Business Office Associate (Customer Service/Accounting)

Lycee Francais de New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution is seeking a Business Office Associate to enhance customer service and support financial operations crucial for student billing and aid processing. The ideal candidate will have strong accounting skills, attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in a multicultural environment, ensuring effective communication with families.

Qualifications

• Three years of responsible experience in accounting and/or customer service.
• Ability to analyze and manipulate data in spreadsheets.

Responsibilities

• Respond to billing, payment, and balance inquiries from families.
• Assist with financial aid applications and scheduling interviews.
• Report data to relevant education boards.

Skills

Communication

Organizational Skills

Attention to Detail

Database Management

Fluency in French

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

Job description

Position Summary

The Business Office Associate plays a critical role at the intersection of customer service and accounting. This position supports a broad range of financial operations, with an emphasis on student billing, payments, financial aid processing, and reconciliation. The Associate serves as a primary point of contact for families regarding billing and financial inquiries, requiring a strong blend of technical accounting skills and a customer-centered mindset.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, analytical, and thrives in a fast-paced, multicultural environment. They must also demonstrate empathy, discretion, and professionalism in all communications with families and internal departments. Additional hours may be required during peak seasons (e.g., enrollment, year-end closing).

All employees should truly and enthusiastically believe in the Lycée’s Mission supporting the vision of the Head of School and the Board of Trustees. The Business Office Associate should be a self-starting, resourceful, well organized team player with the ability to work well under pressure, maintain a positive attitude and demonstrate good interpersonal skills. At the Lycée, “the student is at the center of the system.” All staff members are expected to provide encouragement, offer positive reinforcement, and show respect for each student. The ability to get along with diverse personalities is a necessary skill. All employees are strongly encouraged to work towards proficiency in both French and English languages and to develop a familiarity and understanding of the Lycée's multicultural environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities of the Business Office Associate include, but are not limited to:

• Billing and Payments

  • Respond to billing, payment, and balance inquiries from families

  • Monitor and Report aging balances monthly and follow up with families as needed

  • Assist with annual creation and maintenance of charges and discounts in subsidiary ledger.

  • Upon receipt of student contracts, monitor and ensure accuracy of name, grade, year, gross tuition and any discounts/financial aid figures during “enrollment season” and throughout the year.

  • Respond to billing, payment, and balance inquiries from families

  • Work with the Enrollment and Student Record Coordinator during the enrollment/re-enrollment process

  • Assist with communications with incoming and returning families pertaining to upcoming school year

  • Monitor and Process payments (prepare bank deposits as needed)

  • Perform payment reconciliations

  • Maintain electronic financial documents and records
    
    

• Financial Aid : Assist Manager of Financial Aid with the following Tasks:

  • Process applications and supporting materials

  • Prepare files for Financial Aid Committee

  • Schedule and hold Family Interviews

  • Enter awards and send decision letters

• Surveys

  • Report Lycée's data into NAIS DASL database

  • Report Lycée's data to US Department of Education (Census)

  • Report Lycée's data to Board of Education

Qualifications and Skills

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent preferred

• Three years of responsible experience in accounting and/or customer service.

Skills/Abilities

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

• Ability to communicate and work effectively in a multicultural community

• Knowledge of database management concepts

• Ability to analyze and manipulate sets of data in spreadsheets and knowledge of database-related functions

• Knowledge of basic financial and accounting principles

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Suite with aptitude to learn new systems

• Avid learner

• Fluency in French (oral and written) required

Annual salary range : $60,000-$70,000