Financial Aid Specialist

Job Description

The Financial Aid Specialist is a Financial Aid team member assigned to the College's Campus. This position reports to the Manager of Financial Aid Operations. This position coordinates the intake process for students who need financial aid counseling and provides expertise while assisting front counter staff in responding to students with questions related to financial aid to ensure students receive the highest level of customer service and support. This position collaborates with the Student Tuition Services Office, Office of Records and Registration, Office of Dean of Students and various other offices to research and resolve financial aid payment problems, bookstore credits, holds and other matters affecting student aid. The Financial Aid Specialist counsels students and parents on financial aid; reviews, verifies and awards financial aid packages; represents the College at on-campus and off-campus events, and assists in the supervision of the Office's federal work-study students.

This posting is for two positions - one position is currently located at our Main Campus and the other is located at our Northeast Regional Center. Please note that work locations are subject to change based on the operational needs of the College.

Required Qualification

• Bachelor's degree required. Any and all degrees must be from a recognized institutional accreditor.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills in all media (phone, face to face, and email).
• Demonstrated knowledge of financial aid regulations required.
• Experience working with people from culturally diverse and economic backgrounds.
• Ability to use independent judgment in making administrative/procedural decisions with minimal supervision.
• Strong customer services and collaboration skills required.
• Commitment to the mission of an urban community college required.
• Must be able to foster a positive and productive work environment, with ability to help lead and motivate staff, and model exceptional service to internal and external customers.
• Ability to demonstrate a positive attitude towards daily challenges and ability to process high volumes of work with accuracy required.
• Ability to manage multiple, simultaneous priorities and meet deadlines required.
• Demonstrated proficiency using MS Word and Excel, and Internet applications; experience with Ellucian Banner highly desirable.
• Access to reliable transportation is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• One (1) year of financial aid work experience preferred.
• Experience in, and appreciation for, a collective bargaining environment is preferred

Specific Responsibilities

• Counsel prospective students, continuing students, parents and families regarding the financial aid application process and eligibility for Federal and State aid, and assist them with the on-line process of completing a FAFSA application.
• Assist students in applying for Federal and private loans and scholarships, understanding and completing the institutional payment plan, and resolve rejected aid applications.
• Communicate with students and families via written, voice, and electronic media in order to relay information about student's eligibility or to 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 in Banner, add student loans to student's aid package; correspond with Coordinator, Student Loan Program 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's or parent's Federal tax return.
• Collaborate with outside offices, research and resolve financial aid payment problems, including those identified by Student Tuition Services office and Office of Student Records and Registration.
• Resolve Student Tuition Services Office holds and explain resolution to students.
• 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.
• Generate and reconcile reports.