Financial Aid Information Systems Specialist

Financial Aid Information Systems Specialist (Open)

The Financial Aid Information Systems Specialist for the Office of Financial Aid is directly responsible for student information system (SIS) maintenance, processes, and procedures in Oracle PeopleSoft 9.2 Campus Solutions for the Office of Financial Aid (OFA). This position contributes to the mission of the University by maintaining a system that effectively facilitates the receipt of applications for financial aid, merging internal and external data which culminates in the awarding and disbursement of institutional, state, and federal financial aid funds. Pre and post disbursement, the incumbent is responsible for the integrity and accuracy of data and application processing through efforts to protect the confidentiality of applications, producing accurate and timely monitoring reports, developing and running queries to validate processing status and to facilitate and meet internal and external reporting requirements. Following the direction of the Director and Associate Director of Financial Aid, the role aids in the configuration, maintenance and support of financial aid functions in the student information system, including importing application data from external sources and exporting relevant financial aid data and results to external organizations which include the US Department of Education, the Maryland Higher Education Commission, state and federal audit organizations, and national higher education survey organizations (US News and World Report). This position is primarily in-office with one remote day per week.

Responsibilities

System Maintenance, Processing and Support: Under the guidance of the Director and Associate Director, setup and maintain Office of Financial Aid (OFA) modules functionality administrative systems such as the student information system (SIS), and provides support to other staff as necessary.

• Performs routine maintenance of external application uploads and revisions from the US Department of Education or similar related entities
• Adds new setup, as required, to financial aid or other secondary related systems and service indicator table
• Serves as the primary technical resource for OFA for all matters pertaining to Oracle PeopleSoft, including assistance in trouble-shooting setup in areas peripheral to but integrated with OFA, especially Admissions, Bursar, and Records and Registration, escalating support requests to OTS and/or the Director of Financial Aid as necessary
• Manages processes and workflows in all enterprise technology tools like document imaging, electronic signatures, etc.
• Coordinates both internal and external file sharing of financial aid related data
• Performs system setup and testing of OFA enhancements and modifications as well as any other enhancements and modifications for other units with downstream impact for the OFA
• Maintains and/or compiles from other users up-to-date system procedures for financial aid processes, including development and maintenance of a financial aid data dictionary

Survey/Data Collection, Maintenance, and Reporting: Validate data, resulting in accurate internal and external reporting.

• Following University policies and standards, develops, publishes, and maintains a database for the guidelines of the OFA
• Assists with developing and maintaining processes for collection and validation of data
• Assists with data and report requests to the OFA
• Develops, maintains, and runs queries as requested or needed for internal and external reporting to University stakeholders
• Assists with updating external reporting using financial aid data
• Updates other reports requiring financial aid data

Software Testing and Acceptance: Oversee testing by office staff of OFA-related technology systems in support of successful error free financial aid processing.

• Develops and maintains test plans for all existing and new software systems
• Develops and implements test plans for new system modifications or process implementations
• Manage system testing of OFA processes during routine upgrade cycles
• Coordinates testing of Oracle PeopleSoft records bundle
• Responsible for verifying accuracy and reliability of Oracle PeopleSoft delivered bundle updates
• Coordinates testing of Oracle PeopleSoft financial aid bundle
• Coordinates testing and application of new state or federal financial aid systems enhancements or changes.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree
• Experience: One year of experience with information systems, related query, and process maintenance.
• Additional directly related professional experience may be substituted for the degree on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in related field/discipline that coordinates with/applies to the responsibilities of the position.
• Experience: Experience working in higher education with a variety of software solutions related to financial aid or other student enrollment software applications.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of higher education enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems setup and processes as they relate to financial aid.
• Excellent communication skills; verbal, written and electronic.
• Ability to work independently and to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Stays current with emerging technology; seeks opportunities to apply available technology to improve department results/service delivery.
• Is results-oriented; takes accountability for completing work assignments; meets commitments and deadlines.
• Responds with appropriate urgency to requests for information and/or assistance.
• Effectively follows university policies without alienating customers.
• Develops effective working relationships inside and outside immediate work area.
• Contributes ideas and shares information within and across work groups; shares lessons learned, documents processes.
• Displays cooperative and open-minded behavior in working with others.
• Takes responsibility for continuous process performance improvement.
• Constructively voices new ideas; persists; takes extra steps to anticipate and overcome possible situations which could negatively impact students.
• Ability to work independently and to multi-task in a fast-paced, multi-system environment which often is running two to three years of processing concurrently.

Occasional evening and weekend work is required to support system and process modifications and installation of new software updates (patches). The position will assist in supporting recruitment events when the presence of OFA team members are needed.

We offer a competitive benefits package, including health, life, prescription, and dental plans, tuition remission benefits, paid leave (22 days of annual, 15 days of sick, 3 days of personal, and 14-15 holidays) and retirement plans with employer contributions.

The University of Baltimore ("UBalt" or "University") does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, race, religion, age, disability, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other legally protected characteristics in its programs, activities or employment practices. UBalt is an Equal Opportunity/ADA Compliant Employer & Title IX Institution.