Financial Aid Specialist - Student Accounts

The Student Account Specialist is a critical piece of SAE's business, as well as helps shape the student experience. This position will be the primary contact between students and the rest of the Student Accounts team who work behind the scenes with primarily cash payment plans and receivables, including payment arrangements, compliance and reporting.

Student Account Specialist Duties and Accountabilities:

• Negotiates payment or payment plans of all current and past due accounts by direct telephone and written correspondence.
• Initiates correspondence regarding delinquency status; updates student account information.
• Monitor and track private loan balance reports
• Identifies and monitors potential problem student accounts.
• Assists schools with the AR management process to ensure timely recovery of payments and maintain appropriate accounts receivable levels.
• Researches, resolves, corrects, and prevents invoice discrepancies by active interaction with student and other appropriate staff/departments.
• Researches and mails credit memos and duplicate payment letters.
• Researches and resolves all short payments within educational compliance, departmental policies and procedures.
• Performs detailed account reconciliations as needed to resolve complex disputed receivable issues.
• Communicates status of account problems on a regular basis.
• Prepares weekly balance reports to monitor cash flow
• Process payments received directly to Group Office.
• Assists the Bursar’s office with projects as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by Associate Director of Student Accounts.

Student Account Specialist Key Relationships:

1. Financial Services Manager
2. Campus Director and Financial Services - Group
3. SAE/Expression local and Group staff
4. SAE/Expression Students

Student Account Specialist Qualifications: 

• High School Diploma / Associate's degree (A. A.) Preferred
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in collections (in an education environment preferred)
• Strong Computer Skills (Microsoft Excel and MacBook) Microsoft office suite plus
• Ability to prepare reports and business correspondence. Effectively turn numbers/data into usable data information.
• Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm.

COMPETENCIES

• Communicates effectively with people at all levels.
• Outstanding conflict resolution
• Works collaboratively with people throughout the organization.
• Continuously look for ways to simplify and improve work processes to achieve better results.
• Applies skills to work on assignments of moderate to complex scope. Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action.
• Develops plans for accomplishing objectives. Works to improve own efficiency and performance.
• Understands formal structure/hierarchy, positional responsibilities and standard operating procedures
• Follows through on commitments made to internal and external customers
• Presents ideas and facts clearly and effectively in an oral or written manner.

Student Accounts Specialist Additional Information:

Full Time. Yearly salary ranges from $40,000 to $50,000 based on degree and experience. 

Sitting and standing for long periods. Dexterity and coordination to handle files and single pieces of paper, occasional lifting of items weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds such as files, stacks of paper, equipment and other materials. Moving from place to place within the organization, minimal reaching for items above and below desk level. Strength, dexterity, coordination and vision to use keyboard and video display terminal for prolonged periods.