CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Accounting Technician I

UNION CODE: R07

FT/PT: Full-time     

PAY PLAN: 12-month    

WORKPLACE TYPE: On-site (work in-person at business location)

ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE: $3,688 - $4,000

• However, offer amount will be commensurate with candidate’s experience, education, skills, and training.

CSU CLASSIFICATION SALARY RANGE: $3,688 - $5,787

PAY BASIS: Monthly    

BENEFITS: CSUB offers a best-in-class benefit package for eligible employees that includes an array of medical plans, choice of dental plans, vision coverage, retirement participation in CalPERS, CSU tuition waiver, up to 24 vacation days per year, sick leave with unlimited accrual, 14 paid holidays per year and more!  See our benefits website for additional information.

CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE TO APPLY: Open to all qualified applicants

POSITION PURPOSE: Under the general supervision of the Director of Accounting and Reporting - Student Financial Services (SFS), the Student Financial Services Representative is often the first point of contact regarding student accounts receivable. This position provides a wide variety of standard information to students, parents, and the public regarding tuition and fees and student account status. This position investigates and resolves routine issues related to student accounts, and posts charges, credits, and adjustments to student accounts.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Student Financial Services Customer Service

• Assist students, parents, and the public at the Student Financial Services window (in-person), over the phone, and via Zoom, email, and other technology, providing standard information and assistance on forms and processes such as Installment Pay Plan, Miscellaneous Refund Application, Check Stop Payment Request, Petition for Reversal of Fees, and IRS form 1098-T.
• Communicate a wide variety of basic information to students, such as student account balance, student account service indicators, tuition and fee rates, payment options, and student refunding.
• Help coordinate with Student Financial Services student assistants to ensure delivery of best-in-class customer service.
• Ensure signage, website, voicemail greetings, handouts, and other routine information sources are current and correct.
• Direct students to the appropriate campus resources based on standard procedures.
• Identify and correct routine account discrepancies, referring more complex issues to appropriate higher-level staff or a supervisor.

Post Transactions to Student Accounts

• Quickly and accurately post charges and credits to student accounts, following established procedures.
• Accurately post corrections to student accounts and reapply payments as needed.
• Upload transactions to student accounts via PeopleSoft’s external file load functionality.
• Post various standard charges and credits to student accounts, including routine write offs.
• Assist with troubleshooting payment application issues, duplicate charges, etc., referring unresolved problems to higher-level staff or a supervisor.

University Receivables/Collections

• Place and remove service indicators and post comments to student accounts.
• Collect Petition for Reversal of Fee forms, organize documents for monthly Petition Committee meeting, and process forms as needed, based on Petition Committee decisions.
• Process returned check and ACH payments according to established procedures.
• Actively call students with past due balances.
• Create, review, and send standard monthly billing and other account notices.

 Run Reports & Compile Data

• Run routine reports/queries to monitor accurate processing of student accounts.
• Accurately track a variety of departmental processes.
• Use spreadsheets to compile statistics and trends.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE – Equivalent to one (1) year of clerical accounting or financial record keeping experience and recent customer service experience. A combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge and abilities may be considered.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES (SKA’s) –

• Regular and reliable attendance is required.
• Ability to review financial documents for accuracy, completeness, validity, and adherence to standards.
• Ability to compute and post numbers rapidly and accurately, maintain files, and records.
• Expertise in investigating and analyzing problems. Ability to anticipate problems and address them proactively.
• Ability to collect, interpret, edit, and summarize data.
• Proficiency with a variety of computer applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, on-line systems, and collaborative calendaring and email software.
• Knowledge and competence in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to effectively handle a broad range of sensitive interpersonal situations with diverse personalities, and to respond appropriately to conflicts & problems.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in and outside the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Written and oral communication skills; thorough knowledge of English grammar, punctuation, and spelling with a demonstrated ability to produce professional communications that meet high standards for appearance, grammar, spelling, and clarity.
• Ability to review, analyze, interpret, communicate, and apply policy and standards.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, ability to remain flexible to meet customer demand levels.
• Working knowledge of or ability to quickly learn University infrastructure, academic and administrative structure, policies and procedures.
• Must be willing to travel and attend training programs off-site for occasional professional development.
• Must be able to work overtime, occasional holidays, and adjust working hours to meet special jobs. May be called back periodically to perform work as needed on an emergency basis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in PeopleSoft Student Finance system.
• Demonstrated skills in an institutional/educational environment utilizing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: LIGHT WORK – involves mainly sitting, up to 25% standing or walking; lifting medium weight objects limited to 25 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: N/A

SPECIAL CONDITIONS:

SCREENING: Only those applicants possessing experience most directly related to the immediate needs of the office will be invited to appear before a Qualifications Appraisal Board for the purpose of appraising training, experience, and interest in the position.

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES UNION: It shall be the policy of the CSU in filling vacant CSUEU bargaining Units 2, 5, 7 & 9 positions to fill such vacancies from among qualified individuals currently employed on-campus except when it is determined that it is necessary to appoint outside applicants to meet campus workforce diversity goals or to provide specialized skills and abilities that are not available from current employees.

BACKGROUND CHECK: Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SENSITIVE POSITION: Sensitive positions are designated by the CSU as requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position, based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of the people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to the CSU or individuals in the university community.

MANDATED REPORTER: Not Mandated

GENERAL INFORMATION: It is the policy of California State University, Bakersfield to hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. All new employees will be required to present documentation verifying their right to accept employment. You will also be requested to present a social security card at the time of initial appointment in compliance with state payroll regulations.  State regulations require that every state employee sign the Oath of Allegiance prior to commencing the duties of his/her State employment, except legally employed non-citizens. These individuals are required to sign the Declaration of Permission to Work.

EEO STATEMENT: California State University, Bakersfield is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity.  Applicants will be considered without regard to gender, race, age, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability or covered veteran status.