Student Accounts Associate

Title: Student Accounts Associate
Institution: Volunteer State Community College

This position provides accountability and responsibility for student financial understanding by explaining tuition, fees, payments, and related charges applied to individual student accounts. This role independently processes and reconciles student, departmental, and third‑party transactions to ensure accuracy, compliance, and audit readiness across multiple campuses. Serving as a primary point of contact within the Business Office, the Student Accounts Associate communicates financial information clearly, resolves account discrepancies, and supports consistent, reliable student account operations.

• Provide accountability and responsibility for student financial understanding by explaining tuition, fees, payments, refunds, and balances on individual student accounts.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for account‑related inquiries, answering inbound phone calls, responding to student email, and assisting students in person with account questions regarding fees, payments, and policy. Maintain a positive supportive attitude toward students.
• Independently process, verify, and reconcile student, departmental, and third‑party transactions across payment methods and campuses; research and resolve discrepancies.
• Track the receipt, application, and return of third‑party scholarships and sponsor ships in accordance with payer instructions and institutional policy; interpret documentation, resolve exceptions, and maintain audit‑ready records.
• Prepare, balance, and document daily deposits; investigate and resolve variances prior to submission, following established internal controls; balance deposits across multiple campuses and departments.
• Maintain confidentiality of information and work in accordance with FERPA guidelines.
• Enter and verify financial activity in institutional systems with a high degree of accuracy; maintain organized, complete documentation to support reporting, audits, and internal review.
• Maintain and reconcile parking decal, application fee, and related tracking spreadsheets; resolve discrepancies and prepare summaries as needed.
• Conduct targeted outreach via email or phone to clarify balances, deadlines, and documentation needs; draft clear, professional written responses that support timely account resolution.
• Review student account activity to identify errors, misapplications, or timing issues; initiate corrective entries or coordinate resolution to maintain accurate balances.
• Other duties as assigned.

High School diploma or equivalent.

• One (1) year of experience in a customer‑facing financial, accounts receivable, student services, or business office environment involving transaction processing, account accuracy, and written communication.
• Associate degree in Accounting, Business, Finance, or a related field.
• Experience using an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to review account activity, apply payments, or research transactions.
• Experience working with third‑party payments, scholarships, sponsor ships, or other external funding sources.

• Ability to accurately handle large amounts of cash and high volumes of credit card, ACH, and check payments.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and professionally in writing, including responding to student or customer inquiries via email regarding account‑related or financial information.
• Commitment to a positive customer service philosophy.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including use of spreadsheets for tracking, reconciliation, and reporting.
• Experience using computer‑based systems to enter, review, and reconcile transactions with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency with standard office equipment (computer, ten‑key adding machine, telephone, copier, credit card terminals, and printers), and strong knowledge of modern office procedures; applies basic math and alphabetizing skills while independently prioritizing tasks, meeting deadlines, and maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to explain policies,…