Business Analyst, Financial Aid Compliance OGAC

Commitment to Mission

This job carries with it the obligation to uphold the Mission of Lone Star College (LSC) in carrying out the duties of the position. A commitment to positive interpersonal behaviors, professional communication, integrity, leadership, stewardship, respect and accountability to LSC students and employees is essential.

Cultural Beliefs

• One LSC
• Student Focused
• Own It
• Foster Belonging
• Cultivate Community
• Choose Learning

Campus Marketing Statement

Lone Star College-System Office, University Park

Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 80,000+ students each semester. LSC has been named a 2023 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College.

Lone Star College-System Office employees are based at one of two System Office locations; The Woodlands and University Park. Both are the site for multiple administrative departments and system-wide training programs.

Location address is 20515 SH 249 (SH 249 and Louetta Road) Houston, Texas 77070-2607.

Job Description

PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

The Business Analyst, Financial Aid Compliance, Office of Governance, Accountability and Compliance (OGAC) designs, delivers, and maintains operational systems and application process solutions. The position prepares functional specifications for developers, and collaborates in the planning, design, development, testing, deployment and training of new or redesigned applications. Interfaces with other departments such as the Office of Technology Services (OTS), Analytics and Institutional Reporting (AIR) the Office of Financial Aid, and third-party vendors for the purpose of technical requirements validation, issue resolution, and coordination of project activities. Identifies complex, multi-faced problems and takes immediate action to address them.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Writes and runs PeopleSoft queries as needed to support process management
2. Performs information needs analyses and identifies, requests, and validates relevant data from internal and external stakeholders (NSLDS, NSC, THECB, LSC-AIR, LSC-Student Financials, LSC-FA Operations, LSC-OTS)
3. Supports compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, rules, and policies through financial aid operations process audits, system reviews, and student data verification
4. Conducts data analysis of financial aid operations and student records
5. Actively maintains up-to-date knowledge of financial aid compliance rules, trends, and issues related to financial aid processing and student records
6. Supports existing and new systems and platforms by evaluating data integrity, system functionality, and reporting capabilities
7. Troubleshoots data and system issues, performs root cause analysis, conducts testing, and collaborates with stakeholders to implement validated solutions
8. Designs, executes, and documents system and platform test plans to ensure accurate, reliable, and auditable data and reports
9. Designs, build, optimize and maintain conceptual, logical and physical data models and flow charts
10. Develop database solutions by designing proposed system; defining database physical structure and functional capabilities, security, back-up, and recovery specifications
11. Identifies business system solution requirements by meeting with decision makers, system owners, and end users. Analyzes operation work processes. Evaluates options for developing and integrating new solutions and identifies ways to improve data quality and integrity in order to improve processes and procedures for more streamlined efficiencies and compliance
12. Creates, reports, and filters information to make it user friendly using query tools and other analytical tools
13. Documents requirements for internal and external interfaces, reports, workflows, job aids and security access that support applicable business processes and LSCS stakeholders
14. Analyses data requests and creates reports, dashboards, and summaries to meet operational processes and document compliance in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies
15. Responsible for other reasonable, related duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Proven ability to write queries and manage data through a variety of tools
• Understanding of financial aid processes and PeopleSoft Financial Aid Modules
• Ability to manage expectations, timelines, and deliverables
• Ability to handle sensitive information in a professional and confidential manner
• Knowledge of business processes and their interrelationships
• Working knowledge of software products and of enterprise systems and change control processes
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to be flexible and adjust to changing needs
• Ability to analyze, troubleshoot, and solve problems
• Ability to work well with others
• Excellent customer service skills
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
• Ability to actively seek assistance in gathering resources, soliciting input, and using a variety of methods to reach a solution
• Ability to manage and prioritize projects

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree and at least 3 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience working with financial aid systems and operations
• Experience using enterprise application systems (e.g. PeopleSoft)
• Experience documenting business requirements and process design
• Experience with tools for data analysis, databases, SQL, and visualization software