Collections Specialist

California State University - Fresno; Fresno (CA); Hybrid; USD 51,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

CalPERS participation

Sick and vacation time

15 paid holidays

Fee waiver education program

Job summary

California State University, Fresno is seeking a detail-oriented Collections Specialist (Accounting Technician III) to manage student accounts and establish payment plans. You will contact students by phone and email, coordinate with outside agencies, and balance empathetic outreach with firm resolution.

The role requires knowledge of financial record-keeping, GAAP basics, and proficiency with Word, Excel, and campus systems.

Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of financial record-keeping and general office methods.
• Basic knowledge of GAAP.
• Proficiency with Word, Excel, email, and campus systems.
• Knowledge of FERPA and CSU policies.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to review financial documents for accuracy and compliance.
• Ability to compute and post figures accurately and maintain records.
• Ability to prepare reconciliations and complex spreadsheets.
• Ability to interpret university rules to accounting and customer service.
• Clear, professional communication and customer service focus.

Responsibilities

• Own past-due portfolios and engage with students to resolve balances.
• Establish structured payment plans and monitor progress.
• Coordinate with outside collection agencies for escalated accounts.

Skills

Financial record-keeping

GAAP basics

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

FERPA & CSU policies

Customer service

Multi-tasking

Communication

Problem solving

Teamwork

Education

Two or more years of college coursework with an accounting emphasis

Tools

PeopleSoft Finance

Cashnet

Job description

Collections Specialist (Accounting TechnicianIII)

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated hiring salary is up to $4,570 per month (Step1).

The salary range for this classification is $4,570 - $6,658 permonth.

• This is a full-time (equivalent to 40 hours per week),probationary, non-exempt position.
• Positions at Fresno State are to perform their work onsite.Some positions, depending upon University needs and operations, maybe eligible for remote work, one day per week, pursuant to FresnoState's remote work guidelines and the CSU policy.

The CSU system provides a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental and vision plans, membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), sick and vacation time, and 15 paid holidays a year. Eligible employees are also able to participate in the fee waiver education program. A summary of benefit information can be found here.

Job Summary

The Office of Student Accounts is seeking a detail-oriented and knowledgeable Collection Specialist to manage comprehensive collections activities and support student financial success. In this role, you will take ownership of past-due portfolios, proactively engaging with students via phone and email to resolve outstanding balances and establish structured payment plans. The ideal candidate brings strong collections experience to balance professional, empathetic student outreach with firm account resolution, while also coordinating directly with outside collection agencies to manage escalated accounts.

Key Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of financial record-keeping,mathematical, and general office methods, procedures, andpractices.
• Basic knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles(GAAP).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, internet and emailapplications, and integrated electronic financial, cashiering,key-card, or records-management systems.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply relevant regulations,policies, procedures, and privacy requirements, including FERPA andapplicable CSU executive orders.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment; anticipate conditions; establish priorities; and meet deadlines.
• Ability to review financial documents and transactions foraccuracy, completeness, validity, authorization, and adherence to standards.
• Ability to compute and post figures rapidly and accurately;maintain files and records; and identify, trace, investigate, and correct errors and discrepancies.
• Ability to prepare and analyze reconciliations, complexspreadsheets, reports, queries, and technical correspondenceefficiently and accurately.
• Ability to interpret and apply written rules, regulations,accounting procedures, and university policies to accounting andcustomer-service issues.
• Ability to use initiative and sound judgment in analyzinginformation, determining a course of action, resolving unusualproblems, and making recommendations.
• Ability to devise new methods, develop procedures, and modifyand document established procedures based on precedent anduniversity policies.
• Ability to communicate clearly, accurately, concisely, andprofessionally, both verbally and in writing, including informationrequiring extensive interpretation.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service, listeneffectively, de-escalate difficult situations, and maintain aprofessional, service-oriented approach.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative workingrelationships with students, coworkers, campus partners, externalagencies, vendors, and members of the public from diversebackgrounds.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to historically minoritizedgroups and support equitable, culturally responsive,service-oriented practices.
• Ability to work closely with Technology Services, end users,and internal customers to support system and data integrity,upgrades, enhancements, and issue resolution.
• Ability to provide training, technical assistance, and workdirection to other employees and student assistants.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, maintainconfidentiality, and perform accurately amid interruptions andchanging priorities.
• Ability to work extended hours during registration, paymentdeadlines, year-end processing, and other peak periods.

