Northcentral Technical College Hiring for Accounting Manager, Student Accounts & Cash Management at Wausau Main Campus Full Time

Applications must be submitted by 12:01 a.m., August 28, 2023.Thank you for your interest in a career at Northcentral Technical College (NTC). NTC offers outstanding career opportunities at our beautiful campus with state-of-the-art technology and a stimulating and diverse environment. Employees are offered an amazing Total Rewards package with competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and generous paid time off – including two paid closures for the winter holiday (Christmas – New Year) and summer (week of July 4th), for most full-time positions. NTC is “The College that Cares” and makes a difference in the lives of our employees and students.If you have the desire to help students while positively impacting the community, we’d love for you to join our team! Salary is commensurate based on occupational experience and qualifications.

JOB SUMMARY, DESCRIPTION & QUALIFICATIONS:

Job Summary

As a member of the Finance team, the Accounting Manager provides leadership for finance and accounting staff performing work in multiple finance functional areas and participates in day-to-day financial operations to ensure accuracy of financial transactions and reports. The Accounting Manager recommends, interprets, and implements fiscal policies and advises on process improvements in support of efficient and compliant reporting. The Accounting Manager oversees the daily administration of College accounts receivable and third party billing systems and the accuracy of charges, credits, payments, and refunds entered into the accounting software. The Accounting Manager supervises the application of financial aid to College charges on student accounts and releases refunds to student in compliance with College, federal and state laws and regulations. The Accounting Manager will administer the banking and depository requirements necessary for efficient management of cash flow. The Accounting Manager manages confidential information for college-wide functions and provides exceptional service to all internal and external customers.

As a member of leadership, the Accounting Manager will portray a broad institutional perspective that supports the College’s mission, vision, and goals while fostering and creating an environment that strives to assess, anticipate, and meet College finance related needs and seek to develop value-added services which reflect the strategic priorities of the College. Exercising good judgement, discretion, and decision making, the Accounting Manager will support a shared leadership culture through team participation and facilitation.

The Accounting Manager exercises regular and continuous administrative judgement and responsibility for decisions, consequences and results impacting people, costs, and/or quality of service. The Accounting Manager provides a regular exchange of non-routine information using tact and professionalism, requiring good oral and written communication skills.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

The following duties are primarily performed and are essential for this position. Employees are expected to be able to perform each of these job duties satisfactorily and successfully with or without reasonable accommodations.

Leadership:

• Provide transformational leadership in the day-to-day operations and initiatives that support student and employee success. Build professional relationships and work collaboratively with internal and external customers to effectively research, interpret, communicate, and administer policies, procedures, laws, and standards/government regulations. Create an environment of open, honest dialogue and continuous improvement

• Develop and articulate a clear vision and direction that utilizes innovation and creativity to maximize opportunities for improvement and growth for the department and College that align with strategic initiatives and student success. Proactively work with college departments to identify new, more efficient ways of handling financial information, financial strategies, or other approaches that optimize efficiency and create the most value for the College

• Plan and manage daily fiscal operations. Facilitate a customer service team approach to carrying out the daily job functions

• Act as an ERP administrator and power user, providing guidance and training to college staff as needed on handling financial transactions

Planning:

• Assist the Director of Finance and other college colleagues with planning, budgeting, and resource allocation efforts

• Assist with the annual budget process, including collaboration with college departments, to help align the budget with the College strategic priorities

• Analyze complex financial data to define relevant information and interpret data for the purpose of determining past financial performance and/or project a financial probability and trends

• Support college-wide management activities and strategic direction by identifying the need for changes in policy, procedures or process and take initiative to develop and implement change within area of responsibility or make recommendations for change to responsible party

Day-to-day Operations:

• Evaluate student tuition accounts, process tuition payments, generate and update reports, and disseminate information to the appropriate entities

• Oversee refunding activities, ensuring all payment refunds are processed accurately and timely; researches and responds to inquiries regarding refund and/or account balances

• Manage student payment plans and related processing, reconciliation, and oversight to help student resolve account balances, achieve good financial standing and persist in their academic progress

• Receive, investigate, and respond to complex tuition situations according to established policies and procedures

• Oversee administration of the tax levy and associated billings for all district municipalities, calculate individual levy amounts based on approved mill rates and state-determined equalized values, submit reports to appropriate municipal clerks for invoicing, payment records, corrections and balance verifications

• Manage all accounts receivables, monitor aging and perform collections efforts in accordance with consumer law and state guidelines

• Develop, implement, automate and maintain pre-collections and collections efforts and campaigns. Manage collections agency accounts, maintain collection scheduled, review, prepare, and assign and recall accounts as appropriate

• Review and prepare all documentation necessary for judgements, bankruptcies and suite authorizations

• Provide financial counseling for students and parents regarding payment options and payment plans with authority to negotiate special arrangements. When necessary, resolve problems and questions with students or parents regarding student finances.

