Senior Special Financial Aid Counselor

About the role

Senior Special Financial Aid Counselor MCCC Unit Professional position, Grade 5 Campus Location: Danvers Campus with 1 remote day Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 9-5 SALARY: Anticipated starting salary is $73,412.00 - $75,000.00. Actual salary will be commensurate with education and experience in accordance with the MCCC/MTA collective bargaining agreement. Full time benefited employees at North Shore Community College are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package offered through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Responsibilities

• Serves as financial aid counselor and works with students to develop plans on how best to fund their academic plans (i.e. - conducts financial aid advising, with a focus on career goals, and transfer advising, advises students regarding their fiscal responsibilities and how their academic performance affects their eligibility for aid. Provides information regarding funding options, and how to complete applications for aid assistance [federal, state, institutional and outside scholarships]; monitors academic progress of students to ensure they maintain their financial aid eligibility status; advises students on how registering, adding, or withdrawing from courses may affect their eligibility for additional aid; works with faculty to help identify students experiencing academic difficulties; participates in new student orientations, open houses, registration events and financial aid assistance workshops)
• Processes student financial aid applications (i.e. - interviews/counsels students applying for aid; assists students in completing appropriate forms; assesses/verifies financial aid application files for eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid and for compliance with federal/state financial aid regulations; determines types/amounts of aid to offer based on formulas and individual situations; awards aid packages to eligible students).
• Coordinates the federal and state financial aid programs including all aspects of Direct Loan processing and certification, oversees the loan reconciliation process with the office of student accounts, Responsible for calculation, disbursement and reconciliation of the federal Pell grant program including monitoring all expenditures, preparing summary reports on program maintenance and expenditures, coordinate the electronic transmission of all loan and grant data through the Department of Education Common origination and disbursement system. Implement the federal College Work Study Program by determining eligibility for CWS for academic year and summer work study programs; coordinate job placement on campus; supervise the processing of time sheets and evaluations, monitors expenditures of CWS funds for the work-study and community service programs.
• Supervises all state financial aid programs including certification, disbursement and reconciliation.
• Aids with implementation of department computer systems (i.e. - coordinates electronic processing and correction of financial aid forms; creates/updates mnemonics used in the computerized financial aid document tracking process; assists with execution of the automated award packaging system; troubleshoots minor computer program problems).
• Performs administrative tasks associated with department activities (i.e. - organizes and maintains financial aid information and confidential files; completes/mails forms for outside agencies; prepares missing information letters, rosters, reports, forms, brochures, flyers, mnemonics guides, instructional materials and general correspondence; reviews or refers to student aid reports, applications, degree audits, tax returns, benefit statements, medical reports, financial aid transcripts, rosters, payment reports, bulletins, catalogs, policies, procedures, and reference materials; operates a computer and utilizes word processing, spreadsheet, database, or other software programs).
• Covers assigned staff (i.e. - assists with recruitment, hiring, and training of new staff; instructs assigned staff in performance of duties according to established standards; prioritizes, assigns, reviews, and coordinates work; assists with complex or problem situations and provides direction; responds to employee issues and concerns; assists with interviewing and selecting new employees or work study participants).
• Maintains professional knowledge in applicable areas (i.e. - maintains a working knowledge of assigned area; maintains current knowledge of applicable state, federal, and local laws/regulations; researches new trends and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; attends meetings, workshops, and training sessions).

Requirements

• Master's degree in Education, Business Administration, Accounting, Human Services, or closely related field; with two (2) years' experience and/or training involving financial aid operations, or loan processing; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Strong knowledge of the principles and practices of financial aid and computer-based management.
• Must be able to travel between campuses (when necessary), and to local high schools, CBO'S, work evenings and weekends for such events, must have the ability to work on Campus.
• A valid driver's license is required.
• Skill in public speaking and presenting information to large groups.
• Ability to work with ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic diverse populations.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of the community college system
• Effective organizational and analytical skills
• Strong technology skills and knowledge of various technological systems such as Client Relationship Management and Student Information Systems
• Bilingual Spanish preferred