Job Title: Financial Aid Analyst
Location: System Office- Sandersville
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 261383
Job Summary

The Financial Aid Analyst is a full-time position that reports to the SSC Financial Aid Services Manager at the University System of Georgia's (USG) Shared Services Center (SSC). The Financial Aid Analyst (FAA ) will develop and maintain a thorough understanding of business processes, data and information, and the complexity of the financial aid services offered through SSC.
This SSC position will assist USG institutions with leveraging technology and processes to better enable business operations and analytics for USG stakeholders. This position will also serve as an intermediary between Financial Aid Specialist(s) and the Financial Aid Services Manager for escalation of issues.
This position is responsible for reviewing the integrity and security of data, processing transaction reporting, application maintenance, and is directly involved in special projects. The FAA will work with management and staff to provide factual data to support recommendations for new procedures, revisions, training, and documentation.

Responsibilities

Participates in projects for system modifications and implementation related to financial aid services to ensure adherence to scope, timelines, strategies, business processes, and requirements
Researches unique or escalated issues and/or problems reported by functional users and provides support and assistance in the definition or resolution for the application-specific staff
Maintains audit and compliance controls by executing procedures and proper validation of data including, but not limited to:
Processing certain incomplete items on student¿s submitted FAFSA to ensure timely and accurate financial aid packaging
Processing required FAFSA verifications to ensure accuracy of student data and compliance with all federal record-keeping requirements
Confirming compliance with FAFSA verification documentation
Processing special circumstances and collaborating with leadership to address

Extracts and analyzes data for researching and developing efficiencies and makes recommendations to leadership
Reviews audit reports and resolves errors to ensure integrity of data.
Works with technical and end-user staff to analyze and trouble-shoot errors; to implement and document system developments, modifications, enhancements and install new system module(s)
Possesses a working understanding of SSC functional support areas
Identifies and trouble-shoots system errors and functionality issues
Assists with monitoring of data entry and maintenance by SSC Staff to ensure system data integrity
Works with team to further cross-training in all areas of support
Follows system test plans including user acceptance testing, extensive and thorough system testing, thorough review, analysis, and documentation of test results as applicable with participating institutions in Financial Aid Shared Services
Captures, documents, and analyzes current state business process, and identifies, makes recommendations for, and documents future state business processes.
Performs related special projects and other responsibilities as needed.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor¿s degree is required. Master¿s degree preferred; NAFSAA certification a plus
Direct experience working within a university Financial Aid Office (within the last 5 years) is strongly preferred
Knowledge of Federal and State Financial Aid Regulations
Banner SIS and Campus Logic software experience strongly preferred
Previous experience implementing and/or managing financial aid services in a shared service model, one stop shop is preferred. Significant process/technology improvement experience is preferred.
Any equivalent combination of the above necessary to demonstrate requisite abilities

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Strong understanding of the principles of need-based aid and methodologies (Federal and institutional) as well as Title IV Financial Aid Regulations.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities/projects and changing demands while being responsive to end user needs
Experience addressing and managing issues and escalations effectively and timely
• Strong organizational and time management skills, effectively managing workflow and ability to manage multiple tasks and timelines

• Strong written and oral communication with ability to lead and train staff and customers in functions and reporting

• Ability to prioritize, set goals and objectives, and follow-through to completion.

• Excellent research and problem-solving skills

• Ability to effectively work with a diverse group of staff, technical staff and functional end-users

• Solid foundation and demonstrated comfort in working with technical developers and functional users and serving as an advocate for end-user system work and projects

• Extremely detail-oriented, with strong interpersonal and collaborative work style and ability to develop effective working relationships and demonstrate commitment to being a team player

• Ability to appropriately handle sensitive and confidential information

• Higher education experience is preferred

• Proven Customer Service Skills