Temporary Financial Aid Specialist

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators; Carlisle (Cumberland County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA is seeking a temporary, full-time Financial Aid Specialist for a one-year term, with potential extension. The role focuses on reviewing applications, determining eligibility, and creating offers using PowerFAIDS.

The position supports Senior Associate and Director level work and may include training sessions and loan certification support, ensuring compliance with all applicable policies.

Qualifications

• Associate degree required; bachelor’s preferred.
• Experience with PowerFAIDS packaging.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies.
• Familiarity with College’s CSS Profile and institutional methodology.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organization, and time management.

Responsibilities

• Review financial aid applications and package aid to meet enrollment goals.
• Verify student eligibility for institutional, federal, and state aid by reconciliation of FAFSA and CSS Profile and documents.
• Ensure compliance with policies and participate in trainings to stay current on regulation changes.
• Review and process Federal Direct Loan and private/alternative loan applications.
• Meet virtually with students regarding financial aid questions.
• Assist in cleaning up reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Communication skills

Time management

Independent work

Collaborative

Education

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree

Tools

PowerFAIDS

CSS Profile

Job description

This is a temporary, full-time position for a one-year term, with a possibility of extension.

Summary

The Financial Aid Specialist will be responsible for reviewing institutional and federal financial aid applications, determining financial aid eligibility, and creating financial aid offers, using Dickinson’s financial aid system, PowerFAIDS. This person will be responsible for Senior Associate and Director level work. Serves as a professional resource for staff/system given knowledge and expertise in PowerFAIDS. May conduct Q/A sessions as learn new system. Based on past experience, may contribute insights to practices and new system. This role also entails supporting the Loan Specialist with Federal Direct Loan and private/alternative loan certification. This individual will ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies.

Essential Functions

• Review financial aid applications, resolve conflicting information, and package prospective and returning student financial aid to ensure affordability while meeting the college's enrollment, retention, and financial goals.
• Verify student eligibility for institutional, federal, and state financial aid by reconciliation of differences between the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and CSS profile and confirming eligibility after thorough verification of documents including parent and student tax return, W-2 forms and other required verification worksheets.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies, and participation in training opportunities and webinars to stay current on regulation changes.
• Review and process Federal Direct Loan and private/alternative loan application as needed.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Resolve over awards.
• Meet virtually with students regarding financial aid questions.
• Assist in clean up reports.
• Other duties as determined or assigned.

Requirements:

• Associate's degree, required.
• Bachelor's degree, preferred
• Prior experience with financial aid packaging in PowerFAIDS
• Demonstrated knowledge of financial aid application process
• Prior experience with College's Board CSS Profile and institutional methodology
• Ability to comply with all federal, state, and institutional policies
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and follow through on tasks with minimal supervision
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, organization and time-management skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, professional judgement, discretion, and a collaborative approach to working across departments, strong partnerships, with a service orientation and genuine interest in institutional mission

Work Experience:

3-5 years