Financial Aid Specialist I

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES: Include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reviews and verifies information on undergraduate student applications for completeness, accuracy and eligibility for financial aid.
• Audits required financial aid documents including Master Promissory notes, Entrance Counseling, etc. to confirm compliance with local, state and federal regulations and policies.
• Accurately inputs data, information, changes, corrections and new awards into database(s).
• Reviews/evaluates student appeals of financial aid award determinations and intercedes for students with participating departments.
• Processes disbursements for financial aid funds accurately and efficiently.
• Maintains current knowledge of state grants and scholarships, federal programs, veterans’ programs, scholarships and federal, state and University regulations related to financial aid.
• Participates in ongoing trainings to develop and maintain multiple skill sets.
• Maintains confidentiality of students’ and/or parents/guardians’ personal, private and financial information.
• Will need to be able to understand all loan types for movement to different classification.
• May perform one or more of the following duties:  reviewing accuracy of documents, determining eligibility and packaging federal funds, calculating funds earned and return of funds, and/or reconciliation of large accounts.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:   N/A

QUALIFICATIONS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work collaboratively and professionally within a team environment, and to work independently when necessary; establishes and maintains effective working relationships.

• Accurate, thorough and very detail oriented.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high volume environment meeting quality and quantity requirements within timelines.

• Proficient with computer software and systems including MS Office Suite and willingness to perform data input.

• Must become familiar with University, state and federal financial aid regulations and procedures.

• Sound judgment and critical thinking skills.

• Must be able to respond to supervision, guidance and direction in a positive, receptive manner.

• Previous knowledge of financial aid policies and procedures is helpful.

• Good organizational ability and strategy.

• Ability to deal professionally and appropriately with diverse populations.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is preferred.

• One year related work experience.

• Work experience with CampusVue or other financial aid software systems/database(s) is preferred.

• Must be willing to work over time when needed.

• Must be able to pass pre-employment background investigations.

• Cannot be delinquent or in default on a federal student loan as verified in your credit report.  If in a rehabilitation program, your credit report must reflect that you are current, not delinquent, on your payments.

• Must complete pre-employment background check.

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.

The following physical demands are estimated by the amount of time spent. Usually, the amount of time spent will be estimated on a daily basis, but depending on the position could be estimated on a weekly basis or a monthly basis.

Constantly: 60%+ or 5-8 hrs/shift                Occasionally: 10%-25% or 1-2 hrs/shift

Frequently: 25%-60% or 4-5 hrs/shift         Rarely: less than 10% or less than 2 hrs/shift

• Work is characterized as more than 50% sedentary performed primarily at a desk in an office environment.

• Work constantly involves repetitive motion, using a computer QWERTY keyboard inputting data, preparing reports on a computer or laptop; constantly involves the use of hands, wrists, fingers, shoulders, neck and forearms for keyboarding and movement of a mouse.

• Work constantly involves the use of a computer monitor to view, review, read, research, identify data, compare data, identify errors, reconcile information.

• Work constantly involves close up work with the computer monitor to review, track and respond to correspondence.

• Work constantly involves communicating with staff, and rarely students, via telephone, email, instant messaging, or similar means.

• Occasionally involves the ability to move about the office and/or office complex.

• Occasionally involves lifting and/or carrying or moving boxes of up to 30 pounds from one location to another on campus or to deliver to other locations off campus.

• Constantly requires mental acuity for planning, organizing, assessing information; multi-tasking; meeting deadlines; using sound judgment; formulating recommendations; and problem solving; performing mathematical calculations; prolonged concentration and focus while viewing data on a computer monitor.