Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
CORE COMPETENCIES
Additional Experience
Accomplishments
References
Timeline
Generic

Linda Reece

Skokie,IL

Summary

Financial leader with a proven track record at Paul Mitchell the School, achieving a 90% increase in accounts receivable. Expertise in financial analysis and regulatory compliance, with a strong focus on team leadership and problem-solving. Consistently delivers results while fostering collaboration and enhancing operational efficiency through staff training.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience

Work History

Director, Accounts Receivable

Paul Mitchell the School – Regional Office
Atlanta, GA
09.2011 - Current
  • Primary leader for funding of student financial aid packages (Federal, State, and Private funding); institutional and private sources of grants, scholarships, and loans ($8M+ receivables captured annually)
  • Package Pell Grant and DL Title IV awards for eligible students (1000+ awards annually, per campus)
  • Pursue external funding opportunities to assist students with cost coverage i.e. scholarships, credit union, TFC repayment plans, Vocational Rehabilitation, Veteran Benefits/MyCAA, and Florida Prepaid benefits
  • Asses COD/NSLDS reports for default, open academic period, Pell LEU, SULA, and Direct Loan aggregate loan limitation challenges; submit revisions, where applicable
  • Process Direct PLUS credit applications for approval; revise Direct Loan Unsubsidized awards, where applicable (dependent vs. independent eligibility conversion)
  • Create FAME Customer/Technical Support cases to correct awarding challenges; manage updates and solicit software patches to correct internal issues that impact fund release
  • Manage Cohort Default Rate averages by serving as the liaison between our external default assistance agency, Pantheon Student Solutions, and our graduated and/or withdrawn students
  • Certify/activate veteran benefits for release; evaluate monthly SAP progress to ensure veterans remain eligible; VA benefit revisions/reductions/terminations submitted when requirements not met and/or student has withdrawn from or changed their program
  • Submit program policy revisions to the VA State Approving Agency to ensure approval is maintained
  • Create student billing reports as a tool to ensure timely payments and facilitate payment term negotiations; analyze payment variances and submit variance correction reports to local offices
  • Develop weekly/monthly revenue forecast reports to outline company-wide performance metrics
  • Anticipate business requirements and, in response, provide data analysis and initiate corrective actions to create reliable budgets, track expenses, and to report potential upcoming changes in revenue
  • Manage account compliance by ensuring Title IV disbursements received meet Federal requirements
  • Create financial aid forms, training materials, and enrollment info sheets for local office use
  • Selected Accomplishments:
  • 100% of newly enrolled students packaged within 24 hours from the program start date, thus increasing turnaround times for revenue deposits
  • Immediately increased accounts receivable averages by 90%, first year, and by 100% thereafter, inclusive of cash payment, since take over in 2011
  • Consistently maintain 100% successful Veteran Affairs and Department of Education compliance rating

Regional Financial Aid Leader

Paul Mitchell the School
Antioch, TN
08.2010 - 08.2011
  • Lead the Financial Aid team in addressing the needs of prospective and current students in their quest to attain institutional, state, federal, and private funding (Supervised 6+ employees)
  • Trained new financial aid team members on financial aid procedures, policies, and federal compliance goals; managed 30-60-90-day performance review feedback
  • Participated in Change of Ownership processes by leading student matriculation into Paul Mitchell systems and packaging financial aid awards to ensure quick turnaround of Title IV disbursements
  • Prepared for applicable compliance audits by conducting annual internal file review
  • Packaged Pell Grant and DL funding for all campuses; certified veteran benefits, where applicable, and went after scholarship, state, and private funding, as requested
  • Assessed financial aid eligibility; located and resolved challenges with eligible funds not disbursed
  • Provided monthly reporting to external accounting agency regarding clinic floor and tuition revenues/deposits; responded to and corrected accounting variances
  • Submitted graduate/withdrawn student accounts with balances to external collections agency; negotiated settlement contracts
  • Continued to serve as the Operations Leader while training my replacement
  • Selected Accomplishments:
  • Consistently achieved 30-day goal of Title IV disbursement turnaround under new ownership, when new school locations purchased i.e. all students accounts 100% converted
  • Nashville campus selected as Department of Education and Department of Veteran Affairs compliance training facility for new hire auditors, based on successful program reviews and well-organized VA/DOE certification practices

