Financial Aid Specialist

Western Governors University•Bentonville, AR

2d•$22 - $32•Onsite

About The Position

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is: Grade: Services 206 Pay Range: $21.97 - $31.87 The Financial Aid Specialist is a critical position requiring knowledge and skills in areas such as federal and state financial aid, other non-federal financial aid (e.g. private loans), and scholarships. The Financial Aid Specialist has the primary responsibility to evaluate withdrawn students to determine the earned/unearned Title IV aid and report necessary awarded adjustments in a timely manner. This position will focus on one of the key areas of federal, state, institutional or private aid, and provides processing support in one of those key areas. This position provides exceptional customer service and follow-up to current and prospective students and staff by evaluating the financial aid applications and requirements determining the amount/configuration of aid packages for students ensuring compliance with state, federal, and institutional policies governing financial aid. This position requires that the employee acts as a liaison on behalf of the student with other entities such as state grant departments and other departments. This position will ensure compliance with the US Department of Education regulations. INTERNAL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY BY: 6:4:26 Job Profile Summary: The Financial Aid Specialist is a critical position requiring knowledge and skills in areas such as federal and state financial aid, other non-federal financial aid (e.g. private loans), and scholarships. The Financial Aid Specialist has the primary responsibility to evaluate withdrawn students to determine the earned/unearned Title IV aid and report necessary awarded adjustments in a timely manner. This position will focus on one of the key areas of federal, state, institutional or private aid, and provides processing support in one of those key areas. This position provides exceptional customer service and follow-up to current and prospective WGU students and staff by evaluating the financial aid applications and requirements determining the amount/configuration of aid packages for students ensuring compliance with state, federal, and institutional policies governing financial aid. This position requires that the employee acts as a liaison on behalf of the student with other entities such as state grant departments and other departments within WGU. This position will ensure compliance with the US Department of Education regulations. A qualified individual will thoroughly research student accounts and understand all aspects of financial aid regulations. The Specialist also reassesses packages based on student appeals or revised data to determine any impact on the student’s eligibility. They will assist the internal contact center with financial aid inquiries, prepare student awards for processing, ensure that funds are appropriately applied, and perform reconciliation duties.

Requirements

1 year experience with federal Title IV aid programs
Knowledge of Federal Title IV regulations and WGU Financial Aid policies.
Must be in good standing with the Department of Education, no loans in default.
High School Diploma or GED.

Nice To Haves

2+ years experience in Financial Aid
NASFAA Credentials
Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Knowledge of Banner, SalesForce, OnBase, and ED websites.
Knowledge of Verification processes within Financial Aid

Responsibilities

Collects and analyses financial data on students to determine aid eligibility and create awards within federal and institutional guidelines.
Processes financial aid with the ability to monitor progress and identify issues that require resolution.
Evaluates unusual/mitigating circumstance documentation or information provided by the student.
Exercises judgment by adjusting or revising costs, contribution, need, or dependency status as exceptions to the prescribed process.
Work directly with various University offices (Admissions, Registrar, and Student Accounts) and various external agencies (lenders and guarantee agencies) to resolve related processing and payment issues.
Maintains current knowledge of federal and state regulations and University policies.
Reviews NSLDS and COD loan information to assess aid eligibility.
Demonstrates excellent communication skills providing appropriate and timely responses to students and staff.
Participates in professional development and training activities as needed or required.
Completes various reports or projects related to loans, grants, work-study, scholarship, and other aid programs as assigned by supervisor.
Analyzes various system-generated reports such as grades and enrollment status or award status to verify continued compliance and eligibility of students receiving aid under federal and institutional guidelines.
Answers questions, inquiries, or requests from internal departments regarding financial aid programs and eligibility.
Notifies students of changes in eligibility of awards and alternatives to amend the situation.
Provides timely communication to the appropriate departmental leader on any issues that may affect the timely processing of student financial aid.
Prioritize workload while being flexible to meet the daily expectations.
Performs other related duties as assigned.