Veterans Affairs (VA) Certification Officer I

About The Position

A Veterans Affairs (VA) Certification Officer I (i.e., School Certifying Official) processes enrollment certifications to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) in compliance with the VA Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations and provides customer service and assistance to students, staff, and representatives of the DVA and Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR & E).

An individual ensures accuracy and timely processing of documents related to entitlement applications, enrollments, amendments and adjustments, and terminations to maintain compliance and adherence with applicable state and federal regulations, University policies and standards.

What You’ll Do

• Review and verify DVA and VR&E entitlement application documents, requesting missing transcripts as needed in compliance with federal timelines and regulations; ensure all required documents, including applicable prior student activity at any school or college, are accounted for in students’ files based on chapter eligibility and program.
• Create and maintain accurate student VA records in University and DVA applications with all appropriate information; track activities throughout students’ education programs and ensure students’ files are properly notated and that any required activity is done in a timely manner and in compliance with regulatory timelines.
• Respond on a timely and accurate basis to student, staff, and third-party inquiries, including DVA And VR & E representatives. About VA-related benefits, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and internal policies and procedures; consult with DVA claims examiners and VR & E case managers when necessary to understand and address student specific matters.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and recommend and/or provide solutions about internal processes and policies to improve operational efficiency and ensure ongoing compliance.
• Maintain certification as School Certification Officer in compliance with Section 305 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (“Colmery Act”); stay current with state and federal regulatory changes and University policies and procedures to ensure accurate enrollment certification submission and to provide accurate guidance for related customer service inquiries.
• Participate in department meetings, trainings, and initiatives, including contributing to individual and team professional development and department cross functional knowledge and application.
• Be available to work overtime, including weekends, as required by business needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned or apparent.

What You Bring to the Table

• Minimum Education And Related Work Experience: High school diploma or GED, One (1) year of prior experience in a compliance-focused role with some exposure to accounting, processing, and/or academic standards and processes.
• Additional Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree, General knowledge of the higher education industry and veteran educational programs, Able to handle a high volume of tasks and inquiries with accuracy and within established quality and performance expectations and service level agreements, Proficient interpersonal and communication skills to explain technical information to customers, stakeholders, students, and DVA representatives, including claims examiners and case managers, Able to work collaboratively in a remote team environment, as well as achieve results independently, Strong attention to detail in handling many different, complex, and critical processes while navigating through nuances in policy and procedure accurately and timely, Proficient time management skills and results oriented to manage multiple tasks, processes, or activities simultaneously, and effectively balance priorities, Demonstrated problem solving, critical thinking, and decision-making abilities to respond to, investigate, and resolve matters in conjunction with established state and federal regulations and University policies and standards, Good research skills to independently determine proper actions required to adhere to state and federal policies and regulations, Flexible and adaptable to frequent changes to regulations, policies, and procedure, Working knowledge of software applications to perform electronic communication, word processing, spreadsheet activities, and electronic workflows.

Employment Condition

Employees in this role are unable to receive VA educational assistance payments for enrollment at University of Phoenix per Department of Veterans Affairs Title 38 C.F.R. 21.4202(c), 21.5200(c), 21.7122(e)(6), and 21.7622(f)(4)(iv) regulations. University of Phoenix is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If you are an active-duty military member seeking employment when off-duty, compliance with Department of Defense Joint Ethics Regulation, 5500-7-R, is required prior to starting employment with University of Phoenix. You are advised to contact your base Judge Advocate General to seek such approval and answer any questions.