Student Accounts Resolution Specialist

About Us

We are a district of three distinct colleges¿North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and South Seattle College¿and five specialty training centers, which makes us the largest and most diverse community college district in the state of Washington.

We are leaders in change and innovation.

As a Seattle Colleges employee, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the passionate work of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as we work against systemic racism.

Additionally, you will gain the rewarding experience of contributing to the success of an open-access learning institution that prepares students for life and work, fostering a diverse, engaged and dynamic community.

Seattle Colleges staff and faculty also enjoy a competitive benefits package, professional development opportunities and enrichment experiences in areas of their choice including, committee, workgroup, and affinity group opportunities.

Position Summary

Position open until filled / First Review of materials will begin: June 3, 2024

Salary range for this position is: $53,952/yr. - $72,528/yr. (depending on experience)

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The employer will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

The Student Accounts Resolution Specialist plays an integral role in resolving outstanding student account receivable balances for Seattle Colleges.

Under the supervision of the Associate Director of Student Financial Services, the Student Accounts Resolution Specialist works to reduce student receivable balances by managing, collecting, updating and moving tuition accounts along the collection life cycle.

This position serves as the districtwide lead for student billing, pre- collection processes, collections processing in the Student Finance module, and placing student accounts with Seattle College¿s third-party collection agency.

The Specialist will serve as the main point of contact with Seattle College¿s third- party collection agency including, but not limited to, responding to requests for information related to consumer disputes, providing verification of student accounts, reporting direct payments, reviewing monthly reconciliation reports and recording payments received from the collector to the appropriate student accounts.

Other duties include districtwide handling of NSF checks and chargeback rebuttals, recording daily electronic payments returned from the student refund servicer, and uploading and posting book charges to student accounts for third-party and financial aid funding sources.

The Specialist performs these duties in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures, State regulations, and District-wide procedures.

The position requires strong analytical skills and careful attention to detail requiring the ability to work independently with minimum supervision.

This position directs the work of Classified, Student, Work-study, and temporary employees.

This position is governed by a collective bargaining agreement with representation by WFSE.

As a Seattle Colleges employee, you will enjoy competitive compensation as well as all the benefits as a Washington State employee.

To learn more about our excellent benefits offerings please see our benefits overview here:
Seattle Colleges Employment Benefits

Application Requirements:

• Attach current resume
• Attach cover letter addressing how your background intersects with the job
• Required application materials must be completed and submitted online

Notice to Applicants:

Please note that Seattle Colleges is working under hybrid remote and on-site operations, and holding interviews virtually using video conference or teleconference options.

As such, if you are selected for interview, please be prepared to hold your interview virtually.

What you will be working on:

• Set-up and direct the Districtwide billing processes for unpaid student accounts. Lead the processes that result in sending student and other receivable accounts to collections agencies.
• Research and respond to student and departmental inquiries and provide information to aid with problem resolution; audits student financial records and corrects any issues that arise.
• Generate aging reports and work in collaboration with a team to reduce receivables.
• Communicate with students via written letters, phone, email, text messages or in person.
• Monitor past-due activity and provide good follow-through while keeping account notes up to date.
• Develop, coordinate, and maintain pre-collections and collections processes utilizing the Collections component in the Student Finance module of ctcLink.
• Initiate the quarterly Enrollment Cancellation process by analyzing data for all student accounts with balances and serve as a liaison between Cashiers, Enrollment Services and Financial Aid across the district.
• Upload and post book charges to student accounts for third-party and financial aid payments. Reconcile book charges and payments.
• Process daily districtwide student refund reversals returned by the student refund servicer; record reversal on student¿s account and notify college Financial Aid and Cashiers offices.
• Respond to student account inquiries.
• Works in a professional, customer-centric, and high-volume environment; taking inbound calls; making outbound calls to initiate customer contact and determine reason for delinquency and to obtain payment commitment.
• Perform back-up for other accounts receivable and student financials staff as needed.
• Mitigates risk by adhering to all policies and procedures, as well as local, state and federal regulations.
• Handles most complex escalated collection inquiries and issues.
• May assist with compiling statistical reports and other special projects.
• Partner with the customer to help determine the reason for their account delinquency and evaluate the customer's financial situation; negotiate for full payment or create terms for repayment.
• Consistently learn and apply operational policies and state & federal regulations governing collection practices.
• Responds to Help Desk tickets as assigned.

What you bring as a candidate: (Any Equivalent Combination of Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education and Experience)

• Completion of an Associate¿s or higher-level degree in accounting, finance, business or a related field or related experience
• Two or more years of progressively responsible experience in an accounting or finance related role
• Demonstrated strong general accounting skills with a thorough understanding of applicable accounting standards, internal controls and with an excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain positive relationships with, and consistently support, clients and colleagues with limited subject matter expertise in accounts receivable and standard billing practices.
• Demonstrated work experience working with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) integrated software.
• Demonstrated knowledge showing the ability to understand, interpret, and apply accounting principles as well as rules and regulations governing finance and accounting.
• Demonstrated work experience with Office 365 including expert level spreadsheeting skills.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize and solve accounting and business problems.
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills with individuals and groups.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with district and campus administrators and staff.
• Demonstrated experience working in a diverse, multi-cultural, collaborative environment; and a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion.

Physical Requirements:
The Position

• Typically works in an office environment and uses a computer, telephone and other office equipment as needed to Perform duties. The noise level in the work environment is typical of that of an office.
• Encounters frequent interruptions throughout the workday.
• Is regularly required to provide 1:1 support, present to small groups, and work at a computer exercising repetitive hand motion with or without reasonable accommodation.

Disability Accommodation

Seattle Colleges follows the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides the following information as a guideline for applicants:

• Ability to operate office equipment
• Ability to read and verify data and prepare various materials
• Ability to exchange information on the phone or in person

Notice of Non-discrimination Statement

Seattle Colleges is committed to the concept and practice of equal opportunity for all its students, employees, and applicants in education, employment, services and contracts, and does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, color, age, national origin, religion, creed, marital status, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, status as an honorably discharged veteran or disabled veteran or military status, political affiliation or belief, citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or presence of any physical, sensory, or mental disability.

In addition, reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations for all otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.

Further, the Seattle Colleges is committed to ensure that all employees and students work and learn in an environment that fosters mutual respect and professionalism, free from all forms of ¿bullying¿ behaviors, including ¿cyber bullying¿.

Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the college¿s Director of Legal Compliance:
1500 Harvard Avenue Seattle, WA

Seattle Colleges is committed to recruiting dedicated faculty and employees who together create a welcoming academic climate that reflects the diverse backgrounds of our community, including ethnicity, national origin, religion, race, gender, gender identity, age, status as a veteran or disabled veteran, disability, political status, and sexual orientation.

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