Financial Aid Advisor

California Institute of Arts & Technology; Albuquerque (NM); Remote; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institute is seeking a Financial Aid Advisor to evaluate and award financial aid to students according to regulations. This full-time remote position, available for residents in California or New Mexico, requires understanding federal financial aid processes and strong communication skills. Ideal candidates will possess an appropriate degree and relevant experience, demonstrating a commitment to student success.

Qualifications

• Four years related experience or equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Broad knowledge of federal financial aid programs.
• Ability to handle confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates and awards financial aid to students.
• Advises students on financial aid options.
• Maintains financial aid records per federal guidelines.

Skills

Research

Communication

Problem solving

Analytical skills

Detail oriented

Multitasking

Organizational skills

Education

Preferred bachelor's or associate degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Work from Home (WFH) - Remote work must be performed while residing in California or New Mexico

CIAT Location : San Diego, CA and Albuquerque, NM

Reports to : Financial Aid Advising Manager

Status : Non-exempt

Employment Type : Full-time

Summary

Evaluates, approves, and awards financial aid to students in accordance with federal, state, and school regulations, policies, and operating guidelines. Assesses financial needs of students and advises students and / or parents regarding financial aid options, processes, and requirements. This position will also evolve into processing other funding types.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes and evaluates financial viability of students and families and provides advice and counsel regarding available financial aid opportunities, eligibility requirements, and the application process
• Work closely with admission advisors to complete new enrollment packets each term
• Maintains historic documents and data regarding financial aid files according to federal guidelines
• Adheres to and is knowledgeable of appropriate guidelines relating to FERPA and CIAT policy on the release of records and information to a third party
• Reviews and assesses eligibility of applications for financial aid; exercises professional judgment to determine whether adjustments should be made
• Reviews for accuracy and provides signature approval / disapproval of loan applications, promissory notes, and other financial documents
• Develop, modify, implement, and maintain the application intake and tracking process for proper documentation of all awards for audit trail
• Prove and / or revise all financial aid packaging for all qualified applicants in accordance with federal, state, institutional and other policies, and procedures
• Provide information on the telephone, video calls and through electronic chat, to students, prospective students, and families regarding student financial aid, and account balance
• Conducts workshops and / or presentations to students, parents, and / or other interested parties on financial aid policy and procedural issues
• Utilize the student management system to record all student account information
• Review the Finance section in ISIR and ensure documentation for all standards is complete, accurate, and well written
• Identify areas of deficiency and bring creative solutions
• Work to financially clear all new student files before the start of the term by collecting documents to clear verifications / c-codes.
• Provide financial projections within the school guidelines that are most favorable to students
• Upload documents and work with FAS (third party agency) to ensure all files are cleared and ready to be disbursed within a maximum of 45 days from the start of the program
• Adhere to CIAT's compliance requirements to ensure all Federal, State, accreditation, and institutional policies and procedures are being met
• Follow communication guidelines to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and professionalism
• Embody CIAT's mission, vision, purpose and values

Requirements

• Preferred bachelor's or associate degree and four years related experience; or any satisfactory combination of experience and training which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the above duties
• Broad knowledge of federal financial aid programs and recordkeeping requirements
• Knowledge of higher education processes, supervisory and personnel practices, communication techniques and computer software
• General knowledge of accounting practices, data processing and computer applications
• Detail oriented, outstanding research and analytical skills
• Ability to multitask
• Works with a sense of urgency, while engaging and listening to experts
• Exhibits a high degree of flexibility in adapting to a rapidly changing environment
• Problem solves rapidly and effectively
• Strong organizational skills with the proven ability to prioritize
• Process tasks in a timely manner
• Work independently with minimal supervision
• Capability to handle confidential and sensitive information, following confidentiality guidelines
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with other team members
• Team player with a positive, can-do attitude
• Proficient in the use of standard Microsoft Office software products, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Project and ability to learn additional software products

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday. Occasional weekend and evening hours may be required.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Values

Values such as integrity, excellence, customer service, teamwork and mutual respect are some of those that remain constant, regardless of changes in our company. When identifying company values, it is important that those values are being demonstrated in the course of business each day. Our values set expectations for how employees and managers interact with every person while representing the company.

• We are passionate about education and student success
• We value integrity and excellence in our employees and students
• We treat ourselves and our students with dignity and respect
• We believe in and encourage innovation at our school to better help our students succeed
• We have a customer centric focus, and we want people highly committed to achieving goals, where our success equals student's success
• We are accountable for our actions, and if errors occur, we focus on preventing future errors and moving forward
• We have a growth mindset , always looking for ways to improve, with a sincere belief that every student can do better and achieve their goals
• We expect every employee to be an example of conduct and professionalism , being a role model to students and colleagues
• We commit to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment that respects the diversity of students' backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives
• We foster lifelong learning and professional development

Physical Demands

These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions :

• Essential functions of this role require sitting for extended periods of time.
• Ability to type, use a computer to search for information and input information while speaking on the phone is required
• The employee will frequently be required to use the computer, mouse and telephone to conduct the regular tasks of this role
• The employee will be required to compute simple to simple mathematical calculations as a normal part of this role
• Requires daily use of a company computer and related software applications at a workstation

While performing the responsibilities of this remote position, the job holder will work in a home office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. This role routinely involves using standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and virtual communication tools. Employees are expected to ensure that their home office is a safe and ergonomic working environment.

Employees must maintain data security and confidentiality in accordance with company policies and use secure connections for all work-related activities. Expectations regarding work hours, availability, and time tracking will be clearly communicated and must be adhered to.

The company is not responsible for maintaining home office environments beyond the provision of reasonable accommodations and necessary work-related equipment. Workers' compensation and liability for injuries that occur in the home office will be covered as per company policy and applicable laws.

This remote work policy is designed to comply with all relevant local, state, and federal laws.

AAP / EEO Statement

California Institute of Applied Technology provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, California Institute of Applied Technology complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

California Institute of Applied Technology expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of California Institute of Applied Technology's employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

Salary Range

The salary range for the Financial Aid Advisor is $24.00-$32.00 hourly / DOE. However, the expected starting salary for this position is $24.00- $27.00 hourly / DOE. We base salary offers on a variety of considerations, such as education, experience, equity and other business and organizational needs.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

Salary Description

24-$27 hourly / DOE

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Financial Aid Advisor • Albuquerque, NM, US