Senior Advisor, Financial Aid

About the position

The Enrollment Division at the University of Denver works to attract, enroll, and graduate an optimal mix of qualified students that will enrich the composition of the University community. The division, which consists of Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid, seeks to enroll students who will become leaders, scholars, artists, entrepreneurs, and public servants uniquely qualified to live in and shape a global society. The Financial Aid Office is dedicated to serving and educating students, families, colleagues, and the community through the financial aid process from pre-enrollment to program completion. We value empathy and integrity, knowledgeable and professional staff, advocacy and access, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, clear and consistent communication, and compliance. We have primary responsibility for the undergraduate financial aid process and we also serve the graduate student population.

Responsibilities

• Assess a family's ability to pay for education expenses by evaluating income and assets reported on the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and financial documents.
• Function as an expert in need analysis, both federal and institutional methodologies, and explain complex financial aid calculations and the results and rationale behind financial aid awarding.
• Review current financial circumstances of DU families and determine if they qualify for various appeals.
• Serve as initial reviewer for special circumstance appeals and make well-reasoned recommendations for action.
• Problem solve for aid applicants, resolve FAFSA comment codes and rejects, verify and review files, revise aid awards, adjust student budgets, correct over awards, and monitor students on satisfactory academic progress (SAP).
• Assist other advisors in processing and resolving data issues.
• Administer the in-flow of financial aid documents via various channels (mail, email, DocuSign).
• Exercise attention to detail to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Assist with supervision of senior peer advisor assigned to document processing.
• Facilitate communication regarding status of document processing.
• Work with communications team to ensure correctness and functionality of document content.
• Troubleshoot current and potential issues with documents process with particular emphasis on technical aspects.
• Maintain a thorough knowledge of financial aid topics including costs of attendance, federal and institutional need analysis, award packaging, financial aid options, outside scholarships and other resources, payment and financing options, loan applications and certifications, billing, disbursement, aid applications, withdrawals, re-admits, timelines/deadlines, policies, and procedures.
• Manage highly sensitive financial and personal issues with independent judgment, tact, and diplomacy, maintaining strict confidentiality and adhering to FERPA and HEA data sharing regulations.
• Work with students and families as well as DU community members on the financial aid application process, eligibility, need analysis, awards, disbursement, federal/state institutional policies procedures.
• Help students to craft a financial plan to make DU affordable.
• Create and update email templates to ensure accurate and effective communications to students and families.
• Support students with the financial aid process through various channels, including in person, email, and phones.
• Assist with customer service overflow, including document management.
• Actively maintain knowledge of state and federal regulations and internal policies and procedures to ensure accurate and efficient interpretation of information and to ensure program compliance.
• Handle numerous complex tasks with attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
• Work as a team member with the other advisors to deliver high quality service to students and their families.
• Provide updates and other pertinent information on financial aid regulatory and compliance issues.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree.
• One to two years of direct financial aid or higher education experience.
• Demonstrated strong skills in conflict resolution, verbal and written communication, time management, and human-relations.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with CSS Profile, expertise in federal and institutional need analysis, the ability to interpret and analyze income and assets, and knowledge of professional judgment techniques.
• Ability to resolve data integrity issues in and discrepancies within Banner.
• Ability to provide fun and energetic presentations.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills.

Benefits

• Medical insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Retirement plan.
• Paid time off.
• Tuition benefit.
• ECO pass.