Business Office Receptionist / Cashier

Job Title : Business Office Receptionist / Cashier

Department : Business Office

Reports To : Controller

FLSA Status : Non-Exempt

Position Summary :

The Business Office Receptionist serves as a vital member of the administrative support team for the Controller, Student Accounts Manager, Staff Accountant, Business Office, and Financial Aid. This front-facing position is responsible for providing excellent customer service while performing financial transactions, maintaining accurate records, and supporting daily operations.

The role includes receiving, reconciling, and preparing deposits of cash, checks, and credit card payments received by the university. The receptionist is also responsible for data entry across multiple systems, maintaining accurate filing systems (both digital and manual), and serving as a welcoming first point of contact for students, parents, faculty, staff, and campus visitors-both in person and by phone.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities :

Receive and process payments accurately in designated financial systems.

Perform daily cashier duties, including reconciling and posting transactions and deposits.

Assist with cash audits to ensure adherence to cash management procedures.

Greet visitors, answer incoming calls, respond to inquiries, and direct individuals to appropriate personnel.

Provide customer service related to student billing, balances, award letters, and account status.

Maintain and organize student account records, including manual and digital filing.

Issue and record campus parking tags and keys.

Monitor and order office supplies as needed.

Complete remote deposits and maintain backup documentation to support financial compliance.

Process and import large batches of external transactions, such as :

Campus Store charges

Bookstore charges

RA payroll deductions

Run and analyze hold reports; remove holds as appropriate and escalate account issues to the Student Accounts Manager.

Approve bookstore accounts in collaboration with Financial Aid to establish available credit.

Prepare collections reports and follow up with students on missed payments or past-due balances (60 / 90 / 120 days).

Set appointments for students to establish in-house payment plans.

Send statements, letters, and make outbound phone calls related to account maintenance and collections.

Enroll students in online past-due payment plans; track non-sufficient funds and terminated payments.

Record third-party transactions, including ACH / EFT payments, verify accuracy, and notify students of receipt.

Assist families during registration and move-in events with payment processing and account questions.

Guide students in using online financial tools (e.g., Nelnet, Flywire, Papercut, Formstack, My.Bethel).

Manage and respond to the department's email and voicemail to ensure timely and accurate communication.

Perform account maintenance and adjustments with proper authorization and documentation.

Provide general administrative support and other duties as assigned.

Performance Expectations :

Perform all assigned responsibilities accurately and efficiently with minimal errors.

Maintain a balanced cash drawer daily.

Demonstrate initiative in assisting colleagues and improving departmental processes.

Provide exceptional customer service to students, parents, and university personnel.

Uphold confidentiality and integrity in all financial and personal data handling.

Qualifications : Education :

High school diploma or GED required.

Experience :

Entry-level; six months of similar or related experience preferred.

Prior experience in customer service, cash handling, or office administration is a plus.

Interpersonal Skills :

Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Ability to handle sensitive or confidential information with discretion.

Courtesy, professionalism, and diplomacy are essential when interacting with students, families, and university staff.

Technical Skills :

Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Familiarity with financial or student information systems preferred.

Ability to operate standard office equipment (printers, copiers, scanners, fax machines).

Accuracy and dependability in handling money and processing financial data.

Basic accounting knowledge is a plus.

Other Requirements :

Ability to multi-task and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.

Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

About Bethel University

The mission of Bethel University, affiliated with the Missionary Church denomination, is to be a community of learners building lives of commitment for leadership in the Church and world. Bethel's liberating academic programs challenge the mind, enlarge the vision, and equip the whole person for lifelong service.

Launched in 1947, Bethel is urban situated in the northern Indiana region hosting 250,000 residents, seven colleges (including Notre Dame), the 2nd largest shopping district in the state of Indiana, 15,000 businesses, 50 parks, and beautiful riverwalk developments in South Bend and Mishawaka. Resort venues on Lake Michigan are 45 minutes away. The university community is composed of about 1,500 traditional and adult / graduate students from 35 states, 90 students born outside the United States, and 225 full-time employees. Bethel also hosts more than 8,000 guests annually to arts productions, 25,000 annually in conference services, and many thousands of community members in support of 40 national athletic championships.

Bethel's 20,000 alumni occupy 49 states and 64 world areas and enjoy a medical school acceptance rate double the national average, 100% job placement rate in Nursing whose program was ranked No. 7 in the United States, a Top 4% finish nationally in competitive math performance tests, and 100% pass rate every year on the national performance standard for a unique academic major in American Sign Language.

For more information visit our website at

Bethel University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, disability, national or ethnic origin in employment opportunities, in keeping with applicable state and federal laws. In keeping with the mission of the institution, Bethel University seeks applicants with a strong commitment to the values and lifestyle of evangelical Christianity and who profess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As a Christian institution, we require faculty and staff to adhere to the University's Lifestyle Covenant and to enforce a religiously based statement of responsibilities for all University employees. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Bethel University, as an educational institution operating under the auspices of the Missionary Church, reserves the right to prefer employees on the basis of religion (Title VII, Sections 702-703, United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended).

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