Student Accounts Specialist (Finance)
About Rice:
Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.
Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name - RICE - Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.
Position Summary:
The Bursar's Office serves as Rice University's central office for providing cashiering, student financial services, billing administration, and centralized accounts receivable systems. The Student Accounts Specialist works with student accounts, 529 plan payments, refunds, third-party sponsor billing/payments, and VA (Veteran Affairs) / NROTC (Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps) programs.
Key Responsibilities:
- Student Accounts Management:
- Monitor and track financial charges and credits on student accounts.
- Ensure accuracy and compliance with institutional policies and regulations.
- Provide customer service support to students regarding their accounts.
- Refund Administration:
- Process and track student refunds.
- Assess individual accounts for appropriateness and make necessary adjustments.
- Ensure adherence to institutional, state, and federal regulations.
- Third-Party Billing:
- Handle billing for third-party payers, including employers, scholarship providers, prepaid tuition plans, and other organizations.
- Ensure timely and accurate invoicing and payment collection.
- Reconcile accounts and resolve discrepancies.
- VA/NROTC Payments:
- Manage payments for VA (Veterans Affairs) and NROTC (Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps) programs.
- Ensure compliance with federal regulations and institutional policies.
- Coordinate with relevant departments to ensure accurate and timely processing of payments and refunds.
Ideal Candidate Statement:
The ideal candidate is a highly organized, detail-oriented, and dedicated individual with a strong background in managing student accounts and handling various types of payments, including 529 plans, refunds, third-party sponsor billing, and VA/NROTC payments. The candidate is committed to providing exceptional customer service and complying with university and regulatory requirements.
On campus position: This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at the Bursar's Office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.
Hiring Range:
$48,700 - $60,800 annually. This is a full-time, exempt position. *Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree
- In lieu of the educational requirement, additional related experience above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted
- 1+ year experience
- In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted
Skills:
- Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, email, and database software
- Basic knowledge of accounting and accounting principles
- Working knowledge of accounting systems
Preferences:
- Excellent analytical skills to accurately process and reconcile payments, identify discrepancies, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations
- Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential for interacting with students, parents, and third-party sponsors, as well as collaborating with other departments
- Proactive approach to problem-solving, with the ability to resolve billing and payment issues efficiently
- Experience in student accounts and accounts receivable, especially within an educational institution
- Experience with Ellucian Banner AR, Oracle Cloud, and TouchNet
Essential Functions:
- Performs general accounting activities, including the preparation, maintenance and reconciliation of ledger accounts and financial statements
- Prepares, records, analyzes and reports accounting transactions and ensures the integrity of accounting records for completeness, accuracy and compliance with accepted accounting policies and principles
- Provides financial support including forecasting, budgeting, and analyzing variations from the budget
- Analyzes and prepares accounts, financial statements and reports
- Conducts or assists in the documentation of accounting projects
- Identifies, prioritizes, and resolves financial issues; probes beyond stated situation; identifies underlying issues; recognizes exceptions; performs preliminary analysis
- Recommends, assists, tests, or implements process streamlining, system improvements or work flow changes; participates as a project team member
Additional Functions
- Maintain and update student accounts, ensuring accuracy and compliance with institutional policies
- Process and track student billing, including tuition, fees, and other charges
- Process payments from various sources, including 529 plans, third-party payers, and VA/NROTC benefits
- Reconcile payments and ensure they are correctly applied to student accounts
- Provide exceptional customer service by addressing student and parent inquiries regarding account balances, payment options, and billing issues
- Assist students with understanding their financial obligations and payment plans
- Review and process student refunds, ensuring compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations
- Verify the accuracy of refund calculations and ensure timely disbursement
- Analyze financial data related to accounts receivable, identify discrepancies, and recommend solutions
- Prepare reports on account statuses, payment trends, and other relevant financial metrics.
- Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements
- Maintain accurate records and documentation for all transactions and communications
- Work closely with other departments, such as financial aid, registrar, and student services, to ensure seamless processing of student accounts
- Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to resolve issues and improve processes
- Perform other duties as assigned
Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits
Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University
Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.
If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.
