Financial Aid Advisor - Grants, Intermediate or Senior

Northern Arizona University

Special Information

• This position is a hybrid position which allows the incumbent to complete their work at both an NAU site, campus, or facility and at a non-centralized site with or without accommodation.
• This position is posted as Financial Aid Advisor - Grants, Intermediate or Senior, which is a working title. The NAU system title for this position is Financial Aid Advisor, Intermediate or Financial Aid Advisor, Senior.
• This position is for an Intermediate or Senior level position, based on the selected candidate's qualifications, skills and experience. Individuals should mention which level position they are applying for in their cover letter, or application materials.

About the Department/College

The NAU Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA), which is a part of the Strategic Enrollment and Marketing division (SEM), serves students by processing their financial aid documentation and advising them on their options for funding their higher education, while also working with other areas of student services to create opportunities for NAU students' educational success.

About the Position

The Financial Aid Advisor, Int. position within the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) directly processes the Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program, Student Support Services and the Earn to Learn program, while also supporting other areas within Client Services as workload demands. This role provides flexibility to assist with various financial aid processes during peak periods and reports directly to the Manager of Client Services.

This position is located on the Flagstaff Mountain campus.

Responsibilities Include

Financial Aid Programs Management - 50%

• Responsible for the Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program, Student Services Support and the Earn to Learn programs.
• Acts as the primary contact or specialist for all questions related to those programs.
• Initiates communications related to the managed programs and coordinates activities for the programs for internal and external partners.
• Implement ideas for streamlining processes for efficiency.
• Work collaboratively with the College of Education to ensure TEACH Grant program requirements are being met for eligible students.
• Work collaboratively with the Earn to Learn program to ensure Earn to Learn program requirements are being met for eligible students.
• Works with any and all appropriate campus-wide departments, including but not limited to Service Center, Solution Center, Office of the Registrar, and Student Accounts Department.
• Responsible for awarding, monitoring, and balancing all financial accounts between the TEACH Grant allocations and awards to students to ensure that TEACH funds are appropriately expended.
• Responsible for awarding, monitoring, and balancing all financial accounts between the Student Support Services allocations and awards to students to ensure that the funds are appropriately expended.
• Responsible for awarding, monitoring, and balancing all financial accounts between the Earn to Learn allocations and awards to students to ensure that Earn to Learn funds are appropriately expended.
• Responsible for all documentation to support TEACH grant, Student Support Services and Earn to Learn awards for students and tracking of awards over various aid years.
• Ensure programs are following federal, state, and institutional regulations while providing and communicating timely resolutions as needed.

Customer Service and Financial Support - 25%

• Provide excellent customer service to students and their families through a variety of avenues including walk-in appointments, phone appointments, virtual meetings, emails, and Salesforce cases.
• Serves as the primary contact for students and parents, providing in-depth interpretation of, counseling on, and resolution of problems with financial aid packages.
• Counsels and guides students and parents about financial aid eligibility, application procedures, aid programs, costs, debt management, repayment options, as well as terms and conditions for private, state, and federal financial aid programs. Assists with the completion and submission of financial aid documents, as needed.
• Analyzes a variety of factors (financial data, family circumstances, social background, academic status, educational goals) and applies knowledge of federal/state, donor and/or institutional guidelines to determine students' eligibility for various types of financial aid.
• Awards financial aid to students within federal/state, donor and/or institutional guidelines. Ensures the completion of applicable required documentation.
• Participates in special projects that are self-defined and assigned by other departmental needs.
• Participates in cross-training within office as needed.
• Ensures program are following federal, state, and institutional regulations and provide and communicate timely resolutions as needed.
• Participate in recruiting events as needed for the department.
• Develop and foster a collaborative work environment with students, their families, OSFA and NAU Departments.
• Consult with students and families on financial aid topics and provide excellent customer service.
• Investigate student accounts as needed to resolve any and all problems.
• Utilize several internal and external databases, including PeopleSoft, OnBase, Salesforce, COD, NSLDS, etc.
• Assist in testing updates and fixes, system upgrades, and other data processing as needed.

