Financial Aid Specialist

StevenDouglas; Fort Lauderdale (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

StevenDouglas in Fort Lauderdale seeks a Financial Aid Advisor to assist senior staff by calculating eligibility, communicating with students, pulling files, and scanning documents.

You will ensure accuracy in financial aid data for federal reporting, process applications, verify data, and resolve discrepancies, while advising students at the campus counter.

Qualifications

• Requires an Associate degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum three years of relevant experience in financial aid or higher education.

Responsibilities

• Counsel students on financial aid programs, eligibility requirements, and application processes with individualized guidance.
• Process financial aid by verifying data and certifying grants, loans and scholarships for students through income and budget analysis.
• Review and process financial aid applications to determine basic eligibility and obtain additional documentation when necessary.
• Analyze technical data records, accessing data in federal systems (NSLDS, COD, CPS).
• Assist in construction and reconciliation of financial aid files for state and federal reporting.
• Resolve discrepancies and manually reconcile files from reports when system limitations prevent automation.
• Respond to inquiries by researching and resolving problematic transactions; liaise with other departments to resolve day-to-day processing issues.

Education

Associates Degree

Job description

Under limited supervision, the Financial Aid Advisor is responsible for assisting senior advisors, coordinators, and management with calculating eligibility, communicating effectively with students, pulling files and documents, and scanning. Ensures accuracy in financial aid data for state and federal reporting. Other duties may include assisting students at the counter at the campus locations. Performs related duties as assigned.

• Associates Degree.
• An equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered where applicable.
• Three years of relevant experience. Experience within field or closely related field.

Essential Functions:

• Daily -10%: Provides financial aid advice and counsels students on financial aid programs, eligibility requirements, and application processes while maintaining a level for individualized counseling to provide students with the most equitable financial aid award package.
• Daily -30%: Processes financial aid by verifying data and certifying grants, loans and scholarship awards for students through income and budget analysis. Reviews and processes financial aid applications to determine basic eligibility and obtain additional documentation when necessary.
• Daily -25%: Analyzes technical data records, which include accessing data included in federal systems, including but not limited to the National Student Loan Data System, the Federal Common Origination and Disbursement System, and the Federal Central Processing System.
• Other, as Needed -5%: Assists in the construction and reconciliation of financial aid files for state and federal reporting.
• Daily -10%: Resolves discrepancies and manually reconciles files from various reports when system limitations prevent automation.
• Daily -10%: Responds to inquiries by researching and resolving problematic transactions; serves as a liaison with other departments in the resolution of day-to-day processing issues; crisis intervention referrals as needed.
• Daily- 10%: Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to conduct reconciliation by analyzing complex data collaboratively with colleagues concerning the processes and procedures for the delivery of aid.
• General understanding of the College’s structure, policies, procedures, and practices as it pertains to the immediate area and the college as a whole.
• General knowledge of the practices, policies, and procedures governing the higher education student financial aid process
• Ability to contribute in multiple related areas within the function
• Understanding of and ability to coordinate interdependencies of work within the area and of resources from outside the area
• Ability to exchange information with individuals and collaborate with colleagues within the College.
• Requires intermediate to advanced knowledge of computer systems, i.e. Microsoft Office Products as well as specialized computer systems
• Ability to interact and effectively communicate with employee and student populations