Student Billing & Accounting Specialist

Hathaway Brown; Shaker Heights (OH); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403(b) retirement plan with matching

Life insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Wellness credit

Voluntary insurance options

Job summary

Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, OH is seeking a Student Billing & Accounting Specialist to manage the full billing cycle, invoicing, payments, and collections for tuition and fees. You will serve as the primary contact for families, ensure accuracy, and support accounts receivable and other business office duties in a fast-paced educational environment.

Qualifications include a degree in accounting or related field and at least 2 years of relevant experience, with proficiency in

Qualifications

• Associate's or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or related field, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 2 years in student billing, accounts receivable, or collections, preferably in education.
• Working knowledge of basic accounting principles and reconciliation.
• Proficiency with Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel.
• Familiarity with Blackbaud programs is a strong plus.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving, with tact in financial conversations.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee billing for tuition and fees, set up rates and family plans, and issue invoices.
• Process payments, post receipts, and support refunds and reconciliations.
• Manage accounts receivable and follow up on past-due balances and collections.
• Serve as primary contact for families on billing questions and liaise with departments.
• Identify opportunities to improve billing accuracy and efficiency.

Skills

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Independent & collaborative work

Proficiency with Google Sheets

Proficiency with Microsoft Excel

Familiarity with Blackbaud Financial

Education

Associate's or Bachelor's in accounting/finance/business

Tools

Google Sheets

Microsoft Excel

Blackbaud Financial Edge

Tuition Management

Job description

Hathaway Brown School provides equal opportunity for employment, promotion, and compensation without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation or handicap. As members of the HB community, employees are expected to treat other members in a nondiscriminatory fashion.

Always Accepting Resumes

In seeking talented educators who are culturally competent and represent the diversity of the school community, HB has adopted the strategy of perpetual recruiting. These applicantswill be among the first to learnof hiring opportunities.

Letters of interest and résumés are accepted throughout the year, regardless of whether a current opening in your professional area is available.

Location: Shaker Heights, OH

Job Id:253

# of Openings:1

JOB TITLE: Student Billing & Accounting Specialist

DEPARTMENT: Business Office

REPORS TO: Controller

FLSA STATUS: Non-exempt

Position Overview:
The Student Billing and Accounts Receivable Specialist manages the full student billing cycle at Hathaway Brown, from annual tuition and fee setup through invoicing, payment processing, collections, and reconciliation. As the primary point of contact for families on billing questions, this person pairs accuracy and follow-through with warm, professional, and discreet service. The role also processes non-tuition receivables and provides backup support across the Business Office.

Key Responsibilities

Student Billing:

• Organize and manage all aspects of billing for tuition, fees, and other student charges, ensuring accuracy and compliance with school policies.
• Complete annual setup of new tuition and fee rates, family payment plans, and student accounts.
• Prepare and issue timely invoices and billing statements.
• Process and post incoming student payments accurately.
• Support the administration and recordkeeping of the tuition refund insurance plan.

Accounts Receivable & Collections:

• Own the student accounts receivable process from initial billing through full account resolution.
• Monitor failed, declined, or returned payments and follow up promptly with families to resolve issues.
• Track past-due balances, issue payment reminders, and manage collections in accordance with school policy, escalating complex cases to the Controller as needed.
• Reconcile student accounts receivable against the general ledger and prepare monthly aging and status reports.

Family Communication & Customer Support:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for student billing inquiries, providing timely, courteous, and confidential assistance to families, students, and staff.
• Collaborate with Admissions, Financial Aid, and administrative teams to ensure account balances accurately reflect enrollment shifts and financial aid awards.

Process Improvement & Operations:

• Identify and implement opportunities to enhance accuracy and efficiency within billing, payment, and collection workflows.

Other Receivables & Business Office Support:

• Reconcile credit card program receipts and review for appropriate general ledger coding.
• Process receivables from non-tuition revenue sources, including student activities, gifts, contributions, events, and miscellaneous cash receipts.
• Compile and collect necessary data required for state reimbursement programs.
• Cross-train on essential Business Office functions to provide backup coverage as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Associate's or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in student billing, accounts receivable, collections, or a related role, preferably in an educational or non-profit setting.
• Working knowledge of basic accounting principles and account reconciliation.
• Demonstrated proficiency with the Google and Microsoft software suites, with particular emphasis on Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel.
• Familiarity with Blackbaud programs (Financial Edge, Tuition Management, etc.) is a strong plus.
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to handle sensitive financial conversations with tact and discretion.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Compensation & Benefits:

Competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance, a retirement plan, and professional development opportunities.

WHY HATHAWAY BROWN:

• Competitive salaries for Independent Schools
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision package, 403(b) plan with matching
• Employer covered life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Voluntary insurance offerings: additional life, accident, critical illness,
• Wellness credit
• Collaborative teaching environment with seasoned professionals

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Hathaway Brown School is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning community through our admission policies, hiring practices, professional development, curricular and extracurricular programming, and school culture. We believe that these communities must be centered on the work we do. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people who are members of other marginalized communities. Click here to be directed to our full DEI Statement.

ABOUT HATHAWAY BROWN

Hathaway Brown School has a rich 151-year history of educating and empowering girls. As Ohio’s oldest continually operating college-preparatory for girls, Hathaway Brown has earned a reputation for academic excellence and innovation in the region and around the country. Home of the Learn for Life signature approach, Hathaway Brown has long been devoted to a fusion of cutting-edge curriculum and experiential learning. Our approximately 750 students and 225 faculty and staff come to Hathaway Brown from 89 different communities in Northeast Ohio, and enjoy our stunning 16-acre campus in Shaker Heights, Ohio – just minutes from the cultural attractions of downtown Cleveland.

Strategic Plan

HB is nationally regarded as a defining voice in girls’ education, setting the highest standards for distinguished academics and empowering girls. The strategic plan lists our goals for continued innovation and excellence in education.

Campus

We hope to meet you in-person for an interview. Until then, take a virtual tour of our 16-acre Shaker Heights campus. Amenities include an aquatics center, on-site infant and toddler center where many faculty and staff children learn and grow together, and adining hall where you can enjoy healthy and free lunch daily.

Belonging

HB is a celebrated community of faculty, staff, students, families, and more than 4,000 alumnae across the globe. Wehave varied life experiences, contribute diverse points of view, and enrich our learning environment. Learn more about our commitment to DEI.

Our marketing and communications team along with the alumnae engagement office produce an award-winning magazine. Each publication features thought-provoking articles about Hathaway Brown and other relevant topics.Read the latest issue or visit our newsroom for blog posts andvideos.