Bursar Operations Specialist - Military/Veterans - UTK

The Bursar Operations Specialist – Military/Veterans responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with the Veterans Administration (CH33, CH35, CH30), Army ROTC, Air Force ROTC, and Vocational Rehabilitation programs to invoice and collect outstanding student scholarship payments. contact students and collect outstanding payments. Responsibilities include preparing daily deposits, managing military program billing details, tracking third-party transactions in the Banner System, and resolving benefit payment discrepancies with the Department of Veteran's Affairs.

This role will create Master list of all veteran and dependent benefit certifications each semester, directly assists veteran students and their dependents through activities such as advising on educational benefit programs, discussing key aspects of the benefit process, researches and troubleshoots issues that prohibit or affect certification. Other operational duties include reviewing data entered through the Enrollment Manager data system to verify benefit confirmation for VA payment. Verify electronic certifications and changes, as required. Data certified for each veteran includes, but not limited to registration, number of credits, program of study, and completed courses, maintaining master list updating it daily with new certifications and marking once verifications have been completed, editing benefits that are incorrect or have been changed, advising students on the VA contract process for VA Educational Benefits, compiling ad-hoc VA requests to follow up verification of veterans throughout the academic year, and providing general information to students, faculty and staff about VA education benefits and TN Strong Act benefits.

• Directly assists veteran students and their dependents through activities such as advising on educational benefit programs, discussing key aspects of the benefit process, researches and troubleshoots issues that prohibit or affect certification.
• Review data entered through the Enrollment Manager data system to verify benefit confirmation for VA payment. Verify electronic certifications and changes, as required.
• Maintain master list updating it daily with new certifications and marking once verifications have been completed. Edit benefits that are incorrect or have been changed.
• Advise students on the VA contract process for VA Educational Benefits.
• Complies with ad-hoc VA requests to follow up verification of veterans throughout the academic year.
• Provide general information to students, faculty and staff about VA education benefits and TN Strong Act benefits.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Associate degree
• Experience: A minimum of two years’ experience in a similar position
• Experience: Knowledge of veteran programs and procedures. Familiarity with 3rd party billing, VA refunding, and accounting/auditing/reconciliation principles and practices
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and procedures; Knowledge of rules for customer communications or telemarketing; Accurate data entry, calculation and financial analysis skills; Ability to identify and solve reconciliation information/issues; Excellent negotiation skills. Should have strong people skills and possess experience in diffusing potentially volatile situations, handling frustrated customers and appropriately resolving their conflicts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree
• Experience: Prefer four years’ related experience in office, accounting and customer service experience in Higher Education in addition to cash handling experience. Considerable knowledge of federal, state and university rules and regulations pertaining to the disbursement of all UT Knoxville student financial aid.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Possess the ability to interpret complex financial data and apply institutional, State, and Federal Procedures and regulations. Other qualities needed for this position include the ability to multi-task, be detail-oriented, work well under pressure (must meet deadlines), honesty, dependability and maintain confidentiality as required by FERPA regulations.

Work Location: University of Tennessee Knoxville. This position is in-person.

Compensation and Benefits:

• UT market range: $17.82 – $21.50
• Anticipated hiring range: $19.50
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions: For best consideration applicants should submit the below materials before Oct.1^st 2025.

• Resume
• Cover Letter (optional)
• List of references

About The College/Department/Division: The Office of the Bursar specializes in managing student accounts, assesses tuition and fees, provides billing statements, refunding, and processing payments. Our goal is to aide students in understanding their student-related charges while also providing guidance about payment options available to them.

We aim to provide the best student centric service so that students are prepared for success on their collegiate journey. We also provide banking services for university departments.

The Finance & Administration Division has fiduciary and leadership responsibility for the Knoxville campus in three primary areas of accountability: fiscal, physical, and auxiliary operations. Our goal is to provide quality support in the institution’s pursuit of excellence through effective stewardship and enhancement of the University’s resources. The strategies to achieve the goal of quality support of the instruction, research and public service functions include implementation of best operations practices, recommendation of efficient and cost-effective policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, focusing on internal and external customer needs, and the provision of a safe and productive physical environment.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!