Financial Aid Specialist

Position Summary

The Financial Aid Specialist under the guidance of the Manager, Financial Aid Operations, functions as a generalist within the Financial Aid team. Key responsibilities include counseling prospective and continuing students, parents, and families regarding the financial aid application process; assisting with Federal and private loan applications; communicating with students and families; updating student aid in Banner; verifying ISIR information; resolving Bursar's office holds; conducting workshops and presentations; and adhering to FERPA regulations.

Essential Responsibilities

• Counsel prospective students, continuing students, parents, and families regarding the financial aid application process and eligibility for Federal and State aid.
• Absorb and assist students in applying for Federal and private loans, scholarships, understanding and completing institutional payment plans, and resolve rejected aid applications.
• Communicate with students and families via written, voice, and electronic media to relay information about student’s eligibility or request further documentation to determine eligibility.
• Track documentation received by students utilizing the document management process; create files for new students and continuing students; appropriately file, at main campus, documents received at regional centers and merge documents for students that possess duplicate files.
• Update student’s aid on Banner, add student loans to student’s aid package; correspond with College loan manager to ensure student is receiving appropriate amount requested.
• Verify information on the Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) and compare with the information on the student or parent’s Federal Tax return.
• Collaborate with outside offices, research and resolve financial aid payment problems, including those identified by Bursar’s office and Office of Student Records and Registration.
• Resolve Bursar’s office holds by researching reason hold was placed on student’s account and explain the necessary resolution to student.
• Work with advisors and counselors to make recommendations to students who were dropped for poor scholarship; correspond with records and registration to resolve enrollment status issues and to ensure that student has completed required testing.
• Conduct workshops and presentations for new and continuing students; guide and assist in the process of completing the FAFSA.
• Generate and reconcile reports.
• Provide oversight for the organization of document tracking, filing, and records management processes.
• Represent the College at on-campus and off-campus events.
• Adhere to FERPA regulations as they pertain to maintaining the security and confidentiality of all student records, as well as maintain the confidentiality of other documents on behalf of the work area and the College.
• Conduct on-line filing workshops, as required.
• Periodic assignment to Regional Centers, as needed.
• Maintain sensitivity, understanding, and respect for a diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of varying social, economic, cultural, ideological, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Deliver quality customer services to both internal and external constituents in a professional, helpful, and courteous manner.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
• Two (2) years of full-time work experience in financial aid required.
• Minimum of two (2) years demonstrated experience working with information technology in academia or private industry (preferably Banner).
• Demonstrated knowledge of financial aid regulations required.
• Demonstrated proficiency using MS Word and Excel and Internet applications required.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills in all media (phone, face to face, and email) required to effectively communicate with students, the general public, and College staff and faculty.
• Experience working with people from a variety of culturally diverse backgrounds required.
• Ability to use independent judgment in making administrative/procedural decisions with minimal supervision required.
• Must have a commitment to the mission of an urban community college.
• Access to a personal vehicle required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in, and appreciation for, a collective bargaining environment is preferred.