Financial Aid Assistant

 

SUMMARY

The Financial Aid Assistant counsels students, participates in student outreach activities, sends timely communication, monitors scholarships, and assists with processing student aid.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Advise and counsel prospective, new, and continuing students and their families throughout the financial aid process.  Must have a thorough knowledge of available types of financial aid, scholarships and general student eligibility criteria.
• Exercise independent judgment in the management of financial aid operational details including but not limited to:
• Import ISIR’s, review incoming financial aid applications, budget assignments and any supporting documentation needed to determine the accuracy of the financial and household information reported on the FAFSA using knowledge of Title IV Federal Financial Aid regulations and IRS tax law.
• Complete assigned duties with a high degree of accuracy ensuring compliance with Dept. of Education regulations while experiencing multiple interruptions.
• Exercise attention to detail when completing assignments as errors in judgment and calculations could result in unintended consequences for the student and/or the institution such as under/over awarding student aid, loss of student aid eligibility, adverse audit findings, monetary fines, damage to SCC’s reputation or loss of institutional eligibility.
• Has the authority to recalculate and adjust student financial aid awards as appropriate.
• Maintain knowledge of policies of other SCC departments (Admissions, Registrar, Bursar, Academic Advising, Human Resources, Athletics, etc.) and understand the impact each has on student financial aid eligibility.
• Maintain and update the SCC Academic Works platform ensuring full and complete utilization of the software. Utilize Academic Works, monitor the SCC scholarship database and processes scholarship applications; scan information received into E-trieve.
• Enter Veteran Student Educational Benefits to be certified by the Veteran Certifying Official.
• Participate in SCC student outreach activities including those that occur at SCC Extension Centers, High Schools, and community events within our five-county service district.
• Assist with Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), Verification, Special Circumstance/Professional Judgment, and Pell Grant reconciliation.
• Assist with private/alternative education loans.
• Participate in state, regional, and national professional associations and professional development activities to ensure a comprehensive understanding of federal and state regulations. Remain current on all federal, state, and institutional aid programs and guidelines.
• Ability to remain calm and utilize conflict resolution in stressful situations to assist students and families with identifying solutions to financial barriers.
• Maintain student confidentiality in accordance with FERPA.
• Send regular and timely communication management letters (print and/or electronic) including, student aid offer letters.
• Assist with enrollment activity and deregister reports.
• Participate on institutional teams, councils, and committees.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Required:

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Communication, Education or closely related field.

The ability to work with financial analysis within government guidelines; interpret complex financial aid regulations and apply them appropriately; add, subtract, multiply, and divide; compute decimal fractions, ratio, rate, and percentages.

Strong interpersonal, speaking, and written communication skills; computer literacy; excellent mathematical skills; and the ability to work autonomously as well as in a team setting.

 

Preferred:

Proficient in technology and the systems used at institutions of higher education (Banner, Colleague, NSLDS, COD, CPS, Scholarnet, MS Word, Excel, etc.)

Experience working in higher education or other highly regulated field.

 

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.

 

Lifting:  Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position.  Lifting items up to 20 pounds in weight.

 

Repetitive Motions:  Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily in an office/school environment.  Noise levels usually are moderate.

 

Salary – $37,000 – $40,000