Student Accounts Specialist

Accounting SpecialistThe Accounting Specialist administers and reconciles institutional loan programs while supporting student account operations. This role ensures that loan transactions, billing activity, payments, account adjustments, and collection efforts are processed accurately and in alignment with applicable regulations and organizational policies. The specialist monitors delinquent loan accounts, coordinates collection activity with third-party providers, supports financial and tax reporting, and reconciles account activity to maintain financial accuracy. The position also provides professional, high-quality customer service to students, families, internal departments, and external partners.Responsibilities include:Reconcile loan disbursements and account activity across student account, financial aid, loan origination, and servicing systems.Prepare, maintain, and archive promissory notes, borrower documentation, and institutional loan records in an organized and compliant manner.Prepare loan disbursement files and detailed reports for external loan-servicing partners.Process payments received from borrowers, servicing organizations, and collection agencies, ensuring accurate application to accounts.Record payments and account activity using appropriate general ledger coding to maintain financial accuracy.Monitor delinquent institutional loan accounts and communicate with borrowers regarding repayment options and outstanding balances.Coordinate collection efforts with third-party collection agencies to support effective recovery of delinquent accounts.Respond to borrower questions regarding repayment, deferments, account holds, credit reporting, and loan servicing in a clear and professional manner.Prepare documentation and supporting materials for internal and external audits.Support billing, account maintenance, payment processing, and customer service for assigned student account populations.Review, analyze, and adjust account activity to ensure accurate billing and resolve discrepancies.Calculate and process refunds, financial transfers, and account adjustments in accordance with policies and regulations.Coordinate billing and account activity with internal departments and external partner organizations to ensure consistency and accuracy.Assist with account reconciliation and payment processing based on departmental needs and priorities.Review account activity and prepare corrections that support applicable tax reporting requirements.Organize and maintain electronic financial and customer records to ensure completeness, accuracy, and accessibility.Reconcile account and loan activity to ensure financial accuracy across multiple systems.Prepare audit confirmations, reconciliation reports, and supporting documentation for financial reviews and audits.Support compliance with applicable regulations, accounting standards, and organizational policies in all account and loan activities.Maintain complete and accurate records for audit and reporting purposes.Identify opportunities to improve internal controls, departmental processes, and overall operational efficiency.Provide timely, professional, and accurate customer service to students, families, internal employees, and external partners.Research and resolve complex billing, payment, collection, and account-related inquiries.Collaborate with internal departments to correct discrepancies and resolve account issues.Participate in departmental projects, policy implementation, and cross-functional initiatives to enhance student financial services.Perform other related duties as assigned to support the mission and goals of the department.Essential skills include:At least three years of experience supporting accounts receivable, customer billing, payment processing, collections, account adjustments, or loan servicing, with comfort managing delinquent accounts and discussing repayment options and outstanding balances.Three to five years of experience in accounts receivable, accounting, billing, collections, loan servicing, or financial customer service.Demonstrated experience reconciling financial transactions across multiple systems, investigating discrepancies, processing adjustments, applying payments, and maintaining accurate supporting documentation.Strong Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to analyze and reconcile complex financial data.Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams.Experience working within enterprise financial, billing, accounting, or customer account systems.Ability to explain complex financial information clearly and professionally to students, families, and colleagues.Experience resolving account issues and responding to phone and email inquiries in a customer-focused manner.Ability to coordinate effectively with internal departments and external partners to resolve account and billing matters.Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy in handling financial transactions and records.Ability to handle confidential or sensitive financial matters with discretion and professionalism.High school diploma or GED.Additional skills and qualifications include:Bachelors degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field is preferred.Five or more years of relevant professional experience in accounts receivable, accounting, billing, collections, loan servicing, or financial customer service is highly desirable.Experience in higher education, student financial services, loan administration, or a regulated financial environment.Familiarity with institutional loans, private education loans, or federal financial aid requirements.Experience preparing audit documentation and supporting financial or tax reporting.Experience working with multiple systems to reconcile complex financial activity.Ability to contribute to process improvement initiatives and strengthen internal controls.Strong cross-functional communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively on departmental projects and policy implementation.An equivalent combination of education, specialized training, and relevant professional experience may be considered.Work environment:This is a full-time, on-site position working Monday through Friday for 40 hours per week in a fast-growing higher education institution located in the heart of Hartford, CT. The role involves regular use of Microsoft Office tools such as Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams, as well as enterprise financial, billing, accounting, and customer account systems. The environment is collaborative and customer-focused, with frequent interaction with students, families, internal departments, external partners, and third-party collection agencies. Work is primarily office-based, centered on financial accuracy, regulatory compliance, and delivering professional service in a structured, detail-oriented setting.Job type and location:This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Hartford, CT.Pay and benefits:The pay range for this position is $25.48 - $31.25/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)Workplace type:This is a fully onsite position in Hartford,CT.Application deadline:This position is anticipated to close on Oct 9, 2026.