Founder & Principal Consultant
Fractional Bursar | Higher Education Finance Executive | Student Accounts & Revenue Recovery Strategist
Stephen Toppin is the Founder and Principal Consultant of StepPro Bursar Services, bringing more than 25 years of executive leadership experience in higher education student accounts, bursar operations, billing, collections, compliance, and financial management. Throughout his career, he has partnered with colleges and universities to strengthen business office operations, improve cash flow, reduce outstanding receivables, and enhance the student financial experience.
Stephen has successfully led student financial operations across public and private institutions, managing annual student billing portfolios exceeding $500 million while overseeing billing, cashiering, collections, payment plans, refunds, Banner Student Accounts, Title IV compliance, IRS 1098-T reporting, and business office operations. His expertise combines strategic leadership with hands-on operational execution, enabling institutions to achieve measurable improvements in financial performance, compliance, and operational efficiency.
Throughout his career, Stephen has consistently delivered results by transforming business office operations and implementing sustainable process improvements. His accomplishments include recovering millions of dollars in aged student receivables, reducing billing processing time by 50%, increasing accounts receivable resolution rates by 30%, developing collection strategies that reduced inactive receivables by 30%, strengthening audit readiness, improving internal controls, and enhancing collaboration among Student Accounts, Financial Aid, Admissions, the Registrar, Finance, and Enrollment Management.
Before founding StepPro Bursar Services, Stephen held progressively senior leadership positions, including Bursar at the University of the District of Columbia, Director of Receivables at Ambow Education, Director of Billing and Financial Services at Stratford University, and Manager of Internal Controls. In these roles, he led operational transformations, centralized student accounts functions, implemented enterprise-wide process improvements, developed executive reporting and performance dashboards, strengthened regulatory compliance, and improved institutional financial performance across multiple campuses.
Stephen holds a Master of Science in Forensic Studies (Accounting) from Stevenson University and dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Forensic & Fraud Examination. His unique combination of financial expertise, regulatory knowledge, analytical rigor, and collaborative leadership enables him to develop practical, results-driven solutions tailored to each institution's mission, culture, and strategic priorities.
Today, through StepPro Bursar Services, Stephen serves as a trusted advisor to colleges and universities nationwide, providing Fractional Bursar leadership, executive consulting, operational assessments, business office transformation, staff development, and strategic guidance. His philosophy is simple:
Strong student accounts operations strengthen institutions, support student success, and create long-term financial sustainability.
Executive Highlights
- 25+ Years of Higher Education Leadership
- $500M+ Annual Student Billing Managed
- Millions of Dollars in Student Receivables Recovered
- 50% Reduction in Billing Processing Time
- 30% Improvement in Accounts Receivable Resolution Rates
- 30% Reduction in Inactive Receivables Through Strategic Recovery Programs
- Institutions Serving 200 to 11,000+ Students
- Expertise in multiple SIS such as Banner, Campus Nexus, Power Campus, Workday. Support Student Accounts, Title IV, 1098-T, Collections, Cashiering, Student Refunds, Compliance, and Business Office Operations
"I believe every institution deserves experienced bursar leadership that strengthens financial performance while supporting student success. My goal is to become an extension of your Business Office—helping your institution solve today's challenges while building a stronger foundation for tomorrow."
— Stephen Toppin