Collections Specialist

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. It maintains close working relationships with the Office of Budget and Planning, the 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 accounts write-off costs by focusing on earlier identification and intervention of "at risk" accounts prior to the start of the collection process. The role 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; 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 Accounts Receivable applications; Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with people at a variety of competency levels; Skills 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; Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, concurrent high‑priority responsibilities in a time‑pressure environment. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience; Experience in higher education and/or Student Accounts; Detailed understanding of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, FERPA, and Accounts Receivable applications. Instructions to Applicants For full consideration, applicants must apply for Collections Specialist at Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review. Posting Dates Open Date: June 10, 2026 Apply by: June 24, 2026 Open Until Filled: Yes Equal Opportunity 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 veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Chronicle of Higher Education