Associate Bursar - Fee Administrator, Bursar Office - UTK

The Associate Bursar – Fee Administrator provides leadership and oversight for the institution’s tuition and fee assessment processes. This role is responsible for the accurate setup, approval, posting, and reconciliation of all student fees within the student information system. Working closely with academic units, auxiliary services, Finance, and IT, the Associate Bursar ensures that fee structures are transparent, compliant, and aligned with institutional policies. The position plays a critical role in safeguarding revenue integrity, preventing billing errors, and enhancing the student financial experience through accurate and timely assessments.

• Lead the planning, configuration, and ongoing management of student information systems (SIS), cashiering systems, and payment platforms.

• Oversee the accurate setup of tuition and fee structures, billing cycles, and payment plan options each term.

• Direct system testing and upgrades, ensuring functionality, accuracy, and minimal disruption to operations.

• Coordinate system testing and upgrades, validating data accuracy and system functionality before deployment.

• Manage user roles, access levels, and permissions within the bursar’s systems, ensuring compliance with institutional policies and regulatory requirements (FERPA, PCI-DSS, etc.).

• Monitor system activity and audit logs to safeguard sensitive student financial data.

• Partner with IT security teams to implement and maintain cybersecurity best practices.

• Work with campus partners (IT, Financial Aid, Registrar, Finance) to ensure seamless integration of systems and data flows.

• Provide training and technical support to bursar staff and student services personnel on system use and reporting tools.

• Assist in policy and procedure development related to system functionality, reporting standards, and data security.

• Lead or participate in projects to implement new tools, automation, or reporting capabilities.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, Finance, or related field

• Experience: 7+ years of experience in student financial services, bursar operations, or higher education finance, with significant exposure to systems and reporting functions.

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Demonstrate experience with student information systems (e.g., Ellucian Banner, Oracle, TouchNet, Argos). Strong understanding of data security, FERPA, and PCI compliance requirements. Proficiency with reporting tools (e.g., Cognos, Tableau, SQL, Excel). Strong problem-solving, analytical, and project management skills.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master's Degree

• Experience: Prefer 10 years’ related experience in reconciliation, compliance and fee waiver experience in Higher Education in addition to payment processing experience. Considerable knowledge of federal, state and university rules and regulations.

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Functional expertise in bursar/student accounts processes; Strong system and data analysis skills; Ability to translate functional needs into technical requirements; High attention to detail and data accuracy; Strong problem-solving and process-improvement mindset; Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

Work Location: University of Tennessee Knoxville. This position is in-person.

Compensation and Benefits:

• UT market range: $85,000 – $95,000

· Anticipated hiring salary: $90,000/per year · ·

Application Instructions:

• Resume

• Cover Letter (optional)

• List of no more than 3 references