Financial Aid Assistant

University of North Carolina Wilmington; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 37,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

The Financial Aid Assistant at the University of North Carolina Wilmington is a front-line Customer Service Team member within UNCW's Financial Aid Office. This position assists prospective and current students with general financial aid questions and supports front desk operations.

Responsibilities include answering calls, routing inquiries, providing accurate information, processing mail, scanning documents, and supporting management as needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Preferred: experience in higher education and financial aid support.
• Customer service experience with emphasis on phone support.
• Proficiency with word processing and MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Ability to quickly learn and utilize university computer systems and software.

Responsibilities

• Answer questions via telephone and assist at the front desk.
• Provide accurate financial aid information to current and prospective students.
• Transfer or route calls and visitors as appropriate; respond to emails and messages.
• Receive and process mail, including checks; scan documents to student files.
• Provide support to management and help ensure smooth office operations.

Skills

Customer service

Phone support

MS Office

Word processing

Learning new systems

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Higher Education experience (preferred)

Tools

Computer systems

Job description

Benefits of Working at UNCW

At the University of North Carolina Wilmington, we are driven by a clear purpose: to empower student success, advance innovation, and strengthen the communities we serve. Guided by our strategic vision and commitment to excellence, UNCW offers a dynamic and collaborative environment where employees can make meaningful contributions while growing their careers.

Located in coastal North Carolina, UNCW combines the energy of a thriving academic community with the natural beauty of nearby beaches and outdoor spaces. Here, professional opportunity is balanced with an exceptional quality of life-creating a workplace where you can thrive both personally and professionally.

As a member of the Seahawk community, you'll benefit from a culture that values well-being, lifelong learning, and connection. UNCW offers a competitive and flexible benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and professional growth. From comprehensive health coverage and retirement options to generous paid leave, tuition opportunities within the UNC System, learning and development opportunities, and wellness programs, UNCW is committed to helping you thrive both at work and in your personal life.

Recruitment Range

$36,946 - $40,500

Recruitment Range Details

The salary range advertised is the designated recruitment range for this classification. Final salary offers will be determined by the candidate's education, relevant experience, internal equity alignment, and departmental budgetary parameters.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

This position is assigned to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). UNCW operates at a student capacity of about 18,000 and OSFA is expected to serve any of those students seeking financial aid assistance, any prospective students/families, as well as students who receive benefits that require coordination through the OSFA. The OSFA currently serves approximately 70% of the student body. This includes federal and financial assistance, Veteran's educational benefits, all tuition waivers, all scholarships, all institutional aid, and all non-institutional aid. Typical office contact is 35,000 calls and 13,500 visits.

The major functions of the department include:

• Management of funds exceeding $122 million
• Receiving and/or processing aid applications from approximately 25,000 students each year (this includes all admitted students- some do not matriculate)
• Monitoring records and procedures for compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations and NCAA athletics rules.
• Providing federal, state, and donor reports and providing general financial aid advising and counseling to current and prospective students and their families.
• Due to the national financial aid processing and delivery system, admission decision notification, and timing of orientation/billing, the heavier portions of the work are concentrated during March, April, June, July, and the first two weeks of each semester.

University Information

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

Location of Workplace

Main UNCW Campus

Brief Summary of Work for this Position

The Financial Aid Assistant is a front-line Customer Service Team member within UNCW's Financial Aid Office. This position assists prospective and current students with general financial aid questions.

Specific responsibilities and expectations of the job include, but are not limited to:

• Answering questions via telephone
• Assisting guests at the front desk
• Providing accurate financial aid and UNCW information to currently enrolled and prospective students
• Transferring/routing calls and guests as appropriate
• Responding to emails from students, parents, colleagues, or others in the community
• Receiving/processing mail (including checks)
• Imaging documents to student's files
• Providing support to management as required.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

High school diploma or equivalency; or demonstrated possession of the competencies necessary to perform the work.

Preferred Education, Professional Skills and Experience

• Higher Education experience, preferably in financial aid
• Customer service experience with a focus on phone support
• Proficient with word processing/typing
• Proficient with MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Ability to learn and utilize computer systems and software programs

Required Certifications or Licensure

N/A

FTE

1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)

Months Per Year

12 Months

Work Days

Monday - Friday, limited overtime

Work Hours

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Type of Position

Permanent

Eligibility for Employment

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

EEO Statement

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents - except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.