Financial Aid Specialist

Biola University, Inc.; La Mirada (CA); Hybrid; USD 33.000 - 36.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Biola University, Inc. seeks a Financial Aid Specialist to help review, process, and deliver financial aid to qualified students on campus in La Mirada, CA. The role supports the Financial Aid office team with compliance and reporting.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree or prior financial aid experience, strong communication, and the ability to manage high-volume tasks while coordinating with Student Accounts and campus staff.

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor’s degree or prior professional financial aid experience.
• Previous financial aid experience preferred.
• Must meet security safeguards to protect sensitive information.
• Capable of independent problem-solving and research.
• Ability to work under high volume and deadlines.

Aufgaben

• Coordinate administration of Title IV and other aid programs.
• Process routine reports and notify students of changes.
• Review financial aid applications and package scholarships, grants, and loans.
• Ensure compliance with federal verification and eligibility requirements.
• Communicate with applicants by phone or email.

Kenntnisse

High-volume processing

Info security

Financial aid systems

People skills

Written & verbal comm

Computer literacy

Independent work

Problem solving

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Jobbeschreibung

Financial Aid Specialist

Position Description

To work as a member of the Financial Aid office team, assisting in the effective review, processing, and delivery of financial aid to all qualified students.

Alignment with Theological Positions

The person who fills this position must be someone who personally agrees with Biola’s Articles of Faith and Statement of Biblical Principles and who is supportive of the positions taken by Biola as contained in its Eschatology Teaching Position. As such, this person may not speak against or act in a manner inconsistent with these positions during the course of their employment at Biola.

Department

Financial Aid

Supervisor

This position reports to the Associate Director of Financial Aid/Processing

Educational Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or prior professional Financial Aid Experience

Work Requirements

Previous financial aid experience preferred

Non-exempt (02), full-time – 40 hours/week, 12 months per year. This position requires personal attendance at Biola’s campus in La Mirada, California.

Essential Duties

• As assigned, coordinate the overall administration process of Title IV, state, private, or institutional aid programs. Serve as the institutional liaison, statistical reporter, and office reference expert for the program
• Process standard routine reports to monitor needed aid adjustments. Notify students of changes and missing information on a timely basis
• Serve as a specialist in processing information for students. Assist in reviewing financial aid applications, following up regarding file requirements, and packaging of scholarships, grants, and loans for eligible students.
• Follow federal verification and other eligibility requirements to ensure each student’s file is meeting compliance standards
• Develop written procedures and maintain yearly calendar for office functions unique to the respective position
• Maintain current policy and procedures documents: Regularly review and update step-by-step guides for areas of responsibility
• Communicate with Financial Aid Applicants: Work with students and parents by communicating with them via phone or email
• Work with Student Accounts for reconciliation needs for any program
• Work on urgent & special projects that come up throughout the year
• Attend local or national conferences occasionally that may require overnight travel
• Some Saturday and evening work may be required during certain times of the year. During peak times, overtime may be mandatory
• Engage in team support, communication with students, and/or other office functions as needed to address Financial Aid operational needs that arise
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned
• Communication

Objective Goals to be Attained

• Accurate and timely administration of assigned aid programs.
• Complete file review and program assignments by weekly, monthly, and annual deadlines as applicable to the task
• Keep Financial Aid Office staff and leadership informed of news and policy updates regarding assigned programs
• Achieve each of the employee’s personal/professional goals as set annually by supervisor
• Attend 1-2 webinars each year to stay up to date on regulations for file review/respective programs

Required Skills / Qualifications

• Capacity for high volume, high pressure, detail-oriented production required
• Capability to follow required information security safeguards to protect sensitive information
• Knowledge of systems used by the Office of Financial Aid
• Must demonstrate effective people skills
• Must demonstrate proficient verbal and written communication
• Must demonstrate computer literacy
• Ability to work independently and manage project-based work to timely completion
• Capable of independent problem-solving and research using written documentation

Other Desired Duties / Skills

• Maintain a lifestyle in consonance with sound Christian principles and those promulgated by the institution.
• Participate in the spiritual growth, development, care, and support of other employees assigned near this position
• Encouraging others in the office with the hope of Jesus, as we are called to do in the scriptures (1 Thess 5:11)
• The individual should be a team player who works to help out the teams in the office (Specialist, Counselors, overall) to assist with students’ and families’ financial aid applications as well as working through issues that may arise day-to-day
• The individual should display resourcefulness in how they find creative solutions and adapt to changing situations

Hiring Range

$24.00 - 26.00 per hour