Assistant Director Financial Aid

Company: Assumption University

Job Location:

Category: Financial Aid

Type: Full-Time

Job Details

Description

BASIC PURPOSE:

Assists the Assistant VP of SFS in administering the University's financial aid programs in support of the mission of the University. Works closely with parents and students in the Counselor of the Day (COD) role in providing guidance and information on student billing, payment plans, financial aid, and student employment questions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages a student caseload to determine eligibility for institutional, federal, and state financial aid funding.
• Stays up to date on federal and state financial aid policies and procedures by attending webinars and in person trainings through the Federal Department of Education, financial aid associations (e.g. MASFAA, EASFAA, and NASFAA), and the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Aid. Uses ED and NASFAA list serves and notifications to stay informed of changes to awarding and regulations as it pertains to FSA funding.
• Manages and acts as office liaison for ROTC and VA awarding and counseling recipients of this funding. Works closely with Registrar's Office to identify ROTC and VA recipients and update students financial aid offers within Colleague as well as in the College Financing Plan.
• Manage the outside scholarship listing provided by the Student Accounts Office. Update students' financial aid offers based on listing and send revised student financial aid notifications as a result of updated financial aid offers.
• Counsel parents and students in a welcoming and courteous manner as to the availability of institutional, state, and federal financial aid programs, eligibility requirements, and application processes.
• Present financial aid and student account information to groups of students, parents, colleagues, and external partners in person or through an online platform (e.g. Teams, Zoom).
• Provide counselor of the day services several times per week in a welcoming environment where you are the first point of contact (phone, emails, and in person and Zoom appointments) for students and families in answering questions on student billing, student account, financial aid, student loans, payment plans, financing options, and student employment.
• Maintain office supplies and inventory for the Office of Student Financial Services by monitoring and ordering supplies when necessary.
• Manage and update unlinked ISIR list on a daily basis when ISIRs are loaded into the Colleague system.
• Oversee the office book voucher system by managing the funds in each of the three book voucher funds and awarding funds to eligible students on a first come, first serve basis.
• Maintain a current list of Rome Campus and Study Abroad students each semester by reaching out to the Office of Undergraduate Studies 4-6 weeks prior to the start of each semester. Update students' cost of attendance with study abroad fees as well as students' financial aid file.
• Serves as a Campus Security Authority for Clery reporting purposes and a Responsible Employee for Title IX reporting purposes.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be willing to contribute actively to the mission of the University as well as show respect for the Catholic and Assumptionist identity of Assumption University.
• One to three years related experience required, Colleague experience helpful.
• Strong computer skills required.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality required.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work within a team as well as independently.
• Ability to follow written and verbal directions.
• Position requires candidate to be a problem solver and self-starter. Candidate should be someone who performs sufficient research in available systems before responding to students, parents, and colleagues questions.
• Candidate should be considerate of colleagues' job responsibilities; office work needs and office peak hours when requesting time off.
• Bachelor's degree required, Master degree preferred.
• Strong Excel and Word computer skills required.
• Excellent communication skills and attention to detail and ability to respond to student and parent questions in a calm and courteous manner.
• Possess a student-centric and compassionate mindset.
• Provide excellent customer service to students, families and colleagues as it relates to the Office of Financial Aid and Office of Student Financial Services.
• Ability to work evening and weekend hours as needed.
• Able to take direction and constructive feedback from colleagues and supervisor.
• Peak work times are during the months of April-August and December - January.

SCOPE: Interacts on a frequent daily basis with students, parents, and University employees.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Sitting, standing, walking, and bending are required of this position. Use of a computer keyboard and computer screen for periods of time with close vision and the ability to adjust visual focus plus manual dexterity are required.

MENTAL DEMANDS: The mental demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Examples of mental demands include reading (documents), detailed work, confidentiality, language, math, reasoning, oral communications, written communications, customer contact, multiple concurrent tasks, constant interruptions, and performing calculations when necessary.