Senior Financial Aid Officer

Florida SouthWestern State College • Fort Myers, FL

4d

About The Position

The Senior Financial Aid Officer has administrative responsibility for designated financial aid programs and processes, including compliance- and training-related tasks. The role supports one or more areas of specialization within the Office of Financial Aid and provides processing support and information to students and staff. The officer is trained across financial aid operations, supports training for new staff, and follows applicable federal, state, and institutional policies and procedures. The position promotes a student-centered, high-performance culture focused on service, quality, productivity, and standards.

The officer supports the administration of federal, state, and institutional aid programs; advises students, applicants, recipients, and parents; processes awards and loans; maintains records and databases; responds to financial services inquiries; and collaborates with campus offices and community constituents. The position may oversee a financial aid program area, support verification, assist with hiring and staff training, direct the work of other financial aid staff, and participate in recruitment events and financial literacy initiatives.

Loan-related duties include overseeing loan setup, evaluating eligibility and processing loans, responding to borrower inquiries, exchanging loan information with the U.S. Department of Education’s COD system, reconciling loan disbursements monthly, and notifying students of exit interview requirements. The officer also supports federal grant administration and reconciliation, Pell Grant processing, and file exchanges with federal systems.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field and two years of full-time professional experience in a financial aid office, although an appropriate combination of education and experience may be substituted. The role requires independent travel to other College locations. Work is performed in a normal general office environment and routinely involves sitting, bending, stooping, walking, and the ability to see, hear, and speak; lifting 20 or more pounds may occasionally be required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in a related field; an appropriate combination of education and experience may be substituted.
• 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.
• Demonstrated 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 a high standard of integrity, and incorporate best practices into the organizational culture.
• Thorough knowledge of policies, procedures, and external regulations pertaining to the position.
• Working knowledge of operational and fiscal analysis techniques.
• Ability to take initiative and independently plan, organize, coordinate, and perform work amid numerous and diverse 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, work independently, and follow through on assignments.
• Solid organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work with a variety of constituencies and contribute to a team effort.
• Discretion, sound judgment, and ability to 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 read, interpret, and follow applicable written standards, procedures, policies, and 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 in word, action, and attire, and respect for diverse perspectives, personalities, and working styles.
• Conduct consistent with the College’s ethical standards.
• Ability to build working relationships, communicate, and collaborate to achieve common goals.
• Ability to critically assess situations and processes and recommend improvements.
• Routinely able to see, hear, speak, sit, bend, stoop, and walk; may occasionally be required to lift 20 or more pounds.

Responsibilities

• Provide student-centered service and conduct proactive outreach through email, call campaigns, and other measures to inform students about financial aid and cashier options.
• Resolve unusual enrollment history, comment codes, and Federal Pell Grant Lifetime eligibility issues.
• Collaborate with department leadership on the office policies and procedures manual, as assigned.
• Collaborate with College and community constituents on financial literacy programs and initiatives.
• Coordinate with campus offices to ensure accurate and timely information exchange.
• Assist with hiring and train financial aid staff, as assigned.
• Maintain current knowledge of financial aid programs and regulations and provide accurate information to students and staff.
• 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 FA Specialists I and II.
• Provide professional service and information about financial aid, admissions, registration, enrollment, tuition, payments, refunds, TIP, HIP, 1098T, Bank Mobile, collections, and other student account matters.
• Help develop and implement a comprehensive communication plan and prepare newsletter content for the Office of Financial Aid.
• Advise applicants, aid recipients, and parents about financial aid rights and responsibilities.
• Assist students with aid applications and completion of eligibility requirements.
• Collaborate with Admissions and other offices on student recruitment related to financial aid, including participation in on- and off-campus events.
• Support development and review of Office of Financial Aid website content and updates.
• Suggest and help develop financial aid procedures, forms, and related documents.
• Conduct presentations on financial services topics.
• Assist with administration of federal, state, and institutional aid programs and daily office operations, including front counter service, phones, mailings, data entry and retrieval, and file organization.
• Maintain federal student financial aid records and files.
• Determine eligibility and process student awards accurately and in a timely manner.
• Communicate with students about eligibility, academic progress, and award information.
• Enter student financial records and maintain database accuracy.
• Oversee the student loan setup process; evaluate loan requests, determine eligibility, process loans, and notify borrowers of adjustments.
• Respond to borrower inquiries about procedures and account status by phone, chat, and mail.
• Exchange federal student loan information with the U.S. Department of Education Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) system.
• Reconcile student loan disbursements monthly between the financial aid system, College Finance Office, and U.S. Department of Education systems.
• Notify student loan recipients of exit interview requirements.
• Assist with administration of the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and other participating federal grant programs.
• Assist with monthly reconciliation of federal grant funds, as needed.
• Resolve basic issues with and transmit files to and from the Department of Education’s Central Processing System (CPS) and COD.
• Order year-to-date files and request student-specific Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs).
• Serve as backup 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 (FRS) membership.
• Educational and professional development opportunities for employees and their dependents.

What This Job Offers

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