Education and Experience

• Any combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities.
• Equivalent to four years of progressively responsible financialrecord-keeping experience that has provided the required knowledgeand abilities.
• Experience working with integrated electronic systems and/orcashiering, key-card, financial, or records-managementsystems.
• Experience preparing reports, spreadsheets, reconciliations,and financial analyses.
• Customer-service experience, including interpreting universitypolicies and regulations for students, faculty, staff, and thepublic.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using PeopleSoft Finance, Cashnet, or comparablecomputerized accounting and cashiering systems.
• Collections, student-account, sponsor-billing,loan-administration, or cashiering experience.
• Two or more years of college coursework with an accountingemphasis.
• California State University, higher-education, or othergovernmental experience.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and MicrosoftWord.
• Working knowledge of databases, queries, and reportingtools.
• Supervisory, lead, or training experience.
• Demonstrated history of providing excellent customerservice.

Department Summary

Accounting Services is dedicated to facilitating the primarymission of the University by seeking the most cost-effectivemethods of delivering services while continuing to implementimprovement of services to students, employees and all othercustomers.

Fresno State

California State University, Fresno is one of 22 campuses in the California State University System. The University's mission is toboldly educate and empower students for success through our valuesof Discovery, Diversity and Distinction. The current studentpopulation is more than 25,000, including a large percentage ofstudents with diverse and culturally rich backgrounds. TheUniversity serves the San Joaquin Valley while maintaining deepinvolvement with the state, nation, and across the globe. FresnoState is a tobacco-free, smoke-free and vapor-free campus.

Metropolitan Fresno, with a multi-ethnic population of over527,000, is located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. Thecampus is within driving distance of Yosemite, Kings Canyon andSequoia National Parks, San Francisco, Los Angeles, the MontereyPeninsula, beaches, sailing, lakes, and numerous ski resorts.Fresno boasts one of the most reasonable housing markets inCalifornia and offers a wide array of locally grown fruits andproduce.

Equal Employment Opportunity

California State University, Fresno is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, geneticinformation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, maritalstatus, medical condition, National origin, sex, sexualorientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting the HumanResources Department at [phone].

Title IX

Please view the Notice of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator at https://www2.calstate.edu/titleix

Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, the current Annual Security Report (ASR) is available for viewing at https://occr.fresnostate.edu/clery.html.

The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and sexual assault prevention information, and drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery Act crimes for Fresno State for the last three (3) calendar years. Paper copies are available upon request by emailing the Clery Director at [e-mail].

Under the Clery Act, this position may be designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) depending upon the role on campus and/or job duties. If this position is identified by the Director of Clery Compliance as a CSA position, you will be notified via email and will be assigned the appropriate training in CSU Learn.

COVID19 Vaccination Policy

Per the CSU COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, it is strongly recommended that all employees who are accessing office and campus facilities follow COVID-19 vaccination recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications. Questions may be sent to [e-mail].

Mandated Reporter Per CANRA (MPP ONLY if applicable)

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Conflict of Interest (MPP ONLY if applicable)

The duties of this position will include participation in decisions that may have a material financial benefit to the incumbent. Therefore, the selected candidate will be required to file Conflict of Interest Form 700: Statement of Economic Interest when they first occupy the position, and on an annual basis, complete ethics training within 6 months of appointment, and attend this training every other year thereafter.

CSU Out of State Employment Policy

California State University, Office of the Chancellor, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California. As of January 1, 2022, the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

Background Check Information

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with California State University, Fresno. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Fresno State has identified as sensitive.

Additional Information

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Fresno State is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. (e.g. H1-B Visas)

Advertised: 30 Sep 2026 Pacific Daylight Time

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