Assistant Bursur

Summary

Description

Engineering a world of possibilities

Join Mines in an exciting leadership role in the Bursar's office!

The Assistant Bursar is responsible for managing student accounts and overseeing key financial operations, including billing, tuition, payment processing, and refunds. This position supervises a team of four full-time staff members, ensuring compliance with University, State, and Federal regulations while delivering exceptional customer service to students, parents, faculty, and administrative departments. The Assistant Bursar plays a critical role in ensuring the accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of student financial records.

Key responsibilities include coordinating multiple tuition waiver programs, managing external charges such as room and board, administering student tuition payment plans, processing student refunds, and reviewing and improving departmental procedures. The Assistant Bursar is also responsible for ensuring compliance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) within the Bursar’s Office and effectively communicating updated policies and procedures to staff.

Competencies for success include:
• Knowledge of accounting and finance principles, practices and procedures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proven attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexibility and adaptability in response to evolving institutional needs.

This work is performed primarily on campus in Golden, Colorado with flexibility for hybrid work based on business need.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

Student Account Management

• Prepares and distributes accurate and timely student billing statements.
• Manages the administration of multiple tuition waiver programs, student refunds, special program charges and adjustments, and room and board charges.
• Oversees the setup and ensures compliance of various student tuition payment plans.
• Develops and implements effective strategies for the collection of delinquent student receivables.
• Performs a range of accounting functions, including student account adjustments, updates to doubtful accounts for write-off, loan reclassification entries, and related financial transactions.
• Supports Financial and Tax Reporting Department with student data to support AR Aging and Collections Analysis

Bursar Office Administration and Systems

• Serves as the primary point of contact for PCI DSS compliance within the Bursar’s Office; collaborates with the University’s PCI Compliance Officer and IT Security team to complete Self-Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs), risk assessments, and other required documentation.
• Maintains current knowledge of PCI DSS standards and implements necessary procedures to ensure ongoing compliance across all payment operations.
• Assists with the secure setup, user access management, and operation of payment systems and devices, including card readers, online payment portals, and point-of-sale systems.
• Oversees the administration of annual PCI compliance training for all relevant staff.
• Regularly reviews and updates departmental procedures related to payment processing to align with evolving PCI DSS requirements.
• Supports the Bursar in managing the Accounts Receivable (A/R) module within the Banner SaaS system, including running monthly processing jobs and conducting system testing related to upgrades.
• Assists with testing and upgrades of external systems that integrate with the Banner SaaS A/R module.
• Provides support in compiling documentation and preparing reports for external audits and compliance reviews.
• Supports Audit by ensuring transactions and configurations are timely, complete, accurate, and independently verifiable 

Customer Service

• Advises students, parents, and third-party sponsors on tuition, fees, and related charges, providing clear and accurate information.
• Manages a high volume of oral and written correspondence with students, parents, sponsors, and collection agencies.
• Collaborates with Financial Aid, Admissions, the Registrar’s Office, and other departments to resolve student account issues related to tuition, fees, room and board, and loans.
• Investigates and responds to student account disputes, including validating debts for third-party collection agencies or University Counsel.
• Oversees third-party sponsor receivables and maintains strong working relationships with external vendors.
• Responds to email and telephone inquiries with professionalism and clarity; maintains a broad knowledge of campus departments and services to effectively direct inquiries to the appropriate resources.

Supervision

• Supervises four full-time staff members, providing day-to-day oversight, assigning duties, managing schedules, offering job training, and evaluating performance to ensure high levels of productivity and service.
• Guides staff in addressing inquiries related to accounting entries, tuition and fee charges, waivers, prepaid tuition plans, third-party billing, deferrals, direct deposits, refunds, loans, collections, payment processing, and 1098-T tax statements. Ensures tuition and fee information is communicated clearly to prevent misunderstandings regarding payment responsibilities.
• Develops, maintains, and periodically reviews departmental training programs, policies, procedures, manuals, forms, and outbound correspondence. Recommends updates and process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Conducts training for university departmental staff on Bursar Office operations, utilizing institutional fiscal rules, University policies, established accounting principles, and other authoritative guidance to ensure compliance and promote best practices.

Office Coverage and Other Duties as Assigned

• Provides backup support for Bursar Office functions during staff absences, peak periods, or special projects to ensure continuity of service.
• Assists with front-desk operations, including answering phones, greeting visitors, and responding to general inquiries in person and via email.
• Participates in departmental projects and initiatives, including system implementations, process improvements, and policy updates.
• Supports Bursar and leadership team with data collection, special reports, and ad hoc assignments as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field with at least 21 credit hours of accounting classes.
• At least 3 years of professional accounting.
• Experience in an AR module within Banner SaaS or a similar system.
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with the CASHNet system, or a similar software.
• Experience working in a higher education institution.
• Knowledge of supervisory practices, principles and techniques.
• Experience with collections and third-party receivables.

Salary and Benefits:

Annual salary range of $74,000 – $82,500

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:

• Flexible health and dental care options
• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
• Free RTD Ecopass

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.

How to Apply

Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status)

• Upload a resume or CV
• Upload a cover letter

Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This posting may be used to fill more than one vacancy based on business needs.

References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made.

Application review will begin August 11, 2025. Please apply by August 10, 2025.

It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at  hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance.

Successful Completion of a Background Investigation is Required for this Position.

About Mines & Golden, CO

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 38 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2023).

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that’s manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 “Very High Activity” research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.

That size – roughly 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students – also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued and everyone can make an impact.

Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus – nationally-renowned speakers, special events and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few.

And don’t get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado –with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails – and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high-altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world’s problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a community where our individual perspectives and experiences enrich the educational and work experience?

Look to Mines.

Equal Opportunity

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons.  Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.

Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce.

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.

Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting