Financial Aid Specialist

Summary &

Qualifications:

Summary

The position processes federal, state, and institutional financial aid in compliance with all federal, state, donor, and institutional guidelines, and in a manner consistent with the College's mission, values, and goals. Performs independent analytical decision-making by accessing, interpreting, and applying federal and state regulations and institutional policies. Develops relationships with internal and external partners to administer aid.

This position is responsible for the management of an aid program, including system development and annual aid year set up, determining eligibility, awarding, adjusting, ensuring accurate disbursement of funds, reporting and reconciling to federal, state, private providers and internal (Business Office/Foundation/etc.) sources, ensuring compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, donor agreements, and institutional policies:

Qualifications

* Bachelor's degree or an Associate's Degree with 2 years of experience in Financial Aid (Required)

* Minimum of two years' experience in a complex business environment (Required)

* Customer service experience in a professional setting (Required)

* Demonstrated experience using Banner enterprise system (or other database system) (Required)

* Experience applying laws and regulations (Required)

* Valid, unrestricted Driver's License or ability to obtain by start date (Required)

* Experience reconciling and balancing financial accounts (Preferred)

* Prior experience working with Financial aid (at least 2-5 years) (Preferred)

Essential Responsibilities

* (Critical) Analyzes and verifies financial aid data to determine student eligibility and financial need utilizing the Federal and state database systems and the banner system for different aid programs.
* (Critical) Advises and counsels students and parents regarding eligibility requirements, application procedures, withdrawal impact, transfer, and available financial aid programs. Needs to understand all forms of financial aid (as well as VA and other sponsored payments), including details of eligibility and rules for renewal (academic progress), and order of payment with multiple funds.
* (Critical) Processes financial aid applications in accordance with applicable guidelines and regulations, and determines and awards complex financial aid packages, involving grant, loan, work study, scholarships, etc.
* (Critical) Manage annual set up of Banner, Scholarship Universe, and other systems used in administration of financial aid to accommodate annual (or more frequent) changes in federal, state, and institutional rules and policies. Take lead in system evaluation and implement new systems if warranted.
* (Critical) Participates fully in NMC's one-stop for Enrollment Services. Communicates and maintains quality working relationships with a diverse student, parent, faculty/staff, and community population, offering information and professional guidance on Financial aid, Admissions, Student Accounts, and Records and Registration. Cross- train and inform staff from all Enrollment Services departments. Also, work closely with Advising, Student Success, and faculty to support student success and accurate reporting.
* (Critical) Manage, award and reconcile the processing of federal work study in accordance with federal regulations. Communicate and coordinate with the various office managers, payroll and human resources.
* (Critical) Utilize professional judgment (subjective) in the calculation and processing of Special Circumstance and Dependency Override petitions in accordance with federal regulations: determine legitimacy of student appeal, including documentation; calculate updated income and asset information, and update FAFSA.
* (Critical) Develop and maintain relationships and processes with university partners to coordinate payment of state, federal and institutional aid through consortium agreements.
* (Critical) Develop relationships, processes and train academic areas for awarding scholarships.
* (Critical) Develop and maintain relationship and processes for NMC Foundation to communicate with donors and in awarding and reconciling foundation…