Finance & Accounting Specialist

As the Finance & Accounting Specialist, you are responsible for reconciling student payments and ensuring all accounts properly reflect a student's payment history. You also assist the AP/AR Manager with posting cash receipts and ensuring that all students' needs relating to required payments are met.RequirementsWho is American College of EducationFounded in 2005, American College of Education continues to be a leader in professional development through our online programs. The mission of ACE is to deliver high-quality, affordable, and accessible online programs grounded in evidence-based content, real-world experience and relevant application that places our students' needs first.ACE is a premier organization that is continually recognized for its commitment to social responsibility. In 2016, ACE became a Certified B Corporation. As a socially conscious institution, we believe we have a responsibility to our students, alumni, employees, local communities, and society. We strive to make an impact in the world that goes well beyond our bottom line.Who You AreYou are passionate about helping students achieve their educational goals. You thrive in a competitive and collaborative team environment. You are comfortable working remotely and have experience collaborating with others in a virtual environment. You possess a strong attention to detail.As the Finance & Accounting Specialist, you are responsible for reconciling student payments and ensuring all accounts properly reflect a student's payment history. You also assist the AP/AR Manager with posting cash receipts and ensuring that all students' needs relating to required payments are met.CompensationACE is committed to paying a competitive wage while staying true to our mission maintaining high-quality, affordable programs for our students. The starting hourly rate for this position is $24.03 plus all full-time employees are eligible for an annual bonus. Offers vary depending on education, prior experience, and expertise being applied to the role.What We Look For In The Ideal CandidateDemonstrates self-reliance by meeting/exceeding workflow needsDemonstrates positive attitude and motivation, concern for students, teamwork, and excellent time management skillsFollows established processes as outlined by organization and leadershipCompletes assigned duties based on daily business needs and individual skill setConsistently produces a high volume of quality workCapable, and adapts as needed, to work under pressure and meet tight deadlinesProven ability to work independently with limited supervision and with other department personnelMust support and embrace the College's B Corp mission to improve the people and communities we serve through our civic engagement initiativesMust have exceptional communication, organization, and time management skillsMust be "self-motivated" as well as creative and efficient in proposing solutions to complex, time-critical problemsMust be collaborative in driving decisions and a team-playerStrong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detailBuilds and maintains student satisfactionRecognizes and anticipates student needsDay To Day ResponsibilitiesIn this role you will wear different hats, but your skills will be especially essential in the following areas:Reconciles student payments to the student information system and general ledger (ex. credit card payments, lockbox)Processes award and audit third-party financing arrangements with student accounts to ensuring third-party financing funds are properly received and reportedReviews and audit student ledgers for charges, scholarships, degree conferral and grantsManages other payment options for students (ex. payroll, direct bill)Manages financial holds and department email inboxManages and assists with collections which involves outreach to studentsAssists with finance and accounting duties as workload requiresAssists with training new hires or team members in cross trainingQualifications And Education RequirementsBachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or business or 4 years of related work experience2-3 years accounting/bursary experiencePreferred experience with Campus Nexus Student Information SystemOur Commitment to EmployeesJust as we strive to empower our students for success, we also aim to enrich the lives of our employees. For 6 consecutive years, ACE was recognized as one of Indiana's Best Places to Work, winning the #1 spot for medium-sized companies in 2020. In addition, ACE has earned national recognition, being named a USA Top Workplace in 2022, 2023 and 2024. As a virtual first organization, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a family-like inclusive work environment. For our full-time employees, we offer the following benefits:Medical, dental, & vision insuranceHSA and FSA optionsPaid parental leavePaid volunteer timeTuition reimbursement & reduction programsGenerous PTO401(k) and employer matchFull-service wellness and EAP programEmployee recognition and awards programsEmployer-paid life & AD&D insuranceShort-term disabilityEmployer-paid long-term disabilityAnd more.. Physical DemandsThe physical demand described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate with and receive communications from students and ACE employees in real time using online and other electronic media.Commitment to CultureAt American College of Education, we're all about building a one-of-a-kind, supportive community where everyone—students, faculty, and staff—can thrive. Guided by our mission and values, we focus on everything from innovative curriculum design to personalized instruction and student support to intentional planning, inclusive initiatives, and strategic resource allocation. We're dedicated to creating an environment that celebrates freedom of expression, diversity of thought, open dialogue, and mutual respect. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and wellness so that every member of our ACE family feels empowered, valued, and ready to reach their full potential. Together, we're creating a vibrant, resilient, and connected learning community where everyone matters.Additional NotesThis job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.Employees are increasingly integrating AI into their roles, demonstrating its potential to boost efficiency, accuracy, and productivity. By utilizing AI technologies, we can streamline processes, gain valuable insights from data, and automate routine tasks, which allows employees to concentrate on more strategic and creative aspects of their work. While AI is a beneficial tool in the workplace, if its use—such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, Copy.ai, etc.—accounts for more than 50% of any work assignments or job responsibilities, it will need to be reported to a direct leader.Internet bandwidth speeds from an employee's remote work location must be a minimum of 50Mbps download speeds and 5Mbps upload speeds. Please note if the bandwidth is shared across multiple devices (tablets, computer, streaming, phone, etc.) you will need higher overall speeds. You can test the speed of your connection by visiting speedtest.net. Purchase, setup, installation, support, and ongoing maintenance of reliable internet service is the responsibility of the individual.American College of Education seeks to attract and retain a diverse staff consistent with its diverse student body and surrounding communities. At this time we cannot consider candidates residing in Alaska, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, South Dakota, or Alabama.ACE is an Equal Opportunity Employer.