The ideal candidate will join avibrant and inclusive educational community, and have a desire and ability towork with a diverse population.

TheCollections Accountant is responsible for the collection of past-due studentaccounts. This position requires a broad knowledge of College policies andprocedures in Admissions, Advising, Registrar's Office, Financial Aid andStudent Accounts.

Reporting tothe Director of Student Accounts, the successful candidate will providesuperior customer service to students, families, third-party agencies, andstaff regarding student account inquiries. The Accountant III will also ensurethat all payment plans established with the College's chosen vendor are codedcorrectly, budgeted accurately, and remain in good standing. This candidate must be able to work independentlyas well as in a team environment.

The candidate will also be expected to provide backup to the Student AccountEnrollment Specialists during peak periods.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

• Select past-due accounts that are potential candidates for collections via the student information system in PeopleSoft;
• Prepare and process the pre-collection letters;
• Prepare accounts for placement with Intercept system;
• Review each account to determine if it should be assigned to a collection agency;
• Develop and maintain a payment plan program to assist students in settling their financial obligation prior to collection activity. Analyze data and rate the success of the payment plan option;
• Oversee and reconcile the monthly inventory of all student accounts between the collection agencies and the College student system and ensure that each system is in sync;
• Troubleshoot and resolve student account issues, negotiate and authorize student-specific strategies, often with on-the-spot resolution, that will assist students in settling their outstanding debt;
• Respond to all student disputes received either directly from the student or via a student request through the collection agency; work with General Counsel when disputes received require legal counsel;
• Provide analysis of each collection agency to determine how the agency is performing for the College and make recommendations to the Director for best placement practices;
• Identify and research past due accounts that are being disputed; identify student(s) of this status through the mailing of a pre-collection letter;
• Advise students regarding repayment options and negotiated reasonable repayment schedules to prevent collection action with an agency;
• Code all collection accounts within the PeopleSoft environment;
• Engage in departmental systems and policy review with a critical lens toward equity, accessibility, inclusion, and universal design;
• Setup internal payment plans with enrolled students should they default on their semester Nelnet payment plan or should a unique situation arise that requires an internal payment plan;
• Other duties as assigned.
  

Commitmentto Equity:

• Support MassBay's commitment to the Equity Agenda; collaborating with faculty, staff, and students on the College's strategic initiatives dedicated to closing the equity gap related to student outcomes;
• Support MassBay's commitment to being anti-racist; embracing a community free of bias and inequality;
• Contribute to discussion and review of applicable College policies with a critical lens toward diversity, equity and inclusion.

This list is not to be considered all-inclusive. A supervisor may assign other duties as required to meet the needs and foster the mission of the College.

All employees of MassBay are expected to work collegially and collaboratively within a community that values and celebrates diversity.

Required Qualifications:

Applicants must have at least (A)three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience inaccounting or auditing, of which at least (B) one year must have been in asupervisory, administrative or managerial capacity, or (C) any equivalentcombination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. AnAssociate's degree with a major in accounting, business administration orbusiness management may be substituted for a maximum of one year of therequired (A) experience.*

II. ABachelor's degree with a major in accounting, business administration orbusiness management may be substituted for a maximum of two years of therequired (A) experience.*

III. AGraduate degree with a major in accounting, business administration or businessmanagement may be substituted for the required experience.*

*Education toward such a degree willbe prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actuallycompleted.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Sensitivity and commitment to the goals of Affirmative Action and workforce diversity;
• Experience working in a diverse environment;
• Demonstrated commitment to working with underserved students;
• Associates degree in a business related field and 3 years' experience in a collections department, or Bachelor's degree in a business related field and 1 - 2 years' experience in a collection dept.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills;
• Demonstrated experience with computerized office systems, including: Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Access, Excel, Outlook, etc.;
• Ability to multi-task and work effectively in a fast-paced environment, independently and with a team;
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends;
• Functional experience with PeopleSoft desired;
• Ability to respond to difficult situations diplomatically;
• Knowledge of (FERPA) Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act;
• Understanding of higher ed policies and procedures; especially involving student accounts, financial aid, and registration.
  

Additional Information:

Salary Range: AFSCME Unit I, Grade 18 Step 1 $55,437.46 annually. Appointmentsfrom outside the bargaining unit begin at Step 1 of the range.

As a Massachusetts State Employee, youare offered an outstanding suite of benefits adding value to your salary.

• Array of choices for health insurance plans to meet individual/ family needs
• Affordable Dental Insurance and vision discount program
• 12 paid State/ Federal holidays
• Generous sick, vacation, and personal time
• Telework option depending on the role/department
• Flexible Spending Plans to reduce your taxable income
• Low-cost basic and optional life insurance
• Defined Benefit Pension Plan, providing a fixed, pre-established benefit for employees at retirement
• Thinking to save more money towards retirement: consider Deferred Compensation plans i.e., 457(b) or 403(b).
• Tuition Benefits for employees and dependents at state colleges and universities
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Eligibility towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Free gym and parking on campus

Need more info: https://www.massbay.edu/employment/benefits

Position Type: Please find the link to the Commonwealth ofMassachusetts Human Resources Division Classification Specification for the position,
https://www.mass.edu/forfacstaff/classificationspecs/home.asp.

Application Deadline: June 16, 2023, or thereafter until filled.

To Apply: Please include a letter of interest and resume with your online application.

Staff

Hiring is subject to state appropriation funding.

Final candidates are required to provide sealed transcripts and/or certifications.

Hiring is contingent upon a successful CORI clearance.

Massachusetts Bay Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and college policies. The College prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence. Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or sexual violence shall be referred to the College's Affirmative Action and/or Title IX Coordinator, Lisa MacDonald, Director of Equity Compliance, lmacdonald@massbay.edu, (781) 239-3147, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission or the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.