Operations Leader

Paul Mitchell the School
Antioch, TN
07.2009 - 07.2010
  • Coordinated the essential maintenance and operational activities necessary for efficient operation of the facility
  • Managed all Information Technology (IT) needs i.e. e-mail account set up, computer hardware and software upgrades, time clock hand scan additions for student attendance tracking, security camera feedback, and alarm systems
  • Enforced school’s Campus Safety, Drug & Alcohol, Security, and Fire Policies; presented campus evacuation plan during new class orientations and scheduled routine exit exercises and fire drills
  • Ensured that all business and state licenses were current, properly displayed, and renewed when necessary
  • Solicited bids and negotiated contracts for facility repairs/updates under the guidance of the Campus Director
  • Point-of-contact for weekly Paul Mitchell Guest Artist presentations; handled set up and break down of audio visual equipment
  • Conducted routine inspections to ensure the facility met full educational and service standards
  • Managed the location and functionality of fuse boxes, fire extinguishers, heating and cooling systems, telephones, and copiers
  • Facilitated classroom and office supply orders, as per budget parameter
  • Managed monthly landscaping of campus grounds and annual resurfacing of school parking lot
  • Deposited into the operating account daily tuition and guest service revenues
  • Supervised facility maintenance crew; ensured any challenges were quickly corrected
  • Completed accident reports for Human Resource files
  • Selected Accomplishments:
  • Created more efficient systems for management of Paul Mitchell kit replacement items and on-site storage
  • Increased turnaround repair times for broken cosmetology and aesthetic program equipment

Financial Aid Leader

Paul Mitchell the School Nashville
Antioch, TN
02.2007 - 06.2009
  • Provided a customized financial aid plan that supported the Paul Mitchell Culture, Admissions process, and contributed to the success of its Future Professionals
  • Presented financial aid options to assist prospective and currently attending students in developing a customized plan for covering program costs
  • Facilitated FAFSA completion, ISIR revisions, Verification requirements, and entrance/exit counseling
  • Partnered with Admissions/Education to successfully prep upcoming graduates for State Board testing and future employment
  • Provided Pell Grant and FFEL/DL award documentation to servicer for packaging
  • Monitored monthly attendance and academic progress (SAP); verified Title IV eligibility prior to and after release of Pell Grant and FFEL/DL disbursements
  • Submitted Sallie Mae private loan applications for credit approval; set up disbursement schedules
  • Conducted review of student files to ensure NACCAS and Federal compliance standards were met
  • Produced monthly enrollment and financial marker reports for School Owners i.e. Director’s Report, State Board, Cash Pay statuses, Management Meeting, and Accounts Receivable
  • Posted to student ledgers cash and credit card tuition payments received
  • Predetermined R2T4 calculations and potential balance owed upon student withdrawal; forwarded delinquent accounts to collections
  • Initiated receipt of Veteran benefits for the Nashville campus; certified benefits for release
  • Participated in weekly Town Hall and Management Meetings; presented financial and enrollment updates
  • Attended NACCAS, Department of Education, and regulatory conferences/trainings, as needed
  • Trained Financial Aid Office new hires
  • Selected Accomplishments:
  • Successfully managed 300+ student accounts, singlehandedly
  • Created an effective system for soliciting Title IV disbursements, which lead to increased receivables

Education

B.A. of Philosophy - Organizational Behavior

Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
01.2005

Skills

  • FAME (Freedom, ApFam, and FinAid), COD, NSLDS, Financial Aid Packaging – Clock Hour Credit, Proration, R2T4 Calculations, Verification, IPEDS, Gainful Employment
  • Financial analysis
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Staff training
  • Team leadership
  • Problem solving
  • Customer service
  • Data analysis
  • Cross-functional team leadership
  • Team collaboration
  • Charismatic leader

Affiliations

  • National Association of Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
  • National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS)
  • U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
  • Financial Aid Management for Education, Inc. (FAME)
  • Pantheon Student Solutions (Cohort Default Agency)
  • National Association of Professional Women

CORE COMPETENCIES

  • Team Building
  • Staff Supervision/Coaching/Training
  • Forecast Reporting/Analysis/Minimize Variance Outcomes
  • Process Innovation/Optimization/Deployment
  • Auditing/Assessment Review
  • Title IV Eligibility Analysis
  • Federal/State Compliance
  • Veteran Affairs Compliance

Additional Experience

  • Admin Coordinator – Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, Jul. 2006 – Feb. 2007
  • Program Asst. – African Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, Jan. 2005 – Jul. 2006
  • Development Asst. – Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, Jan. 2004 – Dec. 2004
  • Development Asst. – ARD, Campaign Northwestern, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, Mar. 2000 – Dec. 2003
  • Program Asst. – Donor Relations & Prospect Mgt., Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, Apr. 1999 – Feb. 2000

Accomplishments

  • Created Financial Aid Staff training manuals and resource tools for job efficiency and simplicity

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Director, Accounts Receivable

Paul Mitchell the School – Regional Office
09.2011 - Current

Regional Financial Aid Leader

Paul Mitchell the School
08.2010 - 08.2011

Operations Leader

Paul Mitchell the School
07.2009 - 07.2010

Financial Aid Leader

Paul Mitchell the School Nashville
02.2007 - 06.2009

B.A. of Philosophy - Organizational Behavior

Northwestern University

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