Financial Services Associate

San Joaquin Valley College Inc. conducts a thorough background screening for all candidates offered a position, including education verification, criminal background checks, motor vehicle reports, and additional checks relevant to the role.

About the role

The Financial Services Associate meets with applicants and students to determine eligibility for federal financial aid programs, calculating anticipated awards in PELL, SEOG, Stafford/Direct and supplementary loans, and other Title IV and non-Title IV programs. The role involves packaging and awarding all Title IV and non-Title IV aid for each academic year and entering this information into Student Information Systems while adhering to governmental regulations and institutional procedures. A high level of ethics is required in counseling students.

Responsibilities

• Provide an overview of the Financial Aid process and programs available to qualifying students.
• Perform estimates and calculations related to tuition and financial aid based on a student’s unique eligibility.
• Counsel students regarding financial aid paperwork, award information, and options for covering educational expenses.
• Create and schedule funding plans for enrolled students.
• Evaluate all submitted financial aid documentation and determine additional requirements.
• Deliver high-level service and experience to students and co-workers while maintaining performance metrics.
• Track students’ progress and review changes to financial aid eligibility throughout the program.
• Perform required document tracking for drops, terminations, and graduates, including R2T4, PWD, and loan exit materials.
• Enhance the financial literacy of students and graduates to ensure professional success.
• Uphold Title IV, state, military, VA, and institutional knowledge and compliance.

Competencies

• Adaptability: Responds to change with a willingness and ability to learn new ways of working. Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match shifting demands.
• Communication: Develops and delivers communication that conveys a clear understanding of unique audience needs. Listens actively and allows others to make their point.
• Integrity & Ethics: Demonstrates personal integrity; serves as a positive example of organizational trust. Follows through on commitments, accepts ownership of mistakes, and treats people with respect.
• Organization Support: Supports organizational goals and values. Prioritizes tasks based on urgency and fosters collaboration and teamwork.
• Professionalism: Approaches others tactfully; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect regardless of status; accepts responsibility for actions.
• Content Specific Knowledge: Understands fundamentals, skills, methods, and procedures within the area of expertise.
• Customer Focus: Prioritizes external and internal customers; identifies and responds to their needs effectively; anticipates and prevents delays.
• Productivity: Meets or exceeds established productivity standards; ensures results/output align with expectations.
• Quality of Work: Produces highly accurate work with attention to detail; committed to high-quality output and encourages others to maintain similar standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; Associate Degree required.
• Must qualify for Professional Access to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
• Two plus years of related financial advising and/or training experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet applications, and database software.
• Experience with Student Financial Aid software applications is a plus.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must be a self-starter with the ability to multi-task.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk and hear.
• Frequently required to reach with hands and arms.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment is an office setting with cubicles. The noise level is usually quiet. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Pay

The starting pay range for this position is $20.00 - $28.00 per hour.