Job ID

76343

Job Title

Associate Director, AR

Regular/Temporary

Regular

Location

Central Campus

Open Date

2026/05/22

Job Type

Continuing

Close Date

2026/06/04

Employee Group

TMG

Favorite Job

Department

FA – Accounts Receivable

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Salary Grade/Band

Under Review

Salary Range

$0.00 - $0.00 (annual)

Job Code

104978

Existing Vacancy

Yes - Newly Created Position

Target Number of Openings

1

Hours per Week

35

Posting Details

Schedule

35 Hours/Week

Education Level

Undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Finance, or CPA or equivalent experience

Career Level

Experienced Manager

Salary Range: $101,466 to $150,000

Job Description

About the Job

Reporting to the Controller, the Associate Director leads the University Accounts Receivable and Student Accounts Finance Functions, ensuring the operation is customer service oriented, student-centered and efficient and strategically aligned with the University’s financial priorities. In addition to core operational responsibilities, the Associate Director plays a key role in advancing Financial Affairs’ transformation agenda by supporting modernization, digitization, process improvement, and enhanced collaboration across the institution, consistent with University priorities.

Job Summary

The Associate Director is responsible for the leadership and management of two high volume, mission-critical financial functions: (1) Account Receivable (AR) and (2) Student Accounts Finance. The role ensures accurate and timely billing, deposits, collections, and financial reporting while also contributing to broader Financial Affairs initiatives and improving student-centered service delivery, modernizing systems, and enhancing communication and transparency. The Associate Director champions continuous improvement, supports cultural transformation, and contributes to the development of a more proactive, strategic and collaborative financial service environment.

This position is responsible for the direction and mentoring of nine direct reports plus temporary students including staff development and meeting regularly with supervision staff for guidance and counselling.

Accountabilities

Responsible for the centralized AR function

• Provides leadership and oversight of the non-student Accounts Receivable (AR) function, including direction of the AR team
• Ensures the effective and compliant delivery of invoicing, cash application, and AR reconciliation processes, with a focus on accuracy, timeliness, and strong internal controls
• Oversees the integrity of AR financial data and ensures alignment with institutional accounting standards and policies
• Leads the planning and execution of external reporting requirements, including tax reporting, ensuring compliance with regulatory obligations
• Champions continuous improvement and transformation initiatives to modernize AR operations, reduce manual processes, and enhance service delivery
• Establishes and governs standardized processes, controls, and documentation to drive consistency, transparency, and a strong end-user experience
• Partners with internal stakeholders to align AR services with evolving business needs and broader Financial Affairs priorities

Responsible for accurate assessment and collection of student fees

• Leading the ongoing enhancement of the financial aspects of student registration including development of flexible and convenient payment plans and methods in collaboration with internal partners
• Stewarding and advancing student financial account records including tuition, residence, meal plans, bookstore charges and miscellaneous fees and fines
• Managing the annual university-wide miscellaneous fees review process
• Ensuring that tuition fees are assessed according to University and Ministry regulations and overseeing accurate and timely issuance of government tax forms.
• Overseeing the team supporting complex student accounts issues, including graduate award payments, foreign student payments and refunds
• Managing relationships with collection agencies including negotiation, contracts, reporting, and problem solving.
• Working with internal partners on flagging outstanding student accounts to withhold diplomas, transcripts, and further registrations.
• Collaborating with internal partners, in particular the Office of the Registrar, on supporting students and alumni to resolve their outstanding debts.
• Managing bad debt analysis, provision, and reporting.
• Working closely with IRA and Budgeting to ensure accurate recording and reporting of tuition and other fees.
• Identifying and leading opportunities to improve transparency, communication, and consistency in student financial processes.
• Developing a student-centered service environment which supports students in meeting their financial obligations.

ResponsibleforaccurateandtimelyrecordinganddepositingofallUniversity****funds.

