of experience in higher education student accounts or bursar operations.
Master's degree preferred.
Experience with Jenzabar J1, Cashnet, and compliance in college bursar operations required.
Strong leadership skills with experience in managing professional staff.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel is essential.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for stakeholder engagement.
Ability to analyze complex financial and regulatory information.
Responsibilities
Provide strategic leadership for student billing and accounts receivable operations.
Collaborate with Financial Aid, Registrar's Office, and Admissions for seamless enrollment services.
Enhance service delivery and improve operational workflows.
Identify automation opportunities to streamline processes.
Support the use of technology, including AI tools, to improve student services.
Ensure compliance and accuracy in student account administration.
Manage the Student Accounts team effectively.
Benefits
Opportunity for occasional remote work during peak periods.
Engagement in a collaborative environment with various campus partners.
Potential for professional development in financial administration and technology.
Involvement in strategic initiatives that impact student success.
Full Job Description
The Director of Student Accounts provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for student billing, accounts receivable, cashiering, and related student financial services functions for Merrimack College. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, this position plays a critical role in supporting the College's enrollment, reenrollment, retention, and student success goals through accurate, compliant, and student-centered administration of student account processes. The Director leads the Student Accounts team and collaborates closely with Financial Aid, the Registrar's Office, Finance, Admissions, and other campus partners to ensure a seamless, efficient, and well-coordinated enrollment services experience. This role is responsible for strengthening service delivery, improving operational workflows, identifying opportunities for automation, and supporting the thoughtful use of technology, including emerging AI-enabled tools, to enhance student services and administrative processes. The position may include occasional remote or in-person evening and weekend availability during peak billing and enrollment periods.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree required in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field
3 to 5 years of progressive experience in higher education student accounts, bursar operations, or related financial administration.
Master's degree preferred.
Demonstrated experience with Jenzabar J1, Cashnet, and regulatory compliance related to college bursar operations required.
Must exercise sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism when handling sensitive financial and personal information.
Demonstrated leadership ability with experience managing and developing professional staff.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel is required.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to analyze and interpret complex financial, regulatory, and policy information and make informed decisions.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Ability to think strategically while maintaining attention to operational detail and transactional accuracy.
Demonstrated initiative and problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate risk and implement effective solutions.
Technical competence and the ability to understand both detailed transactions and broader institutional financial processes.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree preferred
7 to 10 years of progressive experience in higher education student accounts, bursar operations, or related financial administration.
Experience with student information systems and billing platforms required, specifically Jenzabar J1 and Cashnet.
Experience working in a collaborative enrollment services environment and supporting integrated service models across Student Accounts, Financial Aid, and Registrar functions is preferred.
Demonstrated experience improving operational efficiency through workflow design, process standardization, and automation.
Demonstrated experience creating efficient workflows, implementing process improvements, and leveraging automation to improve operational effectiveness is strongly preferred.
Experience in a private higher education environment.
Experience leading technology-enabled transformation, including workflow optimization, process automation, or AI-supported service delivery in higher education administration.
About Merrimack College
Merrimack College is a private, Catholic college located in North Andover, Massachusetts. Founded in 1947, the college offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields, including business, education, engineering, health sciences, and liberal arts. Merrimack College is known for its strong commitment to experiential learning, and offers students numerous opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships, research projects, and community service. The college has a diverse student body, with students from over 30 states and 20 countries.