• Consult with Student Services colleagues as appropriate.

• Initiate and settle student account balances in escalated or special situations in partnership with Director of Finance

• Develop schedules to ensure appropriate coverage of student customer service center; create and implement changes to work assignments among staff to meet operational needs, maximize efficiency and manager customer service demands

• Ensure compliance of federal, state, and WTCS rules and regulations with regards to student accounts

• Complete annual financial reporting, including 1098T tax documents

• Establish and maintain internal controls

• Manage cash activities by monitoring daily cash position in bank and investment accounts, including movement of funds, reporting, and problem resolution, and balance cash outflows with the college revenue cycle

• Develop, implement, and manage cash flow forecasting and analysis and execute daily funding decisions

• Review banking fees and service quality, and assess benchmarks and proactively recommend changes

Audit:

• Assist with year-end processes for financial statement preparation

• Plan, direct and engage in preparing year-end entries related to deferred revenue, accounts receivable write-offs and bad debt, accounts receivable reconciliation and tuition calculations

Team Building and Coaching:

• Provide high-level support for the Director of Finance, Vice-President of Business and Technology and members of the Executive Leadership Team as needed. Lead, supervise, and mentor Finance staff as assigned. Provide support to the Director of Finance with College’s financial policies, processes, and procedures, as well as supervisory backup during absences

• Cultivate an organizational/team climate that engages staff to accomplish the goals and objectives of the team action plan as it relates to the department and the College

• Foster an environment that values the diversity of ideas and people; attract and retain a culturally diverse workforce

• Confers on the department’s human resource needs, including the selection, retention, performance management, and development of employees

• Develop departmental and College-wide financial information system learning materials by designing training procedure manuals, guides, or other related materials

• All other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications Required

In limited circumstances, NTC may consider a combination of education, training, and experience which provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Professional training in accounting, business, or related field such as would be acquired by earning a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business or related field from an accredited post-secondary college/university OR commensurate experience and training.

• Preferred: Master’s degree

Experience: 4 to 5 years
5+ years of progressive responsibility for financial functions OR a combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Language Skills:

Ability to read, write, analyze and interpret complex documents; present topics to internal and external individuals of all levels.

Math Skills:

Ability to perform and work complex calculations, make comparisons, interpret and provide logical explanations to others.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw conclusions to critically create resolutions; interpret instructions in mathematical or diagram form with abstract and concrete variables.

Technical Skills:

Ability to perform complex operations in a variety of job-specific systems, understand functionality to apply advanced functions, manage/customize and create calculations with data.

Customer Service Skills:

Ability to understand complex concerns and formulate solutions; communicate professionally with various audiences in different situations.

Other Requirements

• Possesses demonstrated skills, knowledge, and experience in general accounting practices and principles.

• Demonstrated proficiency in using computer technologies, including development and maintenance of detailed financial spreadsheets, database software, and word processing software.

• Must be customer-focused with an ability to handle sensitive situations and people in a discreet confidential matter.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, initiative, creativity, and resourcefulness.

• Must have the ability to maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities, complete projects timely and accurately, and work under pressure at times to handle a wide variety of activities.

Preferred:

• Governmental agency and/or non-profit accounting experience.

• Experience in general invoicing and collection practices and procedures., knowledge of consumer law.

Physical Requirements

Carrying/Lifting 10-25lbs: Low

Carrying/Lifting 25-50lbs: Low

Carrying/Lifting more than 50lbs: Low

Sitting: High

Standing/Walking/Climbing: Medium

Squatting/Crouching/Kneeling/Bending: Low

Repetitive Hand/Foot Movement: Low

Pushing/Pulling/Reaching Above Shoulder: Low

Work Environment

Indoor/Office Work Environment: High

Outdoor Weather Conditions: N/A

Irritated or Agitated Individuals: Medium

Hostile or Violent Individuals: Low

Hazardous Fumes/Odors/Toxic Chemicals: N/A

Confined Spaces (as identified by OSHA): N/A

Work-Related Travel: Low