Michael J. Smrt Email & Phone Number

Evanston, Illinois, United States

Transactional oversight over a portfolio of multiple school/department financial operations within a highly regulated environment. Analysis and reporting for departments, grants, awards, accounts, revenue and expense allocations, and payroll. Charged with interpretation of financial policies to determine validity of requests, as well as representing our business unit on internal and external financial affairs, providing guidance as needed. My responsibilities also include annual audit support, system configuration, staff training, and support for third-party tuition sponsorship programs.

Evanston, Il

Support university accounting for the student loan program, ensuring compliance with university policy and federal regulation. Reconcile loan receivables, revenues, expenses, and advances. Provide fiscal year-end reporting for internal audits. Daily cash balancing, record journal entries for accrual transactions, data analysis, transaction research, credit balance refunds, filing bankruptcy proof of claims, and financial reporting. I also administer loan forgiveness programs on behalf of the Pritzker School of Law and the Kellogg School of Management.

Evanston, Il

Counsel borrowers on cancellation benefits and guide them through the process; review, approve, and process borrower applications while interpreting and adhering to federal guidelines. Manage loan forgiveness programs for law and business students. Process loan deferments based on enrollment information through the National Student Clearinghouse as well as information submitted by borrowers. Manage federal direct loan consolidation requests. Provide payoff letters and handle issues related to credit bureau reporting.

Evanston, Il

As a member of the loan administration team, I provide support to the loan origination, loan services, and accounting departments within the Student Loan Office at Northwestern University. I am responsible for auditing loan documentation, maintaining promissory notes throughout the loan cycle, preparing financial statement cover sheets, providing IT and computer support, as well as research and project management.

Downers Grove, Illinois

Effectively managed all branch operations, internal auditing and audit preparation, staff training and coaching, management of branch sales, outreach initiatives, performance evaluations, and compliance with banking regulations and best standards of practice. I personally maintained a portfolio of over 900 clients and achieved a client retention rate of 92%, at that time the highest in the company. I maintained all Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) for my branch, overhauling outdated procedures and bringing them up to code; in addition I managed applications and renewals for home equity lines of credit. My ability to cultivate relationships with the commercial divisions located in our branch resulted in a sharp increase in mutual referred business. The teller department, under my supervision, ranked first in the company for the lowest incidence of teller differences and transactional errors.

Naperville, Illinois

Supervised a team which included eight bank tellers, a receptionist, and a safe deposit box clerk. I was responsible for training, sales coaching, schedules, and performance evaluations. Self-conducted branch audits, which included compliance with federal banking regulations, represented a key aspect of my position. I prepared collection items, cash shipments, and filed Currency Transaction Reports and Suspicious Activity Reports. I was also responsible for final resolution of client inquires and concerns. I established unfailing accuracy in daily operations such as cash/ATM and main vault balancing. During my tenure, my department was recognized for maintaining the highest customer satisfaction rating in a company comprised of thirty-three branches.