Senior Accounts Receivable Accountant - Student Finance & Collections | AR Reconciliation & Invoicing Specialist

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Accounts Receivable Accountant to lead and optimize the receivables lifecycle for student-related accounts. This position sits at the intersection of financial operations and student services, requiring precision in high-volume invoicing, proactive collections strategy, and rigorous account reconciliation. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in AR management within an educational or high-transaction environment, ensuring cash flow integrity while maintaining compliance and stakeholder satisfaction.

Core Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end accounts receivable process for student tuition, fees, and related charges — from invoice generation to final collection.
• Design and execute collections strategies tailored to student account cycles, reducing DSO (Days Sales Outstanding) and minimizing bad debt write-offs.
• Perform daily, weekly, and monthly account reconciliations across sub-ledgers and the general ledger, identifying and resolving discrepancies with speed and accuracy.
• Manage high-volume invoicing operations, ensuring timely, accurate billing for thousands of student accounts per cycle.
• Collaborate with admissions, registrar, and financial aid teams to reconcile enrollment changes, scholarship adjustments, and payment plan modifications.
• Prepare and present aging reports, cash flow forecasts, and AR KPIs to finance leadership on a recurring basis.
• Lead month-end and year-end close activities for AR, including journal entries, accruals, and audit support.
• Implement process improvements and automation initiatives (e.g., ERP enhancements, payment portal integrations) to increase efficiency and data integrity.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for escalated student billing inquiries and dispute resolution.
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, GAAP, and relevant regulatory requirements (e.g., FERPA, PCI-DSS for payment processing).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA, CMA, or equivalent certification strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive AR experience, with at least 2 years in a senior or lead capacity.
• Proven track record managing high-volume, student-facing or subscription-based receivables (education, SaaS, healthcare, or similar).
• Advanced proficiency in ERP systems (Banner, PeopleSoft, Workday, Oracle, SAP, or Ellucian) and Excel (PivotTables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Power Query).
• Deep understanding of revenue recognition, deferral accounting, and student financial aid workflows.
• Demonstrated success in collections management, dispute resolution, and DSO reduction.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to translate complex AR data into actionable insights for leadership.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional collaboration and student-facing interactions.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with payment gateway integrations (TouchNet, Flywire, Stripe, Nelnet) and PCI-compliant processing.
• Familiarity with student information systems (SIS) and financial aid modules.
• Background in process automation (Power Automate, Alteryx, Python scripting for reconciliation).
• Multilingual capability (Arabic/English) for diverse student populations.
• Prior experience in higher education finance or ed-tech financial operations.

What Makes This Opportunity Stand Out

• High-impact role directly influencing cash flow and student financial experience at scale.
• Exposure to complex, multi-channel revenue streams (tuition, housing, meal plans, fees, international payments).
• Opportunity to lead digital transformation in AR — from legacy processes to automated, student-centric billing.
• Collaborative, mission-driven environment where finance enables educational access.
• Clear path for advancement into Assistant Controller or Director of Student Financial Services roles.
• Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and professional development support (CPE, certifications, conferences).