Payment Specialist, Travel

Payment Specialist, Travel

The Payment Specialist, Travel is responsible for administering and processing university travel-related payments, reimbursements, and financial transactions for employees, students, and prospective employees. This position reviews travel authorizations and expense reports for compliance with applicable federal, state, university, and Texas State University System regulations, while ensuring the accuracy of accounting, funding, and supporting documentation. The role manages individual and corporate travel credit card programs, maintains the Emburse (Chrome River) Travel & Expense system, provides training and guidance to university personnel, and supports travel-related audits and reporting requirements. The Payment Specialist serves as a key resource for travel payment processes and collaborates with departments across the university to ensure efficient, compliant, and customer-focused service delivery.

Special Note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship now or in the future.

Essential Job Functions

Travel Authorization and Expense Processing:

• Compliance and Specialized Records Management (10%)
• Provide backup support for processing changes to majors, minors, and concentrations.
• Assist with the maintenance of immunization records and related student compliance requirements.
• Process and verify required student documentation in accordance with university policies.

Travel Credit Card Administration:

• Manage the University’s individual and corporate travel credit card programs.
• Process applications, payments, credits, reconciliations, and account maintenance activities.
• Monitor card activity and assist with issue resolution to ensure compliance with university policy.

Travel Systems Management and Training:

• Maintain the Emburse (Chrome River) Travel & Expense system, including troubleshooting systems issues, monitoring file uploads, and coordinating with Information Technology on testing, upgrades, and enhancements.
• Provide training and user support to faculty, staff, and departmental personnel regarding travel systems and procedures.

Customer Service, Compliance and Operational Support:

• Customer Service, Compliance and Operational Support
• Serve as a resource for travel- related policies, procedures, and payment services.
• Assist departments with routine and moderately complex travel payment inquiries and issue resolutions.
• Maintain current knowledge of university, TSUS, and State of Texas travel regulations and requirements.

Records Management, Audits, and Administrative Support:

• Maintain travel expense records and supporting documentation in accordance with university retention requirements.
• Provide documentation for audits and public information requests.
• Approve requisitions in the university eProcurement system and provide backup support for travel, procurement card, and departmental operations as needed.

Minimum and Desired Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School diploma or equivalent
• An equivalent combination of education, training and directly related experience may be considered.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in accounts payable, travel administration, finance, accounting, purchasing, or a related administrative support role.
• Experience processing invoices, reimbursements, expense reports, or financial transactions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Desired Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree in business administration, office administration or higher education administration or a related field.
• Four (4) or more years’ experience in accounts payable, travel administration, finance, accounting, purchasing, or a related field.

Supplemental Information

Key Competencies:

• The ability to provide exceptional customer service to all students, faculty, staff and visitors.
• High attention to detail
• Ability to work on multiple tasks and demonstrate excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently to meet deadlines and to adapt to changing situations.

Physical

Requirements

• Work is primarily sedentary in nature and involves extended periods of sitting, computer use, and communication by phone and email. The position requires occasional standing, walking, reaching, bending, and lifting or carrying items weighing up to 20 pounds.

• Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable qualified individuals with

• disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Job Conditions: Work is primarily performed in a professional office environment with frequent use of standard office equipment.

Who We Are:

• Home to more than 18,000 students, Lamar University is among the fastest growing Texas colleges and universities. LU is a member of The Texas State University System, which is the first higher education system of Texas and maintains the lowest average tuition and fees of any university system in Texas. With more than 120-degree options and a community that cares, Lamar students are always proud to be Cardinals. Lamar University strives to educate leaders, demonstrate excellence in student learning and career readiness, and pursue research with relevance.

• Lamar University is committed to fostering an environment of teamwork where all students, faculty, and staff can learn, work, and become a part of our community.

Benefits

• Health, dental & vision insurance

• Life insurance

• State of Texas Retirement plans

• Tuition covered at 100% for employees, spouses and/or eligible dependents

• Paid time off – vacation, sick, and holidays

• To see more information about the available benefits, please visit: Benefits - Lamar University

• Lamar University is An Equal Opportunity Employer

• Lamar University is proud to provide employment preference to veteran applicants in accordance with Texas 805 Government Code, Section 657.003.

• This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas

Education

• Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information.