Head of Student Finance

Head of Student Finance required for Surrey based Higher Education organisation

ACA/ACCA/CIMA accountant or Credit Management Institute qualified

Client Details

A highly respected Surrey based Higher Education organisation are looking to recruit a Head of Student Finance candidate on a permanent basis. You will be managing a team of 18 with 4 direct reports.

Description

To be responsible for the delivery of the Accounts Receivable service for our customers.

To lead and manage the Accounts Receivable team, driving results through the Student Finance team.

Ensuring all actions are to drive debtor management and give an accurate view of debt owed to the organisation at any point of time. Developing strategies to enable the team to achieve targets, including staff support, training and development.

Manage strategy for debt, ensuring targeted communication is in line with the next liability date, to reduce the amount of debt moving to non-current students and external agencies.

Manage the relationship with the business to ensure all contracts for Firms are in place; that agreed invoicing timescales are understood by the team and are being met; and that the correct discounting structure is being maintained.

Manage the campus operational staff relationships to ensure that each campus is aware of their debt status and that service levels are being met by Accounts Receivable team.

To prepare the course fee schedules, based on the prices agreed by the organisations Executive Board, for general reference by all areas of the organisation including the organisation website and to ensure that these are kept up-to-date for any subsequent changes.

• Test and review processes and team effectiveness on a regular cycle to ensure that the AR function is meeting the needs of the business.

• Review all system enhancements necessary and liaise with Finance Project Manager to ensure requests for improvements are being driven through the business effectively.

• Ensure that all changes to agreed formal processes are reviewed, recorded, and approved by executive management prior to implementation.

• To support the Finance Director and Chief Finance Officer in achieving the objectives of the Finance Department and the wider strategic objectives of the organisation by working collaboratively across all organisation

• To be responsible for the full debtor's ledger ensuring that the data held is complete, clean and accurate and any reports or calculations required are produced in a timely fashion.

• To agree KPI's with the Finance Director (including, but not limited to, debt recovery, working capital, Daily Sales Outstanding, Bad Debt, query response and recruitment and retention targets) and then to lead the team to meet those targets,

• To review reports on debtors including month-end reports, monthly bad debt provision, debtors listing for the campus staff, balance sheet reconciliations, fee income reconciliations, as required by the Finance Director.

• To promote and sustain a constructive, supportive and professional working relationship with all customers and colleagues.

• To perform other tasks as required by the Finance Director.

Profile

Qualified accountant (ICAEW, ACCA or ACA) or relevant Credit Management Institution qualification

Post-qualification experience

Understanding of financial ledgers

Written reports

Operating within a multi-site environment

Managing a team

Ability to meet strict reporting and processing deadlines

Ability to understand systems and transaction flows

Excellent report writing skills

Excel and Word

Well-organised

Enthusiastic with high self-motivation.

Good prioritisation skills

Excellent interpersonal and people management skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Accuracy, with close attention to detail.

Job Offer

Very generous pension

Free parking

Subsidised canteen

Very friendly team

30 days holiday

Career progression