Financial Aid Advisor I

College of the Albemarle•Elizabeth City, NC

42d

About The Position

The role of the Financial Aid Technician I will be part of a team tasked with administering the college's need-based and merit-based student aid programs: performing a variety of technical and clerical tasks in the maintenance and documentation of financial aid information; assisting in the planning, developing, implementing and administering of the admissions process/all financial aid funds (including federal/state/institutional grants and institutional/private scholarships); disseminating admissions/financial aid information to students; and assisting students, staff and the public in the interpretation of admissions/financial aid program policies and procedures. The Financial Aid Technician I receives direction and supervision from the Director, Financial Aid.General: Provide information to students regarding admissions/financial aid programs, eligibility requirements and application processes; interpret and explain the college's admissions/financial aid policies and procedures to students. Provide initial contact for admissions/financial aid information; respond to inquiries from students, faculty, staff and administration; screen and interview applicants for proper reference to financial aid programs. Assist and conduct workshops/seminars on admissions/scholarships and student financial aid to students, parents and staff. Assist students in applying for admissions/financial aid and answer admissions/financial aid inquiries via telephone, mail, e-mail and in-person. Answer student inquiries related to academic, financial aid and other student concerns. Review documents as they arrive in the office; log documents and add to student files in Etrieve. Send communication to students notifying them of incomplete or missing information in their files. Research situations when students question the amount of their financial aid disbursement. Maintain student records in the Datatel/Colleague system. Work closely with other staff to fulfill the duties expected of the office. Perform a wide variety of clerical work; maintain accurate and detailed records; prepare and analyze reports; verify accuracy of calculations; research discrepancies and record information. Prepare flyers and information notices - complete bulk mailings. Attend appropriate meetings and serve on committees, as requested. Unique: Compile all Federal Work-Study (FWS) information, reports and forms; and work with various departments in placing students in positions. Review and complete all FWS payroll information monthly for the Business Office, monitoring student hours completed. Close the process at the end of the year updating all authorizations, information in Colleague and submitting termination paperwork to the Business Office. Process non-institutional scholarships including accepting the funds, submitting them to the Business Office, awarding the student, monitoring the scholarship to ensure that the meeting the request of the donor and reconciling monthly with the Business Office. Communicate established dates to Northeastern Workforce Development (NC Works) for authorization submission. Place Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) on appropriate student accounts and monitor enrollment. Communicate program eligibility for NC Child Care, receive applications, submit necessary documentation for payment after receiving confirmation of attendance for student and child and invoice from childcare provider. Review documents as they arrive in the office for completion, accuracy, and necessity, scan and index documents into Softdocs for further processing. Import, review and compile data from reports monthly: 3rd Party Pay reports, file complete and transcript reports as required. Facilitate students in completing, editing and submitting the FAFSA, COA Foundation scholarships application and Golden Leaf Scholarship application. Administer the Gold Leaf Scholarship Program every semester, which includes posting and accepting the applications, reviewing the applications and scoring them based on a provided matrix, selecting and awarding applicants who best qualify and reconciling monthly. Administer Targeted Assistance Funds. Administer COA Cares. Facilitate students in navigating the website, accessing information, utilizing their college email and myWebAdvisor accounts and other technical elements. Ensure institutional compliance with all federal and state requirements and advise senior staff of actions necessary to ensure institutional compliance. Ensure proper protection of any printed or computer-generated NSLDS information as required by the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. Work closely with outside agencies ensure forms and/or reports are completed in a timely manner. Assist students to make late charges at Bookstore. Communicate satisfactory academic progress with students; help them to understand their options and the effects withdrawing or failing will have on their eligibility. Submit and monitor appeals to the appeal committee. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Associate's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with major course work in business administration or related field.
One or two years of clerical and technical experience including exposure to the student financial aid function.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree
Establish and coordinate lines of communication across areas of the College with an emphasis on Business Office, Registrar's Office, and with faculty members.
Attend training sessions necessary to keep current with required financial aid compliance topics and best practices. This may include local, state, or national training.
Treat others respectfully, speak to others courteously and behave in such a way that creates a workplace environment that is marked by trustworthiness, honest but polite communication and interpersonal interactions that are both personally cordial and professionally appropriate.
Interpret and apply pertinent college, federal and state policies, procedures, rules and regulations of student financial assistance programs.
Tactfully respond to requests for information regarding Financial Aid.
Research and compile student information.
Maintain inventory of various forms and supplies.
Maintain the security of confidential materials.
Update financial aid forms and information for dissemination when appropriate.
Calculate and prepare accurate reports and worksheets.
Type and word-process at a speed necessary for successful job performance.
Work independently in the absence of supervision.
Prioritize work for timely completion.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Responsibilities

Provide information to students regarding admissions/financial aid programs, eligibility requirements and application processes; interpret and explain the college's admissions/financial aid policies and procedures to students.
Provide initial contact for admissions/financial aid information; respond to inquiries from students, faculty, staff and administration; screen and interview applicants for proper reference to financial aid programs.
Assist and conduct workshops/seminars on admissions/scholarships and student financial aid to students, parents and staff.
Assist students in applying for admissions/financial aid and answer admissions/financial aid inquiries via telephone, mail, e-mail and in-person. Answer student inquiries related to academic, financial aid and other student concerns.
Review documents as they arrive in the office; log documents and add to student files in Etrieve.
Send communication to students notifying them of incomplete or missing information in their files.
Research situations when students question the amount of their financial aid disbursement.
Maintain student records in the Datatel/Colleague system.
Work closely with other staff to fulfill the duties expected of the office.
Perform a wide variety of clerical work; maintain accurate and detailed records; prepare and analyze reports; verify accuracy of calculations; research discrepancies and record information.
Prepare flyers and information notices - complete bulk mailings.
Attend appropriate meetings and serve on committees, as requested.
Compile all Federal Work-Study (FWS) information, reports and forms; and work with various departments in placing students in positions. Review and complete all FWS payroll information monthly for the Business Office, monitoring student hours completed. Close the process at the end of the year updating all authorizations, information in Colleague and submitting termination paperwork to the Business Office.
Process non-institutional scholarships including accepting the funds, submitting them to the Business Office, awarding the student, monitoring the scholarship to ensure that the meeting the request of the donor and reconciling monthly with the Business Office.
Communicate established dates to Northeastern Workforce Development (NC Works) for authorization submission. Place Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) on appropriate student accounts and monitor enrollment.
Communicate program eligibility for NC Child Care, receive applications, submit necessary documentation for payment after receiving confirmation of attendance for student and child and invoice from childcare provider.
Review documents as they arrive in the office for completion, accuracy, and necessity, scan and index documents into Softdocs for further processing.
Import, review and compile data from reports monthly: 3rd Party Pay reports, file complete and transcript reports as required.
Facilitate students in completing, editing and submitting the FAFSA, COA Foundation scholarships application and Golden Leaf Scholarship application.
Administer the Gold Leaf Scholarship Program every semester, which includes posting and accepting the applications, reviewing the applications and scoring them based on a provided matrix, selecting and awarding applicants who best qualify and reconciling monthly.
Administer Targeted Assistance Funds.
Administer COA Cares.
Facilitate students in navigating the website, accessing information, utilizing their college email and myWebAdvisor accounts and other technical elements.
Ensure institutional compliance with all federal and state requirements and advise senior staff of actions necessary to ensure institutional compliance. Ensure proper protection of any printed or computer-generated NSLDS information as required by the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended.
Work closely with outside agencies ensure forms and/or reports are completed in a timely manner.
Assist students to make late charges at Bookstore.
Communicate satisfactory academic progress with students; help them to understand their options and the effects withdrawing or failing will have on their eligibility.
Submit and monitor appeals to the appeal committee.
Other duties as assigned.