Financial Specialist - Hybrid

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana (IL); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seeks a Financial Specialist - Hybrid to serve as the subject-matter expert for student loan fund accounting, overseeing funds worth ~60 million across Urbana-Champaign and Chicago campuses. You will manage the full accounting cycle, ensure Banner integration with the loan servicer, and prepare federal compliance and institutional reports.

Under the Director of Business Operations, you will support AR processes, reconciliations, and data reporting to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in business/related field; substitution allowed for years of experience.
• Two years of professional business, financial, and/or managerial work experience.
• Experience in financial reporting, account/payment reconciliations, and financial operations.

Responsibilities

• Prepare annual federal reports (Perkins FISAP) and HRSA reports.
• Reconcile refunds and process feeder data from payment portals.
• Coordinate monthly reconciliations across Banner and loan servicer records.
• Develop Banner data downloads and supporting datasets for reporting.

Skills

Specialized accounting knowledge

Excellent verbal and written comms

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving and discretion

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field

Two years of professional business/financial/managerial experience

Tools

SQL

Banner software knowledge

Advanced MS Excel

Job description

Financial Specialist - Hybrid

University Bursar

Sponsorship for Work authorization is not available for this position.

Job Summary

Serves as the University Bursar's subject-matter expert for student loan fund accounting, overseeing a portfolio of nearly $60 million in federal and institutional loan funds at the Urbana-Champaign and Chicago campuses. Under the direction of the Director of Business Operations, manages the full accounting cycle for nearly 100 Perkins, HRSA Health Professions, and institutional loan funds, ensuring accurate integration between Banner and the University's loan servicer. Prepares federal compliance reporting, as well as quarterly and annual reporting to University Accounting and Financial Reporting, and partners with Financial Aid on the fund projections that determine annual lending capacity. Also supports core accounts receivable operations for the University System, including daily feeder processing from University payment portals, returned check resolution, refund reconciliation, and the Banner data reporting that supports Business Operations' analysis and decision-making. Exercises independent judgment to safeguard the integrity of high-dollar fund balances and ensure compliance with university, state, and federal requirements.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Coordinate and prepare required annual federal reports, including the Perkins FISAP for the U.S. Department of Education and Annual Operating Reports for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Also prepare and analyze annual portfolio reports summarizing loan balances, collections, and default rates for each campus.
• Coordinate and prepare quarterly financial reports on the student loan portfolio for University Accounting and Financial Reporting (UAFR), ensuring accurate financial data for use in University-level financial reporting.
• Reconcile refunds issued from student and general (non-student) accounts receivable each month for all three campuses, ensuring refunds in the billing system match the University's accounting records.
• Manage and support daily accounts receivable data processing activities within Banner and related integrated systems, including coordinating the preparation, review, and submission of feeder data received from multiple University payment portals.
• Coordinate and administer returned check processes, including the organization, investigation, processing, communication, and documentation of all NSF/returned checks for all System Office locations, ensuring timely resolution of discrepancies.
• Verify at the start of each month that loan disbursements and borrower payments transfer accurately between the University's financial system (Banner) and its third-party loan servicer. Independently research discrepancies and coordinate corrections of missing or inaccurate transactions.
• Manage and reconcile the three holding (clearing) accounts through which loan payments and account adjustments pass before posting to individual loan funds, monitoring account activity and ensuring all transactions clear accurately and promptly.
• Coordinate monthly reconciliations of each federal and University-funded loan fund, verifying that balances agree between Banner and the loan servicer's records, investigating discrepancies, and implementing appropriate corrections.
• Analyze and project available funds monthly for each loan fund and provide financial projections to Financial Aid to support decisions regarding annual student loan funding availability.
• Support and coordinate financial activities associated with the closeout of the federal Perkins Loan program, including verifying that loan cancellations post correctly and assisting with the transfer of remaining loans and cash balances to the U.S. Department of Education.
• Calculate, review, and record annual financial allowances, including the administrative allowance and the allowance for doubtful (uncollectible) accounts, ensuring accurate financial reporting and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate federal funding activities when a federal health professions loan fund experiences low cash balances, including receiving and reviewing the Notice of Award (NOA) from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and coordinating the drawdown of awarded federal funds into the appropriate loan fund.
• Develop, generate, and maintain Banner data downloads, reports, and supporting datasets used by Business Operations for financial reporting, reconciliation, analysis, and operational decision-making.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in business administration, management, or a field related to the position.
2. Two (2) years of professional business, financial, and/or managerial work experience.
3. Demonstrated experience in financial reporting, account/payment reconciliations, and/or financial operations.

(NOTE: A Master's Degree in an area consistent with the duties of the position may be substituted for one (1) year (12 months) of work experience.)

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred:

1. Demonstrated financial and accounting expertise to conduct analyses of financial documents/reports and related processing systems.
2. Proficiency with SQL and report-writing or query tools (e.g., DBeaver).
3. Knowledge of Banner programs/applications and work experience acquired in a higher education institution, preferably the University of Illinois.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Specialized knowledge of professional accounting practices and applicable state/federal guidelines and regulations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to prepare financial reports that provide detailed information with clarity.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated problem-solving capability.
• Excellent organizational and multitasking skills.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and working knowledge of other Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Outlook).

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 5010 - Business/Administrative Associate position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible. Sponsorship for Work authorization is not available for this position. System Office jobs such as this one are not eligible for the Referral Program.

The budgeted salary range for the position is $60,000 to $65,000. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on November 5th, 2026.

For further information about this specific position, please contact Bree Smith at [e-mail]. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - the state's flagship public university and one of the world's leading research institutions - every staff member helps shape what's next. Founded in 1867, Illinois is home to a vibrant community of 59,000 students from all 50 states and 129 countries, supported by 15 colleges and instructional units, more than 20 research institutes, and one of the most comprehensive student service ecosystems in the nation. Whether you're empowering first-generation students, fueling breakthrough innovation, or strengthening communities across Illinois and beyond, your work here has a far-reaching and deeply meaningful impact. The university offers a highly competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and financial security. Join a top 10 public university that has launched over 330 startups and continues to redefine excellence - where the Illinois Value Proposition ensures that your contributions are recognized, your potential is nurtured, and your career can thrive.

Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or [e-mail].

Requisition ID: 1039064

Job Category: Professional and Administrative

Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu