Financial Aid Technician

Dine College•Tsaile, AZ

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Financial Aid Technician provides technical and clerical support for the administration of federal, state, tribal, and institutional financial aid programs, with a primary focus on Title IV Pell Grant awarding and the Federal Work-Study Program. This position supports students through the financial aid process by assisting with documentation, data entry, eligibility review, and compliance-related tasks. The Technician serves as a key point of contact for students and campus partners, maintains accurate financial aid records, and supports program monitoring and reporting in accordance with federal regulations and institutional policies.

Requirements

Associate degree in Business Administration, Education, Accounting , or a related field.
One (1) year of experience working in financial aid , higher education, student services , counseling , or related fields.
Knowledge and administration of Federal, State, and Tr i bal financial aid programs within the Federal, State , Tribal, and institutional compliance .
Proficient skills with Microsoft Office (MS365): Excel , Word , etc .
Must have strong project management and organizational abilities and skills.
Strong written and verbal commun i cation skills; writing , oral , active listening, and interpersonal skills
Work effectively in team situations
Excellent customer service skills using tact and diplomacy ; professional and pleasant office manner
Excellent listening skills; patient and clam
Ability to prioritize information in a timely manner .
Ability to commun i cate clearly by phone and in person .
Detail-oriented and able to organize and manage multiple projects while maintaining a high level of accuracy .
Ability to handle multiple tasks and issues .
Ability to understand and explain to others technical information in a manner that is easily understood .
Ability to adapt to system , process , and procedure changes.
Valid State Driver ' s License.
Candidate must clear a pre-employment background check to ensure compliance with institutional , federal , and tribal Financial Aid regulations .

Nice To Haves

Bachelor ' s degree in Business Admin i stration , Education , Accounting, Finance , or related field.
One (1) year of experience working in financial aid , higher education student services, counseling, or related
Experience in presentations , webinars, or digital resources in the area of Financial Literacy.
Experience in processing student financial aid through a relational database system is desired .
Experience in Financial Aid or Educational software programs . (Jenzabar , PowerFAIDS,etc . )
Ability to create presentations , webinars, and create resources .
Ability to analyze and interpret data .

Responsibilities

Serve as a first point of contact for students, parents, faculty, and staff regarding financial aid processes, application requirements, deadlines, and Provide basic information and assistance related to financial aid programs under established policies and procedures.
Assist students with completing financial aid forms and responding to requests for documentation.
Route complex questions, appeals, or exceptions to the Financial Aid Officer or Manager as appropriate.
Maintain professional, respectful communication while supporting student access and customer service.
Collect, review, and process financial aid applications and supporting documents for completeness and accuracy.
Assist with verification activities by comparing FAFSA data, tax documentation, and verification worksheets.
Identify conflicting or missing information and request additional documentation from students.
Track and update financial aid files through the processing cycle to support timely awarding.
Assist with the processing and entry of Title IV Pell Grant awards under established guidelines.
Enter and update financial aid data in the financial aid management system.
Support the monitoring of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and assist with notifications and record updates.
Flag potential eligibility issues or unusual circumstances for review by senior financial aid staff.
Ensure aid awards remain within Cost of Attendance limits.
Assist with the day-to-day administration of the Federal Work-Study Program, including award setup, work authorizations, and student employment
Monitor student work hours and earnings and report discrepancies to supervisors.
Maintain FWS records and assist with monthly and bi-weekly usage reports.
Support compliance requirements, including documentation related to reading tutor or family literacy placements.
Coordinate with Payroll and Human Resources to ensure accurate student employment coding.
Maintain accurate, complete, and confidential student financial aid records in compliance with FER PA and federal regulations.
Assist with routine data checks and reporting to identify discrepancies.
Support annual audits, program reviews, and file reviews as assigned.
Utilize financial aid and student information systems, including PowerFAIDS and Jenzabar, under established procedures.
Adhere to the financial aid calendar to ensure deadlines are met.
Perform other related duties in support of the Office of Financial Aid.