Financial Aid Operations Specialist

St. George's University•Great River, NY

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Financial Aid Operations Specialist supports the daily operations, systems, reporting, and compliance activities of the financial aid office while providing accurate, timely, and courteous assistance to students and staff. The position maintains Banner Financial Aid processes, supports application processing and eligibility review, certifies private loans, and develops efficient workflows consistent with federal, state, and institutional requirements. Working closely with Admissions, Registrar, Bursar, and Clinical Education Operations, the Specialist helps maintain accurate records, supports audits, and promotes a positive student experience with sensitivity to students’ financial concerns. The role includes student support, financial aid application processing, system maintenance and process improvement, compliance review and reporting, audit support, and coordination with University departments. The Specialist also provides coverage for core financial aid functions and performs related duties and special projects assigned by the Financial Aid Leadership Team. The anticipated salary range is $68,000–$80,000 per year; the final offer may vary based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, location, and education.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Minimum of five years of progressive experience in financial aid or process improvement.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, macros, and report development.
Strong analytical, quantitative, technical, and problem-solving skills, with emphasis on compliance, automation, and data accuracy.
Technical proficiency with Banner Financial Aid and familiarity with Microsoft 365, NSLDS, and COD.
Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and active listening skills, including the ability to explain financial aid requirements clearly and work with colleagues at all levels.
Strong organization, time management, and attention to detail; ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and work independently and collaboratively in a high-volume environment.
Sound judgment, professionalism, integrity, and discretion when handling sensitive information; commitment to respectful student service and continuous improvement.
Ability to work in a professional office setting with frequent computer and office equipment use and to concentrate in a fast-paced environment.
Flexibility to work evenings and weekends during peak periods and accommodate students in different time zones.
Occasional travel may be required to support key initiatives, admissions events, and other student-facing activities.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Advanced knowledge of U.S. Title IV financial aid regulations and programs preferred.

Responsibilities

Monitor and manage financial aid email inboxes; respond to student inquiries by phone and email, explain application requirements, and coordinate follow-up with appropriate staff.
Process assigned financial aid applications and supporting documentation; organize reports to identify clinical start dates, loan-certification eligibility, and outstanding requirements.
Retrieve federal loan histories for counselor review and provide administrative support for daily financial aid operations.
Manage and maintain Banner Financial Aid systems and processes, coordinating system updates, patches, testing, and staff training while supporting data integrity and internal controls.
Extract and organize financial aid system data; identify required data elements, develop database queries and selection sets, and automate routine processes and reporting.
Develop and update operational policies, procedure manuals, and workflows with leadership; support institutional initiatives and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and service.
Review leave of absence and withdrawal requests and process related financial aid updates according to federal and institutional requirements; review and support resolution of financial aid C-flags.
Review Banner letter output and compliance reports, identify discrepancies and outstanding requirements, and communicate findings and follow-up needs to the Financial Aid Operations team.
Certify assigned private education loans by verifying student eligibility, enrollment information, and certification amounts in accordance with lender and institutional requirements.
Gather, compile, maintain, and analyze data for financial aid records and reports; verify the accuracy and completeness of supporting documentation.
Identify compliance vulnerabilities and operational risks and work with leadership to develop and implement corrective action plans.
Support internal and external enrollment and financial aid audits by retrieving files, organizing documentation, reviewing records, and verifying accuracy before submission.
Coordinate with Admissions, Registrar, Bursar, Clinical Education Operations, and other University departments to resolve issues and align financial aid processes, systems, and reporting.
Review suspense file output, investigate unmatched or incomplete records, and update records as appropriate.
Review FAFSA records with outstanding issues, coordinate authorized corrections, and track follow-up through resolution.
Confirm scheduled UC4 processes have run successfully; report failures or discrepancies and coordinate follow-up.
Process federal loan returns and private loan disbursements and returns according to applicable requirements and established procedures.
Review file extracts for accuracy and completeness, investigate discrepancies, and coordinate corrections.
Assist with the Clinical Loan Upload Template process and compare clinical disbursement data to identify and resolve discrepancies.
Provide coverage for core financial aid functions as needed to maintain uninterrupted service to students and staff.
Perform other related duties and special projects assigned by the Financial Aid Leadership Team.