Assistant Director Financial Aid

Socket.dev; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Assumption University is seeking an experienced Financial Aid Administrator to support the Assistant VP of Student Financial Services. You will counsel students and families on aid options, verify eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid, and coordinate disbursements and communications.

You will stay current on policies, manage grants and loans, and collaborate with admissions and residential life. Excellent communication, confidentiality, and organizational skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required; master's degree preferred.
• Strong Excel and Word skills are required.
• Excellent communication skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently.
• Demonstrates problem-solving and research capabilities.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends when needed.

Responsibilities

• Manages a student caseload to determine eligibility for institutional, federal, and state financial aid funding.
• Stays updated on federal and state financial aid policies through trainings and list serves; informs staff of changes.
• Manages state grant and loan programs, ensuring eligibility, disbursement, and reconciliation in SIS and MASSAid.
• Updates financial aid offers and notifies students accordingly.
• Counsels parents and students about aid programs, eligibility, and application processes.
• Presents financial aid and student account information to groups in person or via online platforms.
• Provides counseling in welcoming settings; assists students and families via calls, emails, and Zoom.
• Oversees the office book voucher system and allocates funds on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Maintains active lists of Rome Campus/Study Abroad and RA students; updates cost of attendance accordingly.
• Manages Veterans and ROTC benefits and liaises with VA and ROTC partners; updates aid files.
• Collaborates with Undergraduate Admissions to confirm final high school transcripts.
• Performs other related duties as assigned; adheres to campus reporting standards.

Skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Confidentiality

Problem-solving

Self-starter

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree required

Master's degree preferred

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.