Financial Services Associate (Students Accounts)

Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Financial Services Associate provides front-line support for cashiering, payment processing, cash handling, deposits, student accounts, billing and collections, student refunds, and financial recordkeeping. This role supports strong internal controls, audit readiness, responsive customer service, and effective use of financial systems and approved technology tools.

The Financial Services Associate serves as a primary point of contact for students and others interacting with the office. The position supports student accounts, cashiering, payment processing, billing and collections, student refunds, deposits, and related financial records. The Associate also helps provide accurate, responsive, and service-oriented support while maintaining appropriate financial controls and confidentiality. The position is cross-trained to provide backup support for accounts payable and other approved administrative functions within Financial Services and Human Resources. 

Requirements

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Customer Service and Student Account Support 

• Assist students, employees, donors, departments, and other customers with student account, payment, and related financial questions. 
• Provide clear and accurate information regarding student account balances, payment deadlines, refunds, holds, payment options, and institutional procedures. 
• Provide professional, confidential, and service-oriented communication, including clear explanations of routine financial information to students and families. 

Cashiering and Payment Processing 

• Receive, process, record, balance, and safeguard cash, checks, card payments, electronic receipts, donations, and other payments in accordance with established procedures. 
• Open and close the cashier window in accordance with posted hours. 
• Reconcile daily cashiering activity and prepare deposits in accordance with established cash-handling and approval procedures. 

Deposits, Reconciliation, and Internal Controls 

• Prepare daily, remote, and electronic bank deposits and related documentation. 
• Balance cashiering and deposit activity and provide assigned support for month-end closing procedures. 
• Follow cash-handling, document-retention, confidentiality, and internal-control procedures, including appropriate separation of preparation, review, and approval responsibilities. 

Billing, Collections, and Add/Drop Support 

• Assist with student billing, payment arrangements, past-due account follow-up, account holds, collections support, and refund-related inquiries. 
• Assist with the add/drop cycle in coordination with the Bursar, Financial Aid, and other appropriate offices; research account questions and maintain accurate supporting records. 

Accounts Payable Backup Support 

• Provide trained backup support for routine accounts payable functions, including distributing checks held for pickup, responding to vendor inquiries, routing invoices, requesting documentation, and answering payment-status questions. 
• Assist with accounts payable recordkeeping, filing, scanning, and follow-up to support timely processing and complete documentation. 
• Cross-train with the Financial Services Associate assigned primarily to accounts payable to provide appropriate backup coverage during absences, peak periods, and other times when continuity of service is needed. 

Cross-Functional Administrative Support 

• Provide general administrative and cross-functional support within the Office of Financial Services and Human Resources as assigned, consistent with the position's training, system access, confidentiality requirements, and segregation-of-duties responsibilities. 
• Assist with maintaining organized records, shared procedures, and department documentation to support consistency, cross-training, and continuity of service. 
• Support team projects, process improvements, system or procedure testing, and other administrative needs as assigned by the Bursar or office leadership. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS 

• College coursework or an associate degree in business, accounting, finance, or a related field preferred; relevant financial services, banking, bookkeeping, cashiering, or student-services experience may substitute for college coursework. 
• Experience in cashiering, accounts receivable, student accounts, banking, bookkeeping, customer service, or financial office operations preferred. 
• Familiarity with higher education billing, collections, student refunds, or financial aid processes is preferred but not required. 
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to follow established procedures, deadlines, approval requirements, and internal controls while protecting confidential information. 
• Comfort using financial or administrative systems, spreadsheets, Outlook, Teams, and other approved technology tools; ability to learn new systems and procedures. 
• Strong customer-service and communication skills, sound judgment in handling sensitive student financial matters, and the ability to explain routine financial information clearly and professionally. 

BENEFIT PACKAGE 

Full-time employees in this category are offered a comprehensive staff-level benefit package including: 

• Medical, dental, vision, telehealth  
• Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Dependent Care 
• Employer-paid life and AD&D coverage for employees and dependents 
• Voluntary life and AD&D coverage 
• Employer-paid long-term disability 
• Voluntary short-term disability/supplemental benefits 
• 403(b) retirement plan 
• Paid Sick Leave and PTO 
• MBTS/Spurgeon College tuition reimbursement for employees and dependents 
• Access to on-campus cafeteria, coffee shop, gymnasium, and exercise facilities 

WORKING CONDITIONS  

• Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
• Shared office environment. 
• Frequently sits or stands at a desk or computer station for extended periods. 
• Occasionally stands, walks, and reaches with hands and arms. 
• Able to lift or move up to 25 pounds. 

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required for the position. 

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is an Equal Opportunity Employer 

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities so they may perform the essential functions of the job unless doing so creates a direct threat that cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation or causes undue hardship to the institution. Contact Human Resources with any questions or accommodation requests.