Financial Aid Clerk

Enterprise State Community College; Montgomery (AL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Trenholm State Community College in Montgomery, Alabama, seeks a Financial Aid Clerk to support the administration of federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. Under the Director of Financial Aid, you will assist students with eligibility, applications, and scholarship processes, maintain records, and award aid in accordance with policies.

Expect a high level of customer service and teamwork across the Financial Aid Office.

Qualifications

• Associate degree from a regionally accredited institution and at least five years of progressively responsible office or administrative experience.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Word, and Excel

Responsibilities

• Provides excellent customer service as a first point of contact for prospective students, current students, and parents.
• Assists students with financial aid eligibility requirements, application procedures, available financial aid programs, scholarship opportunities, educational costs, and other financial aid-related matters.
• Maintains working knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies and procedures.
• Assists with the administration of institutional and transfer scholarship programs, including application review, student notifications, awarding, and record maintenance.

Skills

Confidentiality

Effective communication

Multitasking

Policies & procedures

Travel between campuses

Professional collaboration

Education

Associate degree

Tools

Ellucian Banner System

Microsoft Office

Job description

Under the supervision of the Director of Financial Aid, the Financial Aid Clerk provides administrative, processing, and customer service support in the administration of federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. The Financial Aid Clerk assists students with financial aid and scholarship processes; maintains student records; processes documentation; awards financial aid in accordance with established policies and procedures; and supports the delivery of financial aid services while maintaining a high level of customer service.

Salary Schedule: E5 05

1. Provides excellent customer service as a first point of contact for prospective students, current students, and parents.
2. Assists students with financial aid eligibility requirements, application procedures, available financial aid programs, scholarship opportunities, educational costs, and other financial aid-related matters.
3. Maintains working knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies and procedures.
4. Assists with the administration of institutional and transfer scholarship programs, including application review, student notifications, awarding, and record maintenance.
5. Reviews financial aid and scholarship applications and awards aid in accordance with federal, state, and institutional policies and procedures.
6. Assists with maintaining scholarship calendars, deadlines, and related communications.
7. Conducts FAFSA completion sessions either in person or virtually.
8. Presents financial aid information through workshops, orientations, outreach activities, and enrollment events.
9. Assists with Titan Training sessions and other enrollment management activities.
10. Reviews Automatic reports and other assigned reports and follows up on routine processing items.
11. Reviews verification documentation and resolves routine conflicting information in accordance with established guidelines.
12. Utilizes Banner and other applicable software to process financial aid, maintain student records, enter verification data, and award financial aid and scholarships.
13. Advises students regarding SAP, enrollment changes, and the potential impact of withdrawals on financial aid eligibility.
14. Reviews Return to Title IV (R2T4) reports, identifies students requiring follow-up, and assists with withdrawal-related financial aid processing.
15. Provides counseling and assistance to students and parents through meetings, written communication, telephone conversations, and virtual appointments.
16. Maintains accurate, confidential, and organized student financial aid records.
17. Maintains professional development through training, workshops, webinars, and independent research.
18. Assists with audits, reconciliations, reporting activities, and special projects as assigned.
19. Remains flexible and adaptable in work schedules and assignments as defined by the College and departmental needs.
20. Follows through with assigned duties until completion.
21. Serves on College committees as assigned.
22. Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Financial Aid.

Required Minimum Qualifications

1. Associate degree from a regionally accredited institution and at least five years of progressively responsible office or administrative experience.
2. Must have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Word, and Excel

Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience in higher education, financial aid, admissions, student services, records, scholarships, related field.
2. Experience with the Ellucian Banner System or a similar ERP system.
3. Demonstrated experience providing direct customer service in a high-volume environment.
4. Experience maintaining confidential records and processing documentation.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and discretion.
2. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
3. Possess a working knowledge of student financial aid programs or demonstrate the ability to learn federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations, policies, and procedures.
4. Must be efficient, dependable, flexible, responsible, and motivated.
5. Ability to multitask and understand the urgency of deadlines.
6. Ability to understand, interpret, and apply established financial aid policies and procedures.
7. Ability to learn and perform all essential job functions with appropriate supervision and guidance.
8. Ability to travel between campuses.
9. Ability to work effectively with students, faculty, staff, and external partners in a professional environment.

WORK EXPERIENCE VERIFICATION

Neither a resume nor an application is an appropriate verification of work experience. It is not our policy to contact current and/or previous employers to obtain employment verification. “Work experience verification is required in writing from your current and/or previous employer(s) confirming the required level of experience as stated in the “Minimum Qualifications” section and other related experience. Verification should include dates of employment and position title(s). Proof of work experience verification may be delayed until an official offer of employment using the Work Experience Verification form, which is found on the Human Resources home page. All work experience verification must be completed within 15 days following the employment offer.

EEOC, E-VERIFY, BACKGROUND CHECK STATEMENTS

Trenholm State Community College is an equal opportunity employer. It is the official policy of the Alabama Community College System that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, disability, gender, religion, creed, national origin, or age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, or employment. Trenholm State Community College will make reasonable accommodations for qualified disabled applicants or employees.

Trenholm State Community College reserves the right to withdraw this job announcement at any time prior to the awarding. More than one position in the same job classification may be filled by the applicants for this position should another vacancy occur during the search process. Any offer of employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory criminal background investigation.

This employer participates in E-Verify.

SUMMARY ABOUT US

H. Councill Trenholm State Community College (Trenholm State) is a comprehensive two-year community college in Montgomery, Alabama. The College offers associate transfer degrees, associate degrees, and certificates that lead directly to the workforce. Additionally, the College provides adult learning opportunities, civic, social, cultural, and personal development; business and industry training; and support for economic development in the central Alabama region. Trenholm State is part of the Alabama Community College System (ACCS), governed by the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees. The College operates multiple instructional sites, including the Trenholm Campus, the Patterson Site, and several off-campus instructional locations offering credit, non-credit, adult education, and dual enrollment programs. Trenholm State delivers additional educational and training services for Montgomery and the surrounding areas. For more information, please visit http://www.trenholmstate.edu.