Credit Controller at Catholic University of Eastern Africa

Job Purpose:

To ensure that all tuition income of the University has been invoiced, collected and accounted for in a timely manner and all scholarships have been credited in the students’ accounts on a timely basis and in line with the International Financial Reporting Standards and University policies.

Reporting: The job holder reports to the Chief Finance Officer.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Follow up on system issues to ensure the system is working efficiently and effectively.
• Ensure all the incomes have been invoiced and collected.
• Pull scholarships, debit notes, credit notes and invoices from the students system to the financial reporting system.
• Review all revenue, scholarships, debtors and student account reconciliations on a monthly basis.
• Prepare audit schedules and respond to all audit queries relating to accounting for revenues and debtors.
• Review and approval of any credit notes, debit notes and any other adjustments to the students’ accounts before they are effected.
• Liaise with other departments and Finance sections relating to student accounts.
• Ensure an effective and efficient process is applied for the collection of student fees.
• Ensure a flexible approach is adapted, within an agreed framework, when dealing with repayment plans in response to internal and external demands.
• Provide assistance and advice on a diverse range of student issues, including student finance regulations, anti-money laundering and withdrawal policies.
• Engage with other departments to ensure the relevant support is in place for the student’s needs, including student funding, welfare, careers, accommodation and faculties.
• Deal with students in a tenacious but empathetic manner to obtain maximum debt collection within a supportive and understanding environment.
• Work closely with the Registry Department on the tuition fee anomalies identified on the attendance confirmation report. Investigate each case and resolve with the appropriate action.
• Under the guidance of the Senior Accountant, take the lead on specific tasks to monitor and analyse the trends of University debt suggesting measures to assist with debt support and utilising funds available in the most cost effective manner.
• Support the debt review panel with analysed reports of the University’s outstanding student debt and provide recommendations.
• Liaise with and inform other departments and faculties of issues relating to outstanding payments.
• Chase overdue invoices for Corporate/Commercial Debt held on the University sales ledger.
• Understand credit control practices and collection process including the legal collection processes and their constraints.
• Any other duty as may be assigned by the supervisor from time to time;

Minimum Qualifications, Skills and Competencies

• Master’s degree in Accounting or a relevant field from an accredited institution.
• CPA (K) or its equivalent.
• Eight (8) years’ working experience 3 years of which must have been in a similar position.
• Ability to generate, analyse and interpret the following documents:
  • Financial Statements
  • Daily cash collection report
  • Receipts
  • University Budget
  • IFRS and IAS
  • HR Manual
  • University policies
  • Finance Manual
• Knowledge of the International Financial Reporting Standards.
• Knowledge of financial management principles and practices.
• Hands on experience with IT and in particular Sage ACCPAC.
• Knowledge of Internal and external audit practices and principles.
• Demonstrate sound judgement, tact and diplomacy and demonstrate proven ability to deal with confidential and sensitive issues.
• Confident, organized and an accomplished problem-solver.
• Integrity, honesty and ethics.
• Excellent verbal & written communication.
• Ability to investigate and solve finance related problems.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Professionalism –maintains a professional approach based on ethics and CUEA values.