Assistant Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance, related field or equivalent experience required
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in finance, accounting, and/or strong customer service setting required
• 2-4 years of experience in a financial aid department required
• Knowledge of graduate financial aid packaging rules and regulations.
• Broad understanding of Student Financial Services general services, procedures, and policies
• Ability to handle difficult phone calls and student meetings by communicating information clearly and compassionately.
• Up-to-date knowledge of college and federal rules governing financial aid policies, procedures, and pre-requisites
• Understanding of the financial aid review cycles as it relates to applicants, current students, students returning, and students leaving or graduating
• Self-starter with excellent interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills
• Strong customer service skills and the ability to engage with students and parents in a patient and positive manner
• Good organizational skills with the ability to maintain multiple projects simultaneously and to prioritize tasks
• Ability to handle stressful situations in a courteous and professional manner
• Ability to engage well with a diverse population
• Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail required

Nice To Haves

• 2-3 years of experience with Banner or similar program and/or system preferred
• Knowledge of Slate, Touchnet, various other systems/portals preferred
• Proficiency in using Google Suite applications, Microsoft Office software, and the ability to learn new software easily
• Comfortable navigating COD, NSLDS, and other federal systems
• Fluency in a second language preferred

Responsibilities

• Meet with prospective and enrolled students as requested to discuss financial concerns, answer questions about financial aid awarding and eligibility, and review alternative resources to finance education costs.
• Offer a minimum of two hours of office hours per week for continuing and two hours for incoming Speech@Emerson students, including a mixture of late morning and late afternoon availability.
• Complete file review, including the federal verification process; troubleshooting common errors with posting financial aid packages, clearing C-Flags, etc.
• Review submitted documentation for accuracy and completion, making necessary corrections to financial aid applications with speed and accuracy, and requesting additional documents as needed.
• Analyze students' records and financial aid applications for discrepancies or conflicting information and request the necessary documentation to correct these issues.
• Process all aspects of specific federal or institutional aid programs, determine eligibility for Federal Direct Loans and institutional scholarships; building, auditing, and adjusting budgets for Speech@Emerson students every semester.
• Provide outreach to students about registration plans that might need adjustments to their financial aid package based on their registration.
• Serve as the lead Financial Aid officer for the Speech@Emerson program; attending regular meetings with 2U and Speech@Emerson partners, including Financial Aid webinars, Speech Registration Town Hall webinars, etc.
• Complete reconciliation of Speech@Emerson specific scholarships to confirm that amounts align with registration and are disbursed at appropriate points in the term.
• Provide updates and guidance to others on the Graduate aid team as new things develop and we enter new cycles in the program/process.
• Provide guidance and basic knowledge training and share updates/developments regarding the Speech@Emerson program to graduate student workers and Student Financial Services (SFS) staff who will be assisting with phone coverage.
• Plan and maintain all things needed for a successful academic year (fall, spring, summer) including timeline of packaging, meetings, presentations, workshops, town halls, billing deadlines, and communications.
• Assist the Office of Student Accounts with account review, collection, and outreach for active and inactive Speech@Emerson population, ensuring balance payments are collected or received by payment deadlines.
• Assist in the management of graduate-level billing rules in Banner, as well as invoice creation and management of related population selections.
• Responsible for applying and tracking balance holds for graduate population.
• Support the other graduate student programs with awarding, budgeting, outreach, and webinars as needed.
• Other areas of support include student employment onboarding and support, NSLDS/C-Flag processing for federal compliance, loan processing troubleshooting via Common Origination and Disbursement, Touchnet payment plan support, new first time student outreach.
• Work with members of the Financial Aid leadership team to offer exit counseling sessions to graduating students to add additional layer of default prevention.
• Assist the Office of Financial Aid with file review for incoming undergraduate students when volume is high.
• Assist with department phone coverage, anywhere between 4-6 hours each week. During peak hours/times, additional coverage might be needed.
• Perform general administrative tasks.
• Perform other miscellaneous duties as assigned.

Benefits

• outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses
• dental plans
• generous time-off programs
• 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible
• life and disability coverage
• commuter offerings