Collections Specialist

Department: Fiscal Services, Student Accounts

Classification: Admin Office Specialist 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Pay Band: 03

Salary: Starting at $50k, commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Financial Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Controller's Office establishes and monitors the university's internal control framework, collaborates with university units to establish fiscal processes, and provides guidance to academic and administrative units related to administrative policies and procedures. The Controller's Office maintains close working relationships with the Office of Budget and Planning, Office of Sponsored Programs, Human Resources, and Payroll.

The goal of the Controller's Office is to provide excellent customer service and minimize costs through demonstrating consistent progress toward increasing flexibility, reducing administrative burden, eliminating "no value added" efforts, and automating transaction processing.

About the Position:

The Collections Specialist develops and maintains a program that reduces defaulted student account write-off costs by focusing on earlier identification and intervention of "at risk" accounts prior to the start of the collection process. The Collections Specialist contacts students to explain Commonwealth of Virginia collection procedures and refers students, when applicable, to other departments for assistance; works independently and makes decisions that impact collections within university policies;

provides a central point of communication for collection agencies, loan services, and internal staff; performs various reconciliations as directed; and supports daily, weekly, and monthly operations.

Responsibilities:

• Performs collection efforts via telephone and email focusing on "at risk" accounts prior to the start of the formal collection process;
• Assists students with past due accounts, explaining Commonwealth of Virginia collection procedures and counseling them on steps to resolve past due accounts;
• Prepares documentation for submission to third-party collection agencies and the Office of the Attorney General - Division of Debt Collection;
• Supports the university's participation in the Commonwealth of Virginia's Debt Set-Off Program with the Department of Taxation;
• Acts as a central point of communication for collection agencies, loan servicers, and internal staff on collection matters; and
• Assists other Student Accounts Office staff with cash receipt processing, account maintenance, form intake and processing, report review and processing, and other related tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• Experience working in Accounts Receivable.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, FERPA, and Account Receivable applications;
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with people at a variety of competency levels;
• Skill in written and oral communication, with the ability to effectively communicate complex material;
• Analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to work with Microsoft Word, Excel, and email systems; and
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, concurrent high-priority responsibilities in a time-pressured environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field;
• Experience in higher education and/or Student Accounts; and
• Detailed understanding of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, FERPA, and Accounts Receivable applications.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Collections Specialist at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a resume for review.

Posting Open Date: November 20, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by: December 5, 2025

Open Until Filled: Yes

Mason Ad Statement

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason's diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

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Equity Statement

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or…