Senior Financial Aid Officer

Florida SouthWestern State College • Fort Myers, FL

13h

About The Position

The Senior Financial Aid Officer has administrative responsibility for assigned financial aid programs and processes, including compliance- and training-related tasks. The position is trained in all aspects of financial aid operations and supports one or more areas of specialization within the Office of Financial Aid. It provides processing support and information to students and staff, including training new staff in assigned programs. The role requires close adherence to applicable federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies and procedures and contributes to a student-centered, high-performance service culture.

The officer advises students and families, administers and processes financial aid, maintains records, supports financial literacy and student recruitment initiatives, and provides customer service across financial aid and related financial services. The position oversees a financial aid program area and/or supports verification and scholarship processing, and may direct the work of other financial aid staff. In the loan area, the officer oversees loan setup, evaluates and processes loan requests, exchanges information with federal systems, and reconciles loan disbursements. The role also supports Pell Grant and other federal grant administration and reconciliation.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field and two years of full-time professional experience in a financial aid office, though an appropriate combination of education and experience may be substituted. The employee must be able to travel independently to other College locations for business. The work is performed in a normal general office environment and includes routine sitting, bending, stooping, walking, and seeing, hearing, and speaking; occasional lifting of 20 or more pounds may be required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in a related field.
• Two years of full-time professional experience in a financial aid office; an appropriate combination of education and experience may be substituted.
• Ability to travel independently to other locations for College business.
• Experience using a personal computer, office software such as MS Word and MS Excel, and electronic mail, including data entry, word processing, and/or accounting functions.
• Ability to think critically and creatively, maintain integrity, and incorporate best practices into the organizational culture.
• Thorough knowledge of policies, procedures, and external regulations related to the position.
• Working knowledge of operational and fiscal analysis techniques.
• Ability to take initiative and independently plan, organize, coordinate, and perform work amid varied demands.
• Ability to anticipate, investigate, and analyze problems and address them proactively.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with faculty, staff, students, and the public.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, demanding environment, independently, and follow through on assignments.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work with diverse constituencies and contribute to a team effort.
• Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to collect, organize, analyze, and present information meaningfully.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse populations.
• Commitment to College goals, students, and the learning environment; ability to interpret and follow procedures and policy manuals.
• Ability to respond positively and receptively to supervision, guidance, and direction.
• Ability to provide quality customer service and create a welcoming, supportive environment.
• Professional conduct and presentation, including respectful and effective collaboration with diverse populations.
• Ability to critically assess situations and processes and make recommendations for improvement.
• Routine ability to see, hear, speak, sit, bend, stoop, and walk; occasional lifting of 20 or more pounds may be required.
• Ability to interpret, analyze, and apply critical-thinking skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide student-centered financial aid service and conduct proactive outreach through email, call campaigns, and other measures.
• Help resolve unusual enrollment history, comment codes, and Federal Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility issues.
• Collaborate with department leadership on the development of office policies and procedures, as assigned.
• Partner with College and community constituents on financial literacy programs and initiatives.
• Coordinate with other campus offices to ensure accurate and timely information exchange.
• Assist with hiring and train financial aid staff, as assigned.
• Maintain current knowledge of and provide accurate information about federal and state grants, scholarships, work-study, student loans, and applicable rules and regulations.
• Assist with duties related to the annual Single Audit (A-133).
• Assist with dependency status petitions, as needed.
• Oversee a financial aid program area and/or support the verification process.
• Support scholarship programs and processing.
• May direct the work of other Financial Aid staff, primarily Financial Aid Specialists I and II.
• Provide accurate, professional service and information about financial aid, admissions, registration, enrollment, tuition, payments, refunds, TIP, HIP, 1098T, Bank Mobile, collections, and other student account matters.
• Assist with developing and implementing a communication plan and prepare newsletter content for the Office of Financial Aid.
• Advise applicants, aid recipients, and parents about financial aid rights and responsibilities.
• Help students apply for aid and complete eligibility requirements.
• Work with Admissions and other offices on student recruitment related to financial aid, including participation in on- and off-campus events.
• Support development of Office of Financial Aid website content and review website updates and changes.
• Suggest improvements to financial aid operating procedures, forms, and related documents.
• Present information on financial services to various groups.
• Assist with administration of federal, state, and institutional aid programs.
• Assist with daily office operations, including front-counter service, phones, mailings, data entry and retrieval, and file organization.
• Maintain federal student financial aid records and files.
• Process student awards accurately and promptly, including determining eligibility.
• Communicate with students about eligibility, academic progress, and awards in a timely and effective manner.
• Enter student financial records and maintain database accuracy.
• Oversee student loan setup; evaluate loan requests, determine eligibility, process loans, and notify borrowers of adjustments.
• Respond to borrower inquiries by phone, chat, and mail concerning procedures and account status.
• Exchange federal student loan information with the U.S. Department of Education Common Origination and Disbursement system.
• Reconcile student loan disbursements monthly among the financial aid system, College Finance Office, and U.S. Department of Education systems.
• Notify student loan recipients of exit interview requirements.
• Assist in administering Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, and other participating federal grant programs, and assist with monthly grant fund reconciliation as needed.
• Resolve basic issues with and transmit files to and from the Department of Education’s Central Processing System and Common Origination and Disbursement system.
• Order year-to-date files and request student-specific Institutional Student Information Records.
• Serve as back-up for Pell Grant processing.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance options.
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick, personal, and holiday leave, as well as winter and spring breaks.
• Florida Retirement System membership.
• Educational and professional development opportunities for employees and their dependents.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior