Student Finance Specialist (Temporary)

Job Description:

About Berklee Pre-College, Online, and Professional Programs (POPP):
Berklee's division of Pre-College, Online, and Professional Programs (POPP) is at the forefront of contemporary music education worldwide, serving more than 3.5 million students to date. Currently comprising Berklee Online, Berklee Summer Programs, and Berklee Press, POPP is shaping the key players of tomorrow's music industry through innovative study in performance, production, business, theater, dance, and more. Students emerge from programs with a professional portfolio, practical job skills, and a strong sense of community. Through internationally acclaimed online courses and degree programs, intensive summer programs and workshops, textbooks that are the definitive source on their subjects, and emerging K-12 offerings, POPP brings the best of Berklee to students all over the world, no matter their ability, background, or level of experience.

Berklee POPP seeks a Student Finance Specialist for a temporary, 30-hour-per-week position supporting an up-to-a-year-and-a-half initiative to implement Workday Student. Reporting to the Student Finance Lead, the temporary Student Finance Specialist serves as a primary point of contact for finance-related inquiries from students, families, prospects, and alumni. They provide impeccable customer service and handle all questions with a sense of urgency and care. This position primarily assists Berklee Online and Berklee Summer Programs, but supports all areas of POPP as needed.

Cover letter must be provided to be considered for this role.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Handles incoming phone and email communications from students, families, prospects, and alumni. Understands and clearly communicates Berklee Online and Summer Programs policies. Discloses information in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

• Responds to inbound calls and emails on the day they are received, or on the following business day if received after 3pm, managing increased volume during heavy enrollment periods. Logs all incoming and outgoing calls, and posts information to case and contact notes.

• Assists students with questions regarding tuition statements, payments, balances, payment plans, financial holds, outstanding balances, refunds, and education tax forms.

• Assists with identifying students who have unresolved student account balances and proactively communicates with them about payment options and outstanding financial aid requirements to support enrollment targets.

• Assists with tuition payment plan administration, adjusting plan budgets throughout the enrollment cycle, and following up about returned payments and terminated plan agreements.

• Assists with past-due account reports, account hold management, and communication with delinquent account holders.

• Assists with credit balance outreach, updating credit balance and unreconciled refund reports, and following up with students who need to update their refund information.

• Creates, innovates, and identifies ways to improve the student experience.

• Categorizes and quantifies ongoing questions from students.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Audits and analyzes student accounts to verify the information is current and accurate.

• Processes checks, wire, and credit card payments, posting in the student account and accounting systems.

• Processes charge adjustments and payment transfers while adhering to federal requirements.

• Assists with 1098-T and TL11 student tax form preparation.

• Performs general student service functions including assisting students with registration process questions, add/drop procedures, refund policies, and financial aid policies and procedures.

• Assists with assigning tasks and projects, monitoring workflow, and ensuring accuracy and completion of student employees on assigned tasks/projects.

• Ensures students receive refunds and aids in the escheatment process once the property is determined abandoned within state and DOE guidelines.

• Maintains and updates Student Finance business process documentation as requested.

• Supports the Military Affairs, Financial Analytics, Summer Programs, and other POPP teams as needed.

• Other duties as assigned. Must be able to change/alter priorities to match given circumstances.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

• Strong interpersonal skills and professionalism needed to deliver exemplary customer service to students, parents, faculty, administrative and support staff via phone, email, chat, and videoconferencing.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to clearly articulate complex information to a variety of audiences.

• Strong organizational skills and ability to operate independently and set priorities amongst multiple task assignments with frequent interruptions.

• Ability to function well under pressure and maintain a pleasant customer service attitude.

• Flexibility and adaptability; ability to work in ambiguous situations.

• Must be detail-oriented with strong analytical skills.

• Proven ability to work effectively in a highly diverse campus community.

• Experience with: Excel, Google Sheets, Gmail, Workday, Colleague, and Salesforce a plus.

• College degree required and minimum two years successful customer service experience in higher education, as a bank teller, cashier, sales support, or equivalent.

• Previous experience in college business, student accounts, or financial aid office is a plus.

• Highly solution-oriented, flexible, and reliable.

• Demonstrated willingness to accept accountability and responsibility.

• Demonstrated capacity to develop and maintain effective working relationships with individuals and organizations reflecting a broad range of identities, perspectives, and experiences.

This is a remote opportunity.

Hiring Range: $44,000 -$53,200 ; salary dependent on relevant experience and education. Please visit the Total Rewards page to learn more about the benefits of working at Berklee.

*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee:

We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at [email protected] or call 617-747-2375.

*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*

Employee Type:

Staff