Student Financial Services Account Specialist

Job Summary

Member of a frontline customer service team providing bursar and financial aid support to Division of Continuing Education students, including Extension School and Summer School students, and Harvard Learning in Retirement members.

Job-Specific Responsibilities

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Student Financial Services, serves in a fast-paced office as a member of the Student Financial Services customer service team. Acts as an information resource for a high volume of student-related financial account, financial aid, and registration inquiries, by phone and by email for Harvard Extension and Summer Schools, and HILR. Accurately performs complex bursar, registration, and financial aid functions and monitors degree candidate admission status using the Banner student information system, online payment application, Salesforce CRM and PowerFAIDS. Performs other related duties as required and assists with special projects as needed.

Required to work one weekend in June. Occasional evenings and overtime will be required.

Basic Qualifications

Minimum of 3+ years front-line customer service experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred.
• Experience handling confidential material with discretion.
• Experience with Excel, Word, and Outlook; Office Suite.
• Ability to work in a collaborative, cross-functional, fast-paced, deadline-focused environment with a demanding international student population.
• Ability to handle a variety of tasks independently with many interruptions.
• Ability to be adaptable and patient when facing difficult customer interactions and unfamiliar situations.
• Attention to detail and accuracy critical; ability to communicate effectively with diverse constituencies.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Ability and willingness to learn and assimilate new technology.
• Strong organizational, time management and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team with a positive, professional attitude.
• Familiarity with foreign languages and cultures highly desirable.
• Financial aid background and familiarity with Banner, Salesforce, Confluence, and PowerFAIDS a plus.
• Finalists evaluated through writing exercise.

Additional Information

This is a one year term position from date of hire.

All applicants who wish to be considered must submit a cover letter with their application; finalists evaluated through on-site writing exercise.

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) comprises several entities serving about 30,000 students annually. The Harvard Extension School, the Harvard Summer School, the Harvard Professional Development Programs and the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement allow Harvard to serve the learning needs of students across their life. For more than a century, Harvard Extension School has made Harvard faculty and teaching accessible to a diverse community of local, national, and international students. Harvard Extension School enrolls approximately 16,000 students per year in approximately 46 graduate and undergraduate liberal arts and professional fields. More than 1,500 open enrollment courses are offered year-round with over 600 available online are offered at affordable prices to our communities across the world. Harvard Summer School offers approximately 450 courses on the Harvard Campus to 10,000 secondary school, college and adult learners and more than 30 international study abroad programs for up to 600 students each summer. The Division also includes the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement with approximately 550 active members and Harvard Professional Development Programs offering 80 short noncredit courses to almost 4,000 learners annually.

All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

Harvard offers an outstanding benefits package including:

• Time Off: 3 - 4 weeks paid vacation, paid holiday break, 12 paid sick days, 11.5 paid holidays, and 3 paid personal days per year.
• Medical/Dental/Vision: We offer a variety of excellent medical plans, dental & vision plans, all coverage begins as of your start date.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive tuition assistance program, $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and discounted options through participating Harvard grad schools.
• Transportation: Harvard offers a 50% discounted MBTA pass as well as additional options to assist employees in their daily commute.
• Wellness options: Harvard offers programs and classes at little or no cost, including stress management, massages, nutrition, meditation and complimentary health services.
• Harvard access to athletic facilities, libraries, campus events and many discounts throughout metro Boston.

Job Function

General Administration

Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code

403033 Staff Assistant III

Sub-Unit

-

Department

Division of Continuing Education

Time Status

Full-time

Salary Grade

053

Union

55 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers

Pre-Employment Screening

Identity

Schedule

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
Required to work one weekend in June. Occasional evenings and overtime will be required.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.