Act as direct resource to assist students and staff in understanding financial aid guidelines in completing the financial aid process in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner. Handles all file review and processing to determine students' eligibility for financial aid funds. Serve as team lead for part-time staff.

Job Responsibilities

• Assist students on the telephone, email or in person with the financial aid process;
• Provide students with application forms and documents for submission;
• Review documents submitted for accuracy and completeness; review documents to confirm they meet the requirements for the students financial aid situation;
• Review system for financial aid status information, hold status, award status, admission status, program status and disbursement status;
• Review comment codes on students records and provide necessary forms/documents to the student applicant to satisfy regulatory requirements;
• Review communication management letters sent to the student to confirm application status and problem resolution, if necessary;
• Provide efficient and accurate direct financial aid advice and technical assistance to students in the preparation of financial aid applications;

• Review, analyze and process applications and awards for federal, state, and institutional funds. Apply Federal/State verification rules, regulations and College policies in determination of student financial aid eligibility. Determine if student meets federal/state/institutional eligibility criteria for financial aid;
• Contact government agencies, including Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Human Services, Veterans' Administration, Department of Homeland Security and the Selective Service system as it relates to student file review, verification and eligibility determination;
• Monitor Federal government computer matches to maintain compliance with processing issues and regulations;
• Collect documentation necessary for professional judgment decisions;
• Troubleshoot problems and correct inaccuracies in data;
• Makes final determination of award status;
• Participate in the annual set-up for each processing year;
• Translate processing requirements to assist in the creation and testing of rules for financial aid computer systems;
• Participate in the development of forms to facilitate collection of necessary financial aid information;
• Remain professionally current in federal and state financial aid rules and regulations and College policies;
• Serve on College/department committees as needed (i.e. satisfactory progress appeal committee, etc.);
• Serves as team lead for part-time financial aid technician and full-time student support assistant staff, including:
  • Provide work direction on daily tasks and assignments
  • Develop staff skills on the Colleague system
  • Train new part-time technician staff on the Colleague system
  • Handle scheduling of staff hours to ensure service coverage
  • Handle requests for time off to ensure no conflicts with existing staff and coverage
• Provide backup support for scanning, linking and data entry of student documents;
• Other duties as assigned.

Education

Associates degree required. Bachelors preferred.

Qualifications

Three years customer service experience required. Three years financial aid experience required. Experience with interpreting and implementing federal and state regulations highly desired.