Assistant Director Financial Aid

Assumption University; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Assumption University in Worcester, MA seeks a Financial Aid Counselor to administer institutional, federal, and state aid and assist students and families with billing, payment plans, and employment questions.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred), strong Excel/Word skills, and a commitment to confidentiality and superior customer service. Some evening/weekend hours may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.
• Strong Excel and Word skills.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work within a team as well as independently.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Customer service oriented and patient.
• Problem-solver and self-starter.
• Willing to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

• Manages a student caseload to determine eligibility for financial aid.
• Stays up to date on federal and state policies by attending trainings.
• Manage state grant and loan programs in SIS and MASSAid.
• Update financial aid offers and notify students of changes.
• Counsel parents and students on financial aid programs and applications.
• Present financial aid and student account information to groups or online.
• Provide counseling via phone, email, in person, and Zoom.
• Oversee the office book voucher system and awarding funds.
• Maintain Rome Campus and Study Abroad cost lists and aid files.
• Maintain RA cost of attendance and meal plan stipends and aid files.
• Coordinate Veterans and ROTC benefits with VA/ROTC liaisons.
• Coordinate transcripts with Undergraduate Admissions.
• Serve as Campus Security Authority and Title IX Responsible Employee.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Confidentiality

Team player

Customer service oriented

Problem solving

Self-starter

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Tools

Excel

Word

Job description

Description

BASIC PURPOSE:

Assists the Assistant VP of SFS in administering the University’s financial aid programs in support of the mission of the University. Works closely with parents and students in providing guidance and information on student billing, payment plans, financial aid, and student employment questions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Manages a student caseload to determine eligibility for institutional, federal, and state financial aid funding.
2. Stays up to date on federal and state financial aid policies and procedures by attending webinars and in person trainings through the Federal Department of Education, financial aid associations (e.g. MASFAA, EASFAA, and NASFAA), and the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Aid. Uses ED and NASFAA list serves and notifications to stay informed of changes to awarding and regulations as it pertains to FSA funding.
3. Manage the state grant and loan programs ensuring student eligibility, disbursement, and reconciliation in the SIS as well as the state systems (e.g. MASSAid). Stay up to date on state grant and loan eligibility requirements by attending trainings and providing updates to staff members.
4. Update students’ financial aid offers based on listing and send revised student financial aid notifications as a result of updated financial aid offers.
5. Be able to counsel parents and students in a welcoming and courteous manner as to the availability of institutional, state, and federal financial aid programs, eligibility requirements, and application processes.
6. Present financial aid and student account information to groups of students, parents, colleagues, and external partners in person or through an online platform (e.g. Teams, Zoom).
7. Provide counseling and guidance in a welcoming environment where you are the first point of contact (phone, emails, and in person and Zoom appointments) a few times per week to students and families in answering questions on student billing, student account, financial aid, student loans, payment plans, financing options, and student employment.
8. Oversee the office book voucher system by managing the funds in each of the three book voucher funds and awarding funds to eligible students on a first come, first serve basis.
9. Maintain a current list of Rome Campus and Study Abroad students each semester by reaching out to the Office of Undergraduate Studies 4-6 weeks prior to the start of each semester. Update students’ cost of attendance with study abroad fees as well as students’ financial aid file.
10. Maintain a current list of RA (resident assistants) students each semester by reaching out to the Office of Residential Life 3-4 weeks prior to the start of each semester. Update students’ cost of attendance with RA and meal plan stipends as well as students’ financial aid file.
11. Manage the Veterans and ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) programs which include staying up to date with educational benefits available for eligible students, developing and maintaining working relationships with Assumption’s VA liaison and the ROTC liaisons, updating student financial aid files to reflect VA and ROTC benefits, and communicating benefits to current and prospective students and parents.
12. Work closely with Undergraduate Admissions Office in confirming final high school transcripts for prospective and new transfer students.
13. Serves as a Campus Security Authority for Clery reporting purposes and a Responsible Employee for Title IX reporting purposes.
14. Performs other related duties as assigned.

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 position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Sitting, standing, walking, and bending are required of this position. Use of a computer keyboard and computer screen for periods of time with close vision and the ability to adjust visual focus plus manual dexterity are required.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

The mental demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Examples of mental demands include reading (documents), detailed work, confidentiality, language, math, reasoning, oral communications, written communications, customer contact, multiple concurrent tasks, constant interruptions, and performing calculations when necessary.

About Assumption University:

St. John Paul II wrote: “Man’s creation by God ‘in his own image’ confers upon every human person an eminent dignity; it also postulates the fundamental equality of all human beings.” Assumption University recognizes the essential contribution of a diverse community of students, staff, and faculty and condemns all forms of harassment, discrimination, and disrespect. As such, and in compliance with the requirements of federal law and/or the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Assumption University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy, as well as other legally protected status, in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities, except where such conditions may constitute bona fide qualifications for the programs or activities in question.

Requirements

• Must be willing to contribute actively to the mission of the University as well as show respect for the Catholic and Assumptionist identity of Assumption University.
• Three to five years’ related experience required, Colleague experience helpful.
• Strong computer skills required.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality required.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work within a team as well as independently.
• Ability to follow written and verbal directions.
• Position requires candidate to be a problem solver and self-starter. Candidate should be someone who performs sufficient research in available systems before responding to students, parents, and colleagues’ questions.
• Candidate should be considerate of colleagues’ job responsibilities; office work needs and office peak hours when requesting time off.
• Bachelor’s degree required, master's degree preferred.
• Strong Excel and Word computer skills required.
• Excellent communication skills and attention to detail and ability to respond to student and parent questions in a calm and courteous manner.
• Possess a student-centric and compassionate mindset.
• Provide excellent customer service to students, families and colleagues as it relates to the Office of Student Financial Services.
• Ability to work evening and weekend hours as needed.
• Able to take direction and constructive feedback from colleagues and supervisor.
• Peak work times are during the months of April-August and December – January.