Senior Director, Student Financial Services

About the role

The USC department of Financial Services – Student Financial Services is seeking a strategic leader to serve as Senior Director, Student Financial Services. This senior-level position provides vision, leadership, and operational oversight for all aspects of Student Financial Services, including University Collections and Student Account Services. The Director plays a critical role in supporting students while ensuring fiscal integrity and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Directs administrative operations through subordinate managers, supervisors and professional staff.
• Develops new programs and processes to enhance operations, which may include developing short and long term plans, developing and managing electronic information systems, ensuring department's conformity to university policies, and resolving complex departmental problems referred by other managers.
• Manages program and project directors, overseeing the development and implementation of new services.
• Administers personnel functions for the division. Ensures security and confidentiality of staff records. Oversees staff recruitment, staff development, and career succession planning, as assigned.
• Screens and engages outside vendors for services, prepares agendas, gathers and organizes supporting information, and oversees production and ensures the distribution of related materials. Oversees functions to ensure satisfactory outcome. Evaluates vendor/external service performance and makes recommendations or corrections, as necessary.
• Develops and oversees implementation of internal policies covering administration, finance, safety, etc., ensuring compatibility with university policies. Interprets applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Ensures division compliance and approves all necessary exceptions.
• Oversees scheduling and coordination of meetings, planned events, travel arrangements and support services.
• Develops and oversees implementation of internal policies covering administration, finance, safety, etc., ensuring compatibility with university policies. Interprets applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Ensures division compliance and approves all necessary exceptions.
• Oversees scheduling and coordination of meetings, planned events, travel arrangements and support services.
• Develops and oversees implementation of internal policies covering administration, finance, safety, etc., ensuring compatibility with university policies. Interprets applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Ensures division compliance and approves all necessary exceptions.
• Develops and oversees implementation of internal policies covering administration, finance, safety, etc., ensuring compatibility with university policies. Interprets applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Ensures division compliance and approves all necessary exceptions.
• Develops and oversees implementation of internal policies covering administration, finance, safety, etc., ensuring compatibility with university policies. Interprets applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Ensures division compliance and approves all necessary exceptions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree. Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.
• Five years of experience in Student Financial Services/Bursar Operations or a related area.
• Management experience in busy, multi-faceted department, preferably within a university setting.
• Ability to understand and leverage data to improve services, increase productivity, and drive meaningful change.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Seven years of experience in Student Financial Services/Bursar Operations or a related area.
• Demonstrated operational leadership experience, preferably in student services.
• Strong expertise in process mapping and continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to motivate teams and foster collaboration.
• Experience preparing and analyzing reports on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to keep leadership informed, engaged, and aligned.

Benefits

USC offers a wide variety of benefits and programs that support our staff and their families. This support advocates work-life balance and employee well-being. USC employees are connected by the traditions and history that make us proud to be Trojans and the work culture thrives on mutual respect, trust, and synergy amongst all its members. Join us!

Pay

The annual base salary range for this position is $160,000 to $165,000. When determining an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills, internal peer alignment, applicable laws, contractual requirements, grant funding, and market conditions.

Schedule

This is primarily an onsite role, with the potential for a hybrid work arrangement after one year of employment, contingent upon business needs.