Erin Herrick

Experience

• 

  University of Illinois System

  Jun 2008 - now

  As the Director, I provides leadership and oversight for a variety of core business operations such as Application of Payments, Student Refunds, Student Holds, State Offset, Account Write-offs, 1098-T, Collection’s activities and Student, General and Sponsor Billing. Erin serves as a member of the Department’s leadership team, working collaboratively with her colleagues on various initiatives to improve the student billing and payment experience and developing strategic metrics to measure productivity and growth opportunities.Key Achievements:• Directed the modification of Banner Late fee process to adhere to State guidelines under SAMS 26.20.30• Streamlined the collection’s placement process by identifying gaps in our procedures that has led to a tighter timeline and a reduction in the overall $38M collection portfolio.• Guided the creation of a new Sponsor Billing bill process to reduce manual intervention by 75%• Supervised a project to further automate the University refund process working with Bursar ARO and AITS -IPA• Headed a team that reviewed our paper processes, determined which could be moved online and implemented procedures to migrate those activities to less manual processing reducing Bursar staff time. Show less As Senior Associate Director, I continued my responsibilities for the Billing Services Unit and added responsibilities for the AR Operations Unit, continuing my focus on process improvements within the new unit. Key Achievements:• Reduced the time spent on the refund review process by simplifying the daily reports to allow the ARO to process $233 million in refunds for the university system• Streamlined the Sponsor Billing process by standardizing procedures to support the processing of 1800 students for $18 million• Executed a significant upgrade to the 1098T process to move from reporting Box 2 Charges Billed to Box 1 Payments Received pursuit to the new IRS guidelines.• Implemented a Customer Service Survey to gauge our customers satisfaction and use their feedback to improve our applications Show less As the Associate Director, I continued with all of my responsibilities from my previous job as the Assistant Director and added new tasks, with my main focus on process improvements. I spearheaded a project to designed and implemented a strategic communications plan for students. The project included new targeted alerts in Banner self-service and email communications as well as enhancements to the USFSCO Website. We also developed a new team consisting of one person from each unit to maintain this new process, making sure we continue to have enhanced communications with our students; I also analyzed and implemented new collections processes to improve the student experience by finding gaps in our process, reducing the time students are in collections. Key Achievements:• Reducing the number of phone calls to USFSCO as well as AITS by expanding the 1098T form messages to clarify the status and instructions for students• Successfully implementing NBS Quikpay upgrades, keeping the application up to date with all relevant security and regulatory protocols.• Automated the posting of returned payment plan checks to eliminate the manual posting of returned checks in Banner AR, saving employee time and eliminating manual keying errors• Working Closely UIC Registrar and UIC Budget Office to implement the UIC Global (Shorelight) program on Campus • Analyzed the State of Illinois, Statewide Accounting Management System Manual for any State Offset deficiencies and implemented new procedures to follow the new guidelines. Show less • Serve as the product knowledge experts on all delivered software, including the online payment system, the collections systems, and the cashiering system.• Coordinate and track all software upgrades and maintenance.• Serve as technically liaison between USFSCO, vendors and a number of University Departments• Provide technical project management and leadership on special projects including participating in process review, testing, and policy decisions to streamline business processes.• Stay informed on relevant legislation, rules, regulations, technical specifications, and upgrade developments in the field by pursuing professional development activities to expand knowledge and maintain currency• Responsible for the USFSCO web presence; maintenance of all USFSCO related web applications and ad-hoc reporting. Show less • Manage all daily operations of USFSCO –Systems Management• Coordinate the upgrade of all Nelnet Business Solution(NBS) systems• Direct the coordination of Ellucian Banner upgrades within USFSCO• Created Reconciliation process for a number new payment options• Rebranded the USFSCO and SMMC websites • Managing the implementation of Offsite Deposits for University Cashiering System• Coordinate the development of new payment options in NBS QuikPay and Commerce Manager for use with our online forms vendor, DynamicForms, for use within our department and for external departments. Show less • Created test scripts and managed upgrade testing of NBS QuikPay and NBS Commerce Manager, the University’s online payment system. Testing including batch and real-time interfaces of credit card, e-check and e-bill processing• Troubleshoot technical business system problems and provide recommendations for improving processes and/or systems for USFSCO • Created test scripts and managed full-upgrade testing of SunGard’s Banner Accounts Receivable module. Testing included, billing, refunds, and collections processes.• Assist with analyzing data and process flows to determine patterns and deficiencies to help facilitate testing and implementation of systems used by USFSCO. • Designed and developed training materials for the Accounts Receivable system • Designed and developed miscellaneous financial reports for departments using the AR system. Show less

  • Director AR Operations, Billing Services, Student Loans and Collections

    Mar 2020 - now

  • Senior Associate Director AR Operations and Billing Services, USFSCO

    Jun 2018 - Mar 2020

  • Associate Director Billing Services, University Student Financial Services and Cashier Operations

    Dec 2016 - Jun 2018

  • Assistant Director Billing Services, University Student Financial Services and Cashier Operations

    Aug 2013 - Dec 2016

  • Coordinator, University Student Financial Services and Cashier Operations (USFSCO)

    Sept 2011 - Aug 2013

  • Application Specialist, University Student Financial Services and Cashier Operations (USFSCO)

    Dec 2010 - Aug 2011

  • Programmer I & II, University Student Financial Services and Cashier Operations

    Jun 2008 - Dec 2010