Fiscal Specialist 2

Located in the scenic Puget Sound area with nearby mountain ranges and Mount Rainier in the distance, Tacoma is surrounded by outdoor recreational opportunities such as hiking, boating and camping. Tacoma, Washington has been ranked as one of the most livable cities in the country, due to the increasing career opportunities, cultural diversity and community engagement, just to name a few.

Tacoma Community College (TCC) was built on the ancestral territory of Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Puyallup and Squaxin Island Tribes. The 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty forcibly removed them to Reservations to make way for colonizers; we recognize the privilege of utilizing this land has come at a great cost. We honor the resilience of the Puyallup and Squaxin Island people, who still live here, defend their rights, and contribute greatly to the well-being of our community. Our institution aims to increase partnerships and community ties with the local indigenous populations. Moreover, TCC stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the Black community by further strengthening collaboration with the Black Student Union as well as community entities such as the Tacoma-Pierce County Black Collective, the Tacoma Urban League, and local black-owned businesses. In addition, we strongly support the Stop Asian Hate movement and have an active Asian Pacific Islander Student Club as well as an Asian and Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Coalition. TCC is committed to developing more culturally responsive curricula by infusing and incorporating more educational content focused on the lives, experiences, and contributions of Native, Black, Asian, and other marginalized communities. We continually strive to become an anti-racist institution.

We are specifically focusing on improved support for traditionally marginalized populations, including Black/African- American, Indigenous, People of Color, Dreamers, justice-involved, immigrants and refugees, Veterans, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community. To this end, TCC seeks applicants who:

• Value intellectual curiosity and innovative teaching
• Welcome difference and model respectful interaction with others
• Recognize and honor the important role that diversity brings to an educational community
• Are committed to educating a racially and socioeconomically diverse student population
• Are committed to teaching in a community college setting
• Care deeply about student success
• Intentionally support and promote efforts related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Honor TCC's mission promoting equitable access to educational opportunities
• Reflect the diversity of our community

Position Summary
This position performs responsible administrative work in the day-to-day operations of student accounts receivables including reconciliation of student financials to cash accounts. This position coordinates and analyzes and investigates student account issues, provides customer service and communication to students regarding their accounts, and provides fundamental collection processes support for student receivables and maintains internal payment plans. This position reports to the Student Financials Fiscal Specialist Supervisor.

Organizes and Coordinates Collections Process

• Notifies students of all past due balances, using various methods of communication following the College's student collection policy. Coordinate all collection efforts for TCC student accounts.
• Sets up payment arrangements with students to prevent collection referral of their balance.
• Obtains agreement from student with terms of repayment.
• Place service indicators on student accounts that have agreed to make in-house payments.
• Track payment plans monthly to ensure students are making payments as agreed, sending notices to those that are out of compliance.
• Prepare accounts for collections, generate and send final statements, collection assignment of balances and collections coordination.
• Send out final collection notices when balances reach 90 days past due.
• Place accounts with outside collection agency at 120 days if account has not been paid or student has not set up a payment plan with TCC.
• Place service indicators on student account that have been sent to collections.
• Work with Collection agency requesting documentation or asking questions regarding account balances or account history. Maintain Collection agency notifications of payments received, disputed accounts, bankruptcy notices or legal action initiated.
• Post payments as they are received from the collection agency and removing negative service indicators when accounts are paid in full.
• Notify collection agency of bankruptcy notices received
• Prepare legal paperwork requests received from collection agency.
• Report data to Leadership team regarding student financials and collection efforts.

Oversees Student Financial Cash Activities

• Reconcile daily cash disbursements/receipts from students between banking institutions.
• Sets up payment structure, administers payments, coordinates and reviews student payment plans with payment plan company Nelnet.

Other Student Financial Duties

• Verify charges, payments, adjustments made to student accounts are accurate and posted in a timely manner.
• Ensure all waivers are posted and administered correctly.
• Coordinates and assists in analyzing and issuing student refunds.
• Coordinates with the Financial Aid Office applying funds to students' accounts and processing financial aid refunds via Higher One.
• Assist in placing or removing AR Holds on students' accounts.
• Responds to questions concerning credit card payments.
• Analyzes current student accounts and drops students for nonpayment.
• Assist in 1098T process including maintenance of student data and communications.
• Serves as backup front-line person at the Student Financial Services window responding professionally and courteously to all inquiries from customers.
• Serves as backup for nonstudent receivables staff.
• Interpret, apply and coordinate adherence to institutional, state and federal fiscal policies as they relate to accounts receivable.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school graduate or equivalent
• Two years of experience working in a fiscal setting, coordinating accounts, providing financial services to customers or closely related experience.
• 15 quarter hours or 10 semester hours of college level accounting

-OR- equivalent education/experience.

• Intermediate experience using Excel, Word, and other software programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associates degree from an accredited college or university.
• Experience with accounting-related software.
• Experience with PeopleSoft financial and accounting.

Conditions of Employment

• Successful completion of a criminal history background check prior to employment.
• Ability to walk, stand, or sit for prolonged periods of time.
• Near visual acuity for preparing financial reports and recognizing numerical figures.

The Successful Candidate must Demonstrate

• Highly organized, independent, motivated with impeccable interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge and ability to research and improve operations in a highly computerized environment.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Comfortable in working in a diverse and dynamic community of internal customers and external constituents.
• Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize a variety of projects and assignments requiring a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to work in an environment with others in close proximity.
• Ability to exhibit a high level of dedication and enthusiasm to positively handle the stress of a fast-paced work environment.
• Ethics, integrity and sound professional judgment.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with students, colleagues and staff representing diverse ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic and learning abilities.
• An appreciation of diversity and the benefits of a commitment to cultural awareness and sensitivity in the workplace.
• Demonstrate ability in problem solving, multitasking and time management;
• Excellent customer service skills, including establishing, building and maintaining internal/external customer satisfaction.

Complete application packages must include the following:

1. Tacoma Community College online application form.
2. Resume and cover letter - In your cover letter, describe how your background and experience align with the responsibilities for this position.