Client Relations Specialist

Department

F&A Help Desk

About the Department

The Knowledge and Optimization Organization is a service and process efficiency organization dedicated to continuous improvement for HR, Payroll, and Procure to Pay services. We strive to deliver high quality services and an excellent experience so faculty and staff can focus on teaching and research.

We provide Human Resources support for compensation activities, data management, staff recruitment, student employment and time tracking. We provide Payroll support for employee wage and fellowship payments, independent contractor and other reportable payments, payroll corrections, tax calculation and reporting and compliance for payment to non citizens and entities. In addition, Knowledge and Optimization Organization provides Procure to Pay support for invoice processing, vendor management, check requests, purchase order compliance and expense reimbursement.

Job Summary

The Client Relations Specialist (CRS) is responsible for resolving inbound calls, chats, emails, and ServiceNow requests from customers, including third party vendors, applicants, staff, and faculty at the University of Chicago about financial services, human resources, payroll, budgeting and planning, financial management, and grants management, and navigation of administrative systems including Oracle Cloud and Workday. The CRS will assist with the execution of Tier 1 transactions in the areas of financial services, human resources, payroll, and grants management. This position will provide first-level support for question resolution, researching and resolving issues, and escalating queries as appropriate. The CRS will provide excellent customer service experience by completing work efficiently and accurately while proactively anticipating a customer’s future needs.

The CRS reports to the Director of the Finance and Administration Service Desk. The Service Desk is an integral part of the University’s Culture of Service and provides Tier 1 quality service in support of financial and human resources related processes.

The CRS position is a hybrid position, requiring in-person work at the Hyde Park Campus location for training, meetings, and other duties as needed which is subject to change. The CRS must maintain a home office environment that is conducive to a normal office environment and must have access to the internet and the ability to perform all work functions.

Responsibilities

• Answers inbound phone calls and chats; processes inquiries received through ServiceNow related to financial services, human resources, payroll, budgeting and planning, financial management, and grants management in alignment with the Service Desk’s established key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements.
• Proactively analyzes customer inquiries and requests, and presents customized solutions and next steps to the customer.
• Determines if customer requests/inquiries require escalation to the following offices as defined in the Service Desk Manual, Financial Services, Budget, Financial Management, University Research Administration (URA), and Post Go-Live Support organization.
• Efficiently resolves a customer’s primary request and anticipates/addresses common downstream impacts.
• Documents customer interaction in call center technology system.
• Advises customers on how to use self-service tools.
• Advises customers on technology system navigation and basic transactional functionality, including Oracle Cloud and Workday platforms.
• Opens, closes, and manages requests through the ServiceNow portal.
• Supports routine financial report creation.
• Participates in special project requests to assist with overflow work of other teams as needed.
• Facilitates clerical testing as needed.
• Attends trainings and works with the Training Center of Expertise to provide feedback on which trainings would be useful for the campus community.
• Assists in resolving customer’s primary issue and may anticipate/address common downstream issues. Documents customer interaction in Contact or Call Center technology system.
• Utilizes call center telephony technology to support and monitor volume of incoming calls.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree.

 

Experience: 

• Background with proven success in a customer-facing role.
• Understanding of various contact or call center computer related technologies.
• Familiarity with administrative processes, procedures, and systems within a university setting.

 

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Oracle Cloud and/or Workday proficiency.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Teams and Zoom to stay connected to team members and manager in a remote work environment.
• Basic computer skills, including email functionality.

Preferred Competencies

• Self-starter who is comfortable taking initiative and working in a remote environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication, written and verbal, skills.
• Participate as a team player and positively influence a group.
• Demonstrated customer service focus and willing to assist with all inquiries or requests.
• Astute listening skills and build rapport, even with the most difficult customer.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve successful outcomes in handling demanding situations and customers.
• Technical troubleshooting, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Learn and actively seek out information and skills to improve service to the University’s customers.
• Multi-task and work within timed deadlines.
• Positive attitude and demonstrated ability to adapt when business situations arise that require change or redirection.
• Attention to detail in documentation and transaction accuracy.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Customer Service & Sales

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

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FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

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Pay Range

$21.00 - $24.50

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.