• Ensuring effective, secure and efficient cash procedures accounting for electronic funds transfer, cash, cheques, online credit cards, point of sale and bank credit memos.
• Ensuring accurate and compliant reconciliation and processing of all e-commerce deposits and procedures
• Overseeing department petty cash replenishment
• Developing and communicating AR policies and procedures to customers and internal users, including dates, deadlines and procedural changes
• Coordinating with colleagues on bank reconciliation, CIBC deposit procedures and the Brinks contract.
• Reporting AR data for the Council of Ontario Financial Officers (COFO).
• Supporting Financial Affairs’ goals to improve clarity, documentation, and communication of financial processes across the institution.

Recommend,implement,andadviseonpoliciesand****procedures.

• Recommending policies and procedures to ensure proper controls are in place for cash control, PCI compliance and bank reconciliation.
• Advising on tuition and miscellaneous fee policies as a member of the USFC, and supporting administration of approved fees.
• Advising societies and departments on referendums and feasibility of new fees.
• Researching, identifying and implementing opportunities for new processes, payment methods and procedures that enhance efficiency and customer service in collaboration with internal partners.
• Participating in consultation and prioritization processes to ensure alignment with institutional needs.

FunctionalownershipofuniversitybillingandAR****systems.

• Functional owner of the following systems:

  • StudentFinancials(Mosaic**-CampusSolutions**) including Tuition and Fees, Charges and payments, Cashiering, Refunds and Banking functions.
  • Billing and Accounts Receivable (Mosaic – Finance- MacBill) including billing, payments, cashiering, receivables, and customer maintenance functions for financial transactions

• Advocating for systems improvements and participating in evaluations, testing and implementation of new technologies

• Working closely with University Technology Services to support the Financial Affairs systems roadmap, including modernization, automation, and integration initiatives

• Leading improved communication and transparency regarding system changes, priorities, and impacts

• Contributing to the development of clearer long-term direction for financial systems

Provideleadershipandstaffdevelopment.

• Providing leadership to the team, ensuring clarity of expectations, priorities, and service standards.
• Coaching and mentoring staff to support skill development, professional growth, and confidence in decision‑making.
• Facilitating training, cross‑training, and knowledge‑sharing to build depth, resilience, and consistency across functions.
• Supporting staff through change by communicating direction, offering guidance, and reinforcing best practices.
• Encouraging a collaborative, inclusive, and service‑oriented team culture aligned with departmental and institutional goals.
• Identifying development needs and recommending opportunities for learning, upskilling, and innovation.
• Providing constructive feedback to support performance, engagement, and accountability.

Education, Experience & Skills

• Undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Finance, or CPA or equivalent experience
• 5-8 plus years management experience in financial office, with complex billing systems, preferably in a PeopleSoft environment
• Leadership & management experience of technical and clerical staff preferably in a unionized environment
• Experience with students in a university or college environment
• Excellent management, leadership, judgement, and interpersonal skills
• Superior analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Ability to be flexible, work in a fast-paced environment and deal with multiple priorities
• Strong relationship building, influencing and change management skills
• Accounting
• Tax associated with Accounts Receivable in a university environment
• Superior system skills
• Ability to use technology to achieve results
• Highly self-motivated and directed
• Strong customer service orientation
• Excellent understanding of the organization’s goals and objectives
• Demonstrated ability working in a collaborative, multi-stakeholder environment
• Ability to work effectively at all levels in the organization, and proven
• success with management of new initiatives

Pay Transparency Statement

The posted hiring range represents McMaster's typical hiring range for this position. Actual starting salary will depend on factors such as relevant experience, qualifications, internal equity, and market conditions.

Individuals with extensive experience, deep specialized expertise, and/or those who can demonstrate exceptional past performance, as applicable, may be hired at a higher rate within the full range, in accordance with the University compensation policies.

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

• Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Hybrid Work Language

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.

AI Statement

McMaster and its third-party partners may use AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants during the hiring process. Please note that currently our recruitment platform does not use AI nor is it part of our current recommended recruitment process.