Retail Specialist

Position Title: Retail Specialist

Department: Ichabod Shop

Advertised Pay: Base $15.17/hour with potential for a higher entry rate commensurate with experience

Campus Location: Washburn University

Application Review: Application review will begin as applications are received and will continue until the position is filled. 

Position Summary: The Retail Specialist for the Ichabod Shops at Washburn University and Washburn University Institute of Technology campuses provides administrative support to bookstore staff. In addition, the position is responsible for accounting and data entry tasks associated with the maintenance of financial records. As a member of the Ichabod Shop team, the employee must maintain good rapport and extend courteous, honest, and fair treatment to the public, the University community, customers, and co-workers when working the sales floor. The Ichabod Shop represents the bookstores available on the Washburn University and Washburn University Institute of Technology campuses.

About Washburn University: Washburn University is a teaching-focused, student-centered, public institution located in the metropolitan setting of Topeka that has earned national recognition for its high-impact programs for first-generation students. Washburn has a student body of just over 7,000 students, a significant and growing number of whom are first-generation and Pell-Grant eligible. The University has created educational pathways for all students to be successful and achieve their educational goals.

Washburn is dedicated to recruiting and retaining a dynamic faculty, staff, and student body and cultivating a robust learning and working environment and curriculum. We employ more than one thousand faculty and staff on our campuses throughout Topeka and strive to offer competitive wages, an excellent benefits program, and a supportive culture and a healthy work/life balance. Washburn seeks to create an environment that reflects our core values for creating positive IMPACT: inclusion, modernization, partnership, achievement, community and transformation. In 2024, Washburn was recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to Great Colleges to Work For® program.

Essential Functions:
• Count cash on hand and reconcile with money in the safe, daily sales, and daily buyback. Complete and submit daily cash reports to the Director and the Director of Business and Auxiliary Services to keep them informed of sales and their use in further analysis and reporting.
• Complete forms and submit cash for deposit following University processes and procedures.
• Establish and maintain student charge accounts. Submit Student Charge reports to the Business Office to ensure in-store charges are applied appropriately and timely to student accounts.
• Track and maintain daily taxes and Departmental Charges for monthly reconciliation.
• Complete and submit payment vouchers to Accounts Payable for accurate and timely payments to vendors.
• Work with vendors to ensure Ichabod Shop accounts are in good standing.
• Assist the Director with tracking and maintaining Ichabod Shop revenue and expense accounts to ensure accurate financial records.
• As assigned, share in opening/closing the Ichabod Shop; provide evening and weekend coverage when needed. (This is usually only once a week.)
• Assist with year-end physical inventory counts.
• Work with Management and the Finance Office to submit any necessary year-end reports.
• Participate in in-store vault audits.

Non-Essential Functions:
• When needed: assist with ringing up sales, provide cross-departmental support, locate merchandise, and provide information to provide exceptional customer service to customers and exceed sales/service expectations whenever possible. (The need to work the sales floor is not daily.)
• Assist with answering phone calls.
• During downtime: assist with updating position-related processes, if needed.
• Pursue professional growth and development through research, networking, conference and workshop attendance, and other activities.

Required Qualifications:
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• One year of experience in any of the following areas, individually or a combination of these areas: accounts payable, accounts receivable, collections, payroll, general accounting/bookkeeping.
• Six months of retail experience.
• Proven effective negotiation and communication skills.
• Cash handling skills.

Physical Requirements:
• Ability to move and maneuver materials weighing up to 50 pounds periodically and up to 40 pounds regularly.

Hourly, Full-time    
Background Check Required