Job no: 519457
Work type: Staff Full Time
Categories: Other Staff Positions

OFFICIAL JOB TITLE: Financial Aid Counselor

DIVISION: Academic Affairs

DEPARTMENT: Financial Aid

BARGAINING UNIT STATUS: ESU, Cat. 12

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

EEO STATUS: 31

JOB CODE: 023

REPORTS TO: Works under the supervision of the Associate Director of Federal Programs

SUPERVISES: Supervision of students; provide direction to other staff on assigned projects.

SUMMARY PURPOSE OF POSITION: Performs a variety of administrative duties related to financial aid, including counseling students and families, federal verification, reviewing financial needs to make award determinations/revisions, and managing and coordinating communications with students.

Follows the University’s best practices to build and/or support student academic success and retention, and assist in meeting strategic objectives for persistence and timely graduation of all the student population.

EXAMPLES OF PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for all financial aid activities for a caseload of current and prospective students with the financing of their education, including the following elements:
  • determine initial and subsequent financial aid awards for eligible students, based on need analysis.
  • review aid applications for accuracy, including completion of Federal verification of various financial documents (e.g. federal tax return, W-2 forms, etc.)
  • review and complete award adjustment requests
  • review requests for consideration of special circumstances
  • review Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeals
  • complete federal and state refund calculations for withdrawn students
  • review and complete all 400/401 FAFSA discrepancy flags
• Manage and coordinate correspondence to students and families, including extracting and merging information from multiple databases, to provide accurate information addressing needs and financial aid awards; responsible for the entry of correct data into electronic databases
• Provide financial aid services to non-traditional students, graduate students, veterans, and students studying abroad
• Collaborate with admissions and other relevant campus partners to identify, investigate, and resolve potential awarding and packaging errors or discrepancies, ensuring accurate and timely updates to student records, and communicating with students as needed
• Oversee the university’s weekly awarding and packaging process for all new, transfer, and returning students, which includes reviewing packaging formulas, student eligibility, and financial aid requirements, while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. Collaborate and communicate with the Director and Associate Director to make them aware of trends and potential compliance issues
• Manage and process the External Award and Batch jobs to ensure merit-based scholarships and grants are awarded to eligible students in a timely and accurate manner
• Collaborate with the admissions team to ensure seamless delivery of awards and assist with the appeals process
• Maintain a working relationship with other university offices and off-campus agencies and individuals relating to student financial aid
• Provide regulatory research services for Financial Aid Office by utilizing documents, websites, technical encyclopedias, etc.
• Utilize manual and computerized information systems in operational activities, including Peoplesoft, as well as federal and state processing systems.
• Develop criteria for various reports, review reports for accuracy of information provided, and utilize reports for numerous projects and activities crucial to financial aid processing
• Coordinate and conduct aid information activities, including public speaking presentations on- and off-campus as directed by Associate Director
• Attend and participate in meetings, workshops, and conferences with other individuals involved with aid administration in order to share knowledge and stay informed about local, regional, and national financial aid policies and procedures
• Perform other job-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned and/or the job description changed periodically to reflect changing organization needs

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION:Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.

EXPERIENCE: Demonstrated (over three years) experience in a professional environment with an emphasis on customer service.

OTHER: Ability to work a flexible schedule including some evenings and weekends. Some travel required to regional locations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Demonstrated experience and proficiency with applications software, including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases
• Demonstrated experience and proficiency with computerized electronic financial aid systems and processes
• Demonstrated ability to maintain proper contacts with financial aid sources (organizations and individuals)
• Ability to counsel students
• Ability to meet and deal effectively with others and provide superior customer service
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities concurrently with accuracy
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to supervise the maintenance of records
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking engagements

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated proficiency with, and knowledge of, complex federal, state, and institutional student aid regulations and policies, including Federal Methodology and Needs Analysis
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with financial aid programs and systems acquired by administrative work in a post-secondary financial aid office
• Knowledge of Title IV federal financial aid regulations
• Experience with the People Soft system (or similar student information system)
• Experience with financial aid computer system applications

Salary for ESU: Salary ESU Salary is commensurate with experience.

UMass Dartmouth offers exciting benefits such as:

75% Employer-Paid Health Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Life Insurance
Long Term Disability
State Pension Retirement Plan
Optional Retirement Savings Plans
Tuition Credit (Employee, Spouse, & Dependents)
Twelve (12) paid holidays
Paid personal, vacation, and sick time
And More!

Benefits for ESU Union: ESU

Applicants must be authorized for employment in the U.S. on a full time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship not available.

To apply please submit a letter of interest, current resume and the contact information for three professional references.

The deadline for internal applicants is 07/24/2023.

The review of applications will begin 07/25/2023, and will be ongoing.

Advertised: 10 Jul 2023 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: