Payments Specialist
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA
JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$20.25–$21.75 Per Hour
JOB TYPE
Full-time, Employee
SKILLS
10-key (Tenkey) Numeric Keypad, Accounting, Accounts Receivable, Banking Services, Communication Skills, Credit Cards, Credit Processing, Credit and Collections, Customer Support/Service, Diversity, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), Establish Priorities, Financial Operations, Financial Services, Financial Transactions, High School Diploma, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Word, NSF Audio Formats, Payment Processing, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Reconciliation, Reporting Skills, Scholarship, Third-Party Payer, Writing Skills
LOCATION
Tacoma, WA
POSTED
30+ days ago
Recruitment Type: Open to All Applicants
Position Title: Payments Specialist
Position Type: Staff
Benefits Status: Benefits Eligible
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Hiring Range: $20.25-$21.75 per hour, plus excellent benefits.
Location: Tacoma, WA 98447.
Department: Business Office
Posting Date: 01/08/2026
Closing Date: When a sufficient number of qualified applicants have been identified.
Work Schedule:
Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.
This position is an in-person role and is not eligible for remote or hybrid work.
General Description:
The Payments Specialist performs general cashiering, daily banking and third party reconciliation duties for PLU. Responsible for monitoring banking, processing student account payments, department deposits and scholarship payments. Reconciling and monitoring the university’s third party student account payment processor and payment plan provider. This position also supports the Student Account area. Reports to the Director of Financial Operations.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
• Daily monitoring of all bank account transactions including providing daily reports to the AVP for Finance, Accountants, and the Director of Financial Operations.
• Monitor and reconcile the university’s third party student account payment processor.
• Monitor and reconcile the university’s third party payment plan provider.
• Reconcile and manage Pre-Travel and Expense accounts with the university’s ERP system.
• Issues expense and event advances as well as cash reimbursements.
• Apply payments to student accounts.
• Process outside scholarship payments.
• Process departmental deposits.
• Monitor and release student account holds.
• Process credit card refunds.
• NSF processing and monitoring.
• Assist in the process of assigning student accounts to collections.
• Answer student, parent/guardian and internal department questions regarding student accounts, payment plans and general payment related questions.
• Provide support to various areas of the Office of Financial Services including fielding calls and in-person questions at the main desk.
• Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Excellent customer service and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work in partnership with other university departments.
• Money handling experience.
• Ability to work independently, as well as with a team.
• Ability to set priorities, manage details and multiple responsibilities.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc).
• 10 key by touch.
• Knowledge and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Required Qualifications:
• Experience in accounts receivable and/or cashiering.
• 1.5 years of customer service experience. Education can substitute for some experience.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Willingness to become a notary at the cost of the university.
• Finalist applicants must satisfactorily complete pre-employment background and credit checks.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Bank related experience as a Teller or Customer Service Representative.
Other Information:
PLU is a small, private university where caring means more than kindness and consideration — it means a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice. Because PLU is a community committed to the creation and advancement of knowledge through diversity and inclusion, the university actively recruits a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. PLU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from members of historically underrepresented and minoritized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and others who would bring broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities.
PLU offers an excellent benefits package including tuition remission for employees and their dependents, generous retirement plan, medical, dental, paid vacation and sick leave, major holidays off (including Christmas/New Year’s break and extra time off during the summer), and many other great university benefits. PLU is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program as a 501©(3) tax-exempt organization. Click here for detailed benefits information.
For general application questions or if you need accommodations at any point in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 253-535-7185 or humr@plu.edu.
About the Company
P