Associate Director, Client Services in Executive Education

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $72,000 - $80,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Associate Director, Client Services and Financial Operations, the Associate Director, Client Services plays an essential role in supporting the financial operations and participant services for our Executive Education's Open Enrollment programs, both face-to-face and online. This position manages day-to-day financial processing and reporting while delivering excellent service to program participants throughout their educational journey. The Associate Director works closely with various departments, including Marketing, Sales, Program Management, and Finance teams, to maintain accurate financial records, processes participant enrollments, and supports partnership programs to deliver a seamless experience for all stakeholders.

ABOUT CBS

For over a century, Columbia Business School (CBS) has helped develop leaders and builders of enterprises who drive value for their stakeholders and society at large through our MBA, MS, PhD, and Executive Education programs. We are equally committed to cultivating new scholars and teachers and to creating and disseminating path-breaking knowledge, concepts, and tools that advance the understanding and practice of management through our faculty research and PhD programs. Our vision is simple: to develop ideas and leaders that transform the world from the very center of business.

Our ever-evolving curriculum, featuring pioneering courses, STEM certification, and immersive experiential learning, prepares students to excel in key areas such as digital transformation, entrepreneurship, innovation, twenty-first-century finance, the intersection of business and society, and climate and sustainability. The CBS administration enables CBS's educational and scholarly mission through strategic and operational guidance and support, optimizing School resources through well-designed, transparent processes with a culture of respect for all.

Responsibilities

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  Financial Operations & Payment Processing: Manage the complete payment lifecycle, including processing checks, wire transfers, and ACH transactions. Generate invoices, implement payment plans, manage collections, initiate refunds, and create journal entries for all financial transactions.
• 
  Database & Systems Management: Maintain accurate financial records across Salesforce CRM and ARC databases, including creating new program accounts, processing adjustments, and ensuring data reconciliation between systems for both online and open enrollment offerings.
• 
  Financial Reporting & Compliance: Collaborate with the Senior Associate Director to generate monthly revenue reports, conduct fiscal year-end reconciliations, and ensure timely reporting to the Office of Financial Planning while maintaining confidential records in compliance with institutional requirements.
• 
  Client Services & Program Administration: Oversee all aspects of participant relations, including processing program changes (cancellations, transfers, substitutions, withdrawals), ensuring clear communication of policies, and maintaining high service standards while coordinating with the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs to support service members' participation.
• 
  Partnership Program Management: Lead partnership operations by managing enrollment tracking across multiple cohorts, coordinating program selection processes, and facilitating bulk enrollments in collaboration with Technology and Client Services teams while maintaining accurate records in both partner and internal CRM platforms.
• 
  Certificate Programs & Alumni Relations: Oversee the Certificate in Business Excellence program requirements, serve as Alumni Relations liaison, and manage the issuance of partner program certificates via Accredible while ensuring compliance with program terms and conditions.
• 
  Communication & Participant Engagement: Develop and execute comprehensive pre-program communication strategies while managing ongoing participant communications throughout the program lifecycle, ensuring clear policy communication, and maintaining accurate enrollment tracking systems.
• 
  Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with Sales, Technology, Client Services, and Financial Planning teams to ensure seamless program operations while supporting interdepartmental initiatives and maintaining strong relationships across the organization.
• 
  Additional Responsibilities: Support special projects, process improvement efforts, and departmental initiatives while maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing program needs and contributing to overall team objectives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or its equivalent related experience is required. Minimum of 3-5 years of related experience is required.
• Must have prior financial management experience
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Excellent customer service skills. Strategic thinking, analytical, and creative problem-solving skills.
• Diligent and precise strong attention to detail is key.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. A self-motivated individual who takes initiative and can work within tight timelines, manage multiple tasks, pivot when necessary, and handle shifting demands while being able to work independently as well as with teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel and Internet Utilization.
• A team player, able to work independently, yet thrive in a collaborative environment where teamwork is essential.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with finance and accounting principles, as well as payment processing strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of Salesforce and higher education accounting, budgeting, and environments.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.