Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the student fees team and manage income processes in a dynamic environment.
- Company: A leading organisation in higher education with a strong focus on student experience.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on student finance and shape strategic decisions.
- Qualifications: Experience in financial management and team leadership within complex organisations.
- Other info: Join a respected team and enjoy significant influence and visibility.
A leading organisation within the higher education sector is seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to take ownership of its student fees and income management function. This is a pivotal role within a large and complex environment, offering the opportunity to shape processes, lead a high-performing team, and influence strategic decision-making at senior level. With annual student and sponsor fee income exceeding £500m, this position plays a critical part in safeguarding financial performance, ensuring regulatory compliance, and delivering an excellent experience for students and stakeholders.
As the senior lead for student fees, you will oversee the full lifecycle of fee charging, collection and debt management. You will act as the organisation's subject matter expert, providing guidance to leaders, governance groups and academic departments.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the Fees team, ensuring effective resource planning, performance management, and ongoing training and development
- Maintaining oversight of all processes and systems relating to student fees, ensuring accuracy, efficiency and a positive student/sponsor experience
- Monitoring financial exposure and debt performance, identifying risks and implementing appropriate actions
- Providing specialist advice on tuition fee regulations, policy changes and compliance requirements
- Supporting the design and development of fee-related policy, including impact analysis and implementation planning
- Producing and interpreting management information to inform senior stakeholders and drive decision-making
- Overseeing the integrity of systems such as Banner and SAP to ensure accurate and timely charging
- Managing the allocation of incoming payments and ensuring robust financial controls
- Regulating and monitoring debt collection activity, including oversight of third-party agencies and solicitors
- Acting as the escalation point for complex student cases, ensuring fair and compliant resolution
- Ensuring PCI-DSS compliance within the Fees team
- Leading the production of clear tuition fee and payment guidance for applicants and students
- Contributing to wider Student Finance and service-level projects, deputising for the Head of Student Finance when required
What you'll need to succeed:
You will bring a blend of financial expertise, leadership capability and the ability to navigate a complex regulatory environment. Essential experience includes:
- Proven experience managing high-value income streams and debt within a regulated or complex organisation
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret detailed financial and qualitative information
- Demonstrable experience leading and motivating teams, with a focus on service delivery and stakeholder engagement
- The resilience and drive to lead change, improve processes and deliver results
- Ability to interpret and respond to regulatory developments, identifying risk and proposing pragmatic solutions
- Experience building collaborative partnerships and influencing across organisational structures
- A track record of translating strategy into operational delivery
- Confidence handling escalated or contentious cases, including those involving legal processes
What you'll get in return:
You’ll join a respected organisation within the higher education sector, taking on a role with significant influence, visibility and impact. You will work alongside senior leaders, contribute to strategic initiatives, and lead a team committed to delivering an excellent student experience. 50% Hybrid working agreement.
If you’re interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn’t quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
Student Fees Manager in Leeds employer: Hays
Contact Detail:
Hays Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Student Fees Manager in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the higher education sector and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation thoroughly. Understand their values, recent developments, and challenges they face in student fees management. This will help you tailor your responses and show you’re genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to share examples of how you've successfully led teams or managed complex projects. Highlight your ability to navigate regulatory environments and improve processes – it’s what they want to hear!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Student Fees Manager in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Student Fees Manager. Highlight your experience with managing high-value income streams and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role involves interpreting financial data, be sure to include examples of how you've used your analytical skills in previous positions. We love seeing numbers and results that demonstrate your impact!
Emphasise Team Leadership: This position is all about leading a high-performing team, so share your experiences in motivating and developing teams. We want to know how you’ve fostered collaboration and driven service delivery in your past roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Student Fees Manager, you'll be dealing with significant financial figures. Brush up on your understanding of fee structures, income streams, and debt management metrics. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed high-value income in the past.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership capabilities. Prepare examples of how you've led teams, motivated staff, and improved processes. Think about specific situations where your leadership made a tangible difference in service delivery or stakeholder engagement.
✨Understand Regulatory Compliance
Familiarise yourself with tuition fee regulations and compliance requirements. Be prepared to discuss how you've navigated complex regulatory environments in previous roles and how you can ensure compliance while delivering an excellent student experience.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills, especially regarding escalated or contentious cases. Think through potential scenarios you might face in this role and how you would handle them, demonstrating your analytical skills and ability to propose pragmatic solutions.
