Senior Financial Aid Officer

OVERVIEW:

The overall purpose and responsibility of the Senior Financial Aid Officer is to assist and counsel students on the financial aid process and aid availability while working in a team environment to accomplish the institution's enrollment management goals. Awards financial aid in accordance with federal, state and institutional regulations and guidelines. Works collaboratively with others in the office to achieve timely communication with all potential students and manages workflow to meet deadlines in a high-volume processing environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• ProvidesleadershipintheabsenceoftheDirectororAssociateDirector,conductsfinancialaid overviews, and assists students with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Provides quality counseling to students and parents regarding the financial aid process and availability,evaluatesFAFSA'stodetermineastudent'sTitleIVeligibilityandcreatesafunding plan to present to students and parents regarding their funding options.
• Advises students of their rights and responsibilities concerning financial aid,
• PerformsverificationonselectedISIRs,workscloselywithAdmissionstoensuretimelyand accurate financial aid packaging.
• Submitsfinancialaidpackagestobeprocessedbyestablisheddeadlines, maintainsknowledgeof financial aidguidelines andprocedures to evaluateanddeterminestudent eligibilityfor financial aid programs, provides excellent customer service.
• Assistsco-workerswithassignedandunassignedtaskstocompletestudent filestoensure readiness for student appointments and start dates.
• Reviewsestimatedawardsandweeklyreportstoensureallstudent'sfinancialaidhasbeen
• Reviewsfinancialaidpackagestoensurealowrateofreturnduetoerrorsonallpackages submitted for processing.
• Providesaprofessionalimageintermsofappearanceandconductintheperformanceofjob duties, Communicates with students via email, texting and/or phone calls.
• Participatesintheinstitution'smeetingsandtrainingactivities,supportsandworkscloselywith theFinancial AidDirectorandAssociateDirectortoensurethatall departmentalgoalsare
• Collaborateswithotherdepartmentstoassistwithenrollmentandretentionefforts,performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Conducting Initial Overview with Student:

• Providebasicoverviewoffinancialaid process
• AssistwithfillingoutFAFSA form
• Explainformsanddirecttoweb-sitesforadditional information
• Providechecklistofdocumentationneededforsecondappointment
• ProvideFederalguide(requirement)

Conducting Financial Aid Review with Student:

• Provideinformationandassessstudentfinancingneeds
• ReviewFAFSAforTitleIVeligibility
• Counselonfinancialaideligibilityandfinancing options
• CheckVeteran'sAffairsverifications/GIBill
• Discussgrantsandscholarships

• Reviewregistrationschedule
• Createcostestimateandreviewwith student
• Breakdownexpensesandfees
• Discussanybalanceandadditionalprivatefinancingoptions
• Whereapplicable-review"parentforloan" option
• Acquirenecessarydocumentsfromlenders
• Providenecessarydocumentstolenders
• Enterstudentdataintosystem
• Set-upstudentfinancingpackage

Reviewing and Following-up on Initial Packaging:

• ReviewISIR
• ReviewanyC-flagsorH-flags
• IfselectedforFederalverification,getverificationdocuments
• Follow-uponprivateloanapprovals
• ScantoDRS
• SubmittoDirectorofFinancialAidforreviewand processing
• WorkwithBursartopostcash payments

Monitoring and Tracking Financial Aid Packages:

• Reviewmonthlystartdatereports
• Reviewmonthlyaccountbalancereports
• Investigateaccountbalanceissues
• Monitorforpotentialdefaults
• Follow-uponpotentialandactualdefaults
• TrackSallyMae,government/privatescholarship,grant,andprivateloanpostings
• Trackdropsandacademicdismissals
• Re-packagecontinuingstudents
• Assistwithreportgenerationandreviewas

Preparing Graduating and Exiting Students (graduating, dropped, and dismissed students):

• Conductexitinterviews
• Discusspaymentresponsibility
• Discussloanconsolidation
• Clearbalancewith Keiser

Motivate Team Performance:

The Senior Financial Aid Administrator is responsible for leading by example in managing their own performance by which they set an example for the other Financial Aid Administrators to follow. To accomplish this, the Senior Financial Aid Administrator:

• Leadbyexamplewithexpectedactivities
• Effectivelypackagestudents,actingasaresourceasneededintheabsenceoftheAssociate Director or Director of Financial Aid.
• InformallyprovidesupportandcoachingwithotherFinancialAidAdministratorsupon request

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but with exceptions as noted above.

REQUIRED WORK HOURS:

A minimum of forty hours per week, plus other hours as may be necessary to complete job duties. A combination of day, evening, and weekend hours is required.

COMPETENCIES

• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to
• Proven ability to work under pressure while maintaining a positive team

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

• Associate'sdegree(A.A.)orequivalentfromtwoyearcollegeortechnicalschool;sixmonthstoone year relatedexperienceand/or training; or equivalent combinationof educationand experience.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

• Microsoft365(Teams,Word,Excel,PowerPoint,Outlook,)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS - The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to regularly stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10
• Must possess vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone.

CLASSIFICATION:

FLSA: Non-Exempt

WORK ENVIRONMENT - The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Thispositionworksinanenvironmentwithmoderatenoise(Examples:businessofficewith computers and printers, light traffic.)

Note: Nothing in this job specification restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Critical features of this job are described under various headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons, with or without notice. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.