Accounting Technician Payments & Cashier Spec

Bemidji State University (BSU) invites qualified applicants to join our team as the Payments & Cashier Specialist. The Payments & Cashier Specialist manages over-the-counter cashiering services for students, faculty, staff, and other clientele at Bemidji State University (BSU), while providing administrative, financial, and technical support within the Accounts Receivable (A/R) Department. This role is responsible for accurate and timely financial transactions, quality customer service, and compliance with institutional and state policies.
 
Responsibilities of the Payments & Cashier Specialist include:  

• Accounts Receivable Processing and Reconciliation.
  • Managing all aspects of accounts receivable payments, including processing and applying student and non-student payments received by cash, check, credit card, ACH, or wire transfer. Recording payments in the Integrated Statewide Record System (ISRS) and Workday with accuracy, timeliness and then auditing for problems or errors. Reconciling daily deposits, verifying and balancing the cash drawer, and ensuring all payment activity aligns with University and Minnesota State policies. This includes analyzing errors, recommending solutions for discrepancies, resolving discrepancies, auditing transactions, and coordinating with Business Services to prepare and maintain accurate financial records. Assisting with student insurance billing, including reconciliation through analysis resolution of inaccurate charges, and supporting billing setup for study abroad programs. Percent of Time: 30%

• Student Account Advising and Customer Service.
  • Serving as a key resource for students, parents, and campus staff, providing clear and courteous assistance regarding billing, refunds, payment plans, holds, financial aid disbursements, and general account activity. Responding to inquiries that often require explanation of complex policies and procedures, while maintaining strict confidentiality in accordance with FERPA. Including resolving billing errors, identifying solutions for unique account issues, and providing technical advice and guidance to students to support their academic and financial success. Percent of Time: 25% 

• Cashiering Operations and Departmental Support.
  • Explaining and enforcing cash-handling policies, assisting with third-party billing entry, assisting in financial aid refund processing, and assisting in the coordination of collections for delinquent student and non-student accounts. Complying and maintaining an electronic calendar and procedural documentation for cashiering activities and working collaboratively with departments to promote operational efficiency. Designing work procedures for cash handling and leading those backing up. Explaining and interpreting policies and procedures daily to provide guidance to students, parents and staff. Percent of Time: 20%

• PCI Compliance and Credit Card Administration.
  • Coordinating the annual Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance and cash-handling audit process for all departments that manage University funds. Including setting up USBank web payment accounts and credit card terminals, processing credit card refunds, and resolving technical or transactional issues with departments or processors. Preparing and submitting audit documentation, troubleshooting cash-handling concerns, and ensuring departments remain compliant with Minnesota State PCI policies and procedures thorough written and verbal communication. Percent of Time: 10%

• Records Management and Process Improvement.
  • Records retention efforts in alignment with the University’s records management schedule. Preparing records for storage or disposal, submitting retrieval and disposition forms, and maintaining compliance documentation. Designing, maintaining, and updating standard operating procedures for the cashiering area and recommending improvements to streamline operations. Additionally, this role supports inquiries related to 1098T tax forms and general Business Office processes while promoting excellent customer service and positive relations with students and staff. Percent of Time: 5%

• Student Payroll and Departmental Support.
  • Providing backup support with student payroll functions, including entering job authorizations, verifying documentation, and responding to general student employment inquiries through knowledge of policies and procedures. Percent of Time: 5%

• Performing other duties as assigned.
  • Performing other duties as assigned to support the effective operation of the Accounts Receivable (A/R) department and maintaining accuracy, compliance, and efficiency in all related processes. Assisting team members during startup periods, resolving discrepancies, supporting audit activities, and recommending process improvements to streamline workflows. Percent of Time: 5%

• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) sufficient to analyze, interpret, and prepare financial information, records and reports; locate errors; and recommend solutions to procedural or other fiscal problems.
• Knowledge of bookkeeping practices and procedures sufficient to analyze financial transactions and assign them to specific accounts, write original journal entries that credit and debit appropriate accounts, post entries to ledger accounts, and adjust entries at the end of each accounting period.
• Word processing sufficient to create, format, edit, print, and save in Microsoft products (Excel, Word, and Outlook) and office equipment (calculators, etc.).
• Mathematical skills sufficient to calculate, prepare, review, reconcile data, balance accounts, issue bills, invoices, account statements, and other financial statements according to established procedures.
• Ability to design, interpret and explain work procedures and operations and provide advice on fiscal policies and procedures.
• Customer service sufficient to explain policies and procedures, answer questions, and address complaints of customers, employees, and other individuals verbally or written while maintaining confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to handle high volumes of transactions and plan, prioritize and administer multiple projects while meeting strict reporting requirements and deadlines. 

• Two years of work experience in accounting or a business-related environment.
• Associate of Arts Degree /Associate of Science in Accounting Degree.
• Working knowledge of MinnState’s Integrated Statewide Records System (ISRS), Workday, MnSCU Accounting, and State of MN eServices.
• Ability to work with constant interruptions and manage multiple priorities, work independently and processes time management skills to meet deadlines while ensuring accuracy.
• Knowledge of accounting concepts, business, and governmental accounting terminology.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others throughout department and campus.
• Ability to develop and document procedures. Recommending best practices and revisions as requirements and technology changes.
• A demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.

Current Employees: All current employees will need to log in to the career site in Workday to apply for a position. Employees will search for “Browse Jobs – Employees” in Workday via the search bar at the top to view open positions.
 
Internal Bid Process – Open for Bids from eligible AFSCME members from 7/28/2025 – 8/4/2025. Any current employee interested in this position and eligible to bid should submit a Bid Application by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 4^th, 2025 to Mary Miller in the HR office at mary.miller@bemidjistate.edu. The bid form may also be found on the Human Resources website.

Note: Internal bid applications will be considered prior to filling the position via the public application process and, therefore, this posting may be closed due to contractual obligations.