Manager, Business Office
American Public Education, Inc. 

The Manager, Business Office is responsible for overall operational and managerial support to the Business Office team through leadership, creative problem solving, workflow management, and solution development. The manager oversees the handling of accounts receivable-related transactions on customer accounts, leveraging systems for multiple education units. Account maintenance includes cash processing and application, refund processing, sales/billing of charges, reporting, accounts receivable reconciliation and posting, and research inquiries.

The Manger, Business Office reports directly to Senior Manager, Business Office. This role manages a team of Senior Specialists and Specialist.

Responsibilities: • Develop and foster team members technical and soft skills through both regular one-on-one and team meetings and by providing training and guidance specific to individual team members goals
• Develop and use a variety of queries, reports, and strategies to provide regular and substantive feedback on employee performance, set performance goals/metrics and facilitate avenues for completion to improve individual contributions
• Reviews and approves timesheets, vacations, and other time off requests.
• Conducts annual and introductory performance reviews
• Manages performance and responds effectively to address misconduct and performance issues through necessary disciplinary action.
• Leads, plans, trains, and provides operational support to the Business Office Team to include staffing needs.
• Assists in developing and successfully implementing workflow and system enhancements to support strategic growth of the business office team.
• Responsible for processes and procedures surrounding the data transacted within the business office/AR subsidiary ledgers is accurate, to include general ledger distributions and is in compliance with various policies, internal and external.
• Works in partnership with management staff of Collections, Accounts Payable, and General Finance on departmental initiatives regarding finance.
• Monitors team to ensure all agreed upon service level agreements (SLAs) are achieved and at a high-level quality to include review of standard reports.
• Stay abreast of regulatory changes within Finance and Financial Aid to ensure compliance with Department of Education regulations and best practices by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, and participating in professional organizations.
• Coordinates research and clean-up to include past due invoices and payment issues.
• Approves cash processing, account adjustments, reconciliations, application, and refunds as necessary for all payments including credit cards, checks, ACH, EFTs, scholarships, and financial aid.
• Use sound judgement in managing workflow of varying cadences for accounts receivable and cash receipts transactions, supporting when necessary.
• Routinely support treasury management with daily bank account and wire transfers.
• Assists with monthly close processes to include cash reconciliation and other various monthly reports
• Handles student and third-party escalation issues.
• Coordinates with other managers on process narrative updates.
• Coordinates and assists with User Acceptance testing of IT related projects as is relevant to the team.
• Ensures compliance with the Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX), controls, and Department of Education guidelines in daily processing.
• Works with internal and external auditors as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Experience:• Experience with coaching and leadership in regard to employee performance, goal setting, and planning. Actively developing employees through transference of skills and organizational learning to others appropriately, initiating new approaches and solutions to challenges.
• Developing, implementing, evaluating, and adjusting plans to reach employee, department, and organizational goals.
• The ability to create and sustain a culture that supports the company mission, vision, and values by contributing to initiatives within the organization
• Establishing professional contacts to build, enhance, and connect networks for work purposes.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills to be able to communicate ideas, information, and employee performance effectively through written and verbal means, including through formats such as training presentations and meetings. Utilizing emotional intelligence skills to effectively cater the message to the audience.
• Effective time management to produce deliverables that meet or exceed expectations
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products, including Excel, Outlook, Word, Access, Teams, and PowerPoint
• Ability to utilize multiple systems in transition between tasks
• Advanced experience working in financial aid or similar position
• Prior professional work environment experience with a fast-paced environment with flexible deadlines, and fluctuating service level agreements.

About Us:

Online, on campus and in the workplace, we provide higher education and training to our country’s heroes – military service members, veterans, nurses, government employees, and motivated professionals that want to make a difference. American Public Education, Inc. educates service-minded students, ranging from the military, public service, federal agencies, and nursing communities, through American Public University System (APUS), Hondros College of Nursing (HCON), Rasmussen University and Graduate School USA (GSUSA).

It is the policy of American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) to afford equal opportunity to all qualified persons. We treat all qualified individuals equally as to their recruitment, hiring, assignments, advancements, compensation, and all other terms and conditions of employment. American Public Education, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, or sensory disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Colorado, California, Washington and NYC Pay Transparency Statement

If you are a resident of Colorado, California, Washington or New York City and this role is available remotely, you may be eligible to receive additional information about the compensation and benefits for this role, which we will provide upon request. Please send an email to recruiting@apei.com