Financial Aid Operations Specialist

Art Center College Of Design • Pasadena, CA

392d • $55,000 - $60,000

About The Position

The Financial Aid Operations Specialist at ArtCenter College of Design plays a crucial role in the daily operations of the Financial Aid Office. This position is responsible for managing the electronic data exchange of federal student aid information, processing federal loans and grants, and ensuring compliance with federal regulations. The specialist collaborates with various departments to support students in their financial aid journey, maintaining high standards of service and accuracy.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• At least 2 years of current experience in financial aid or database management
• Knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations
• Experience using Federal software such as COD, NSLDS, and FAFSA Partner Portal
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks with attention to detail
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with stakeholders
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in MS Office Suite
• Ability to manage data reporting and interpretation
• Demonstrated experience in promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college
• Prior experience in a financial aid office
• Advanced skills in Excel
• Technical knowledge and experience with database queries
• Experience with Ellucian Colleague
• Experience with Entrinisk Informer
• Knowledge of art and design education

Responsibilities

• Maintain overall daily technical operations of the Financial Aid Office
• Process, cancel, and update all Federal student loans
• Perform student outreach for missing application data
• Manage Common Originations and Disbursements (COD) processing
• Review and reconcile unpaid disbursements and record rejects
• Perform monthly reconciliation of the Direct Loan Program and Pell Grant program
• Assist with financial aid disbursement to student bills
• Run various Colleague reports and queries for tracking and processing aid
• Monitor changes in student status and enrollment and update financial aid awards accordingly
• Create and update queries to ensure data integrity
• Assist financial aid leadership with technical aspects of Colleague
• Work with IT to monitor, test, and implement new Colleague software upgrades
• Serve on educational or college-wide committees and attend conferences

Benefits

• Flexible scheduling
• Hybrid work options with at least 3 days in the office
• Professional development opportunities
• Participation in educational or college-wide committees

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: High school or GED