Financial Aid Appeals - 20%

• Process financial aid appeals related to Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), Contribution Appeals, Budget Appeals and Petitions for Dependency Override.
• Reviews submitted appeals and determines status of appeal using Professional Judgement as authorized by the Department of Education.
• Communicates appeal decisions to student.
• Educates students on appeal processes.

Other - 5%

• Other duties as assigned.

The Financial Aid Advisor, Senior

position within the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) manages the processing of the Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program, Student Support Services and the Earn to Learn program, while also supporting other areas within Client Services as workload demands. The position contributes senior-level skills and knowledge to the administration of the assigned programs, independently implementing changes to better improve processes and partnerships. This role provides flexibility to assist with various financial aid processes during peak periods and reports directly to the Manager of Client Services.

Responsibilities Include

Financial Aid Programs Management - 50%

• Processes the Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program, Student Services Support and the Earn to Learn programs.
• Acts as the primary contact or specialist for all questions related to those programs.
• Initiates communications related to the managed programs and coordinates activities for the programs for internal and external partners.
• Independently identifies problems and solutions independently, identifies and resolves missing information and improves upon existing processes.
• Work collaboratively with the College of Education to ensure TEACH Grant program requirements are being met for eligible students.
• Work collaboratively with the Earn to Learn program to ensure Earn to Learn program requirements are being met for eligible students.
• Works with any and all appropriate campus-wide departments, including but not limited to Service Center, Solution Center, Office of the Registrar, and Student Accounts Department.
• Responsible for awarding, monitoring, and balancing all financial accounts between the TEACH Grant allocations and awards to students to ensure that TEACH funds are appropriately expended.
• Responsible for awarding, monitoring, and balancing all financial accounts between the Student Support Services allocations and awards to students to ensure that the funds are appropriately expended.
• Responsible for awarding, monitoring, and balancing all financial accounts between the Earn to Learn allocations and awards to students to ensure that Earn to Learn funds are appropriately expended.
• Responsible for all documentation to support TEACH grant, Student Support Services and Earn to Learn awards for students and tracking of awards over various aid years.
• Ensure programs are following federal, state, and institutional regulations while providing and communicating timely resolutions as needed.

Customer Service and Financial Support - 25%

• Provides excellent customer service to students and their families through a variety of avenues including walk-in appointments, phone appointments, virtual meetings, emails, and Salesforce cases.
• Serves as the primary contact for students and parents, providing in-depth interpretation of, counseling on, and resolution of problems with financial aid packages.
• Counsels and guides students and parents about financial aid eligibility, application procedures, aid programs, costs, debt management, repayment options, as well as terms and conditions for private, state, and federal financial aid programs. Assists with the completion and submission of financial aid documents, as needed.
• Analyzes a variety of factors (financial data, family circumstances, social background, academic status, educational goals) and applies knowledge of federal/state, donor and/or institutional guidelines to determine students' eligibility for various types of financial aid.
• Awards financial aid to students within federal/state, donor and/or institutional guidelines. Ensures the completion of applicable required documentation.
• Participates in special projects that are self-defined and assigned by other departmental needs.
• Participates in cross-training within office as needed.
• Ensures program are following federal, state, and institutional regulations and provide and communicate timely resolutions as needed.
• Participate in recruiting events as needed for the department.
• Develop and foster a collaborative work environment with students, their families, OSFA and NAU Departments.
• Consult with students and families on financial aid topics and provide excellent customer service.
• Investigate student accounts as needed to resolve any and all problems.
• Utilize several internal and external databases, including PeopleSoft, OnBase, Salesforce, COD, NSLDS, etc.
• Assist in testing updates and fixes, system upgrades, and other data processing as needed.

Financial Aid Appeals - 20%

• Process financial aid appeals related to Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), Contribution Appeals, Budget Appeals and Petitions for Dependency Override.
• Reviews submitted appeals and determines status of appeal using Professional Judgement as authorized by the Department of Education.
• Communicates appeal decisions to student.
• Educates students on appeal processes.

Other - 5%

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

For Intermediate level:

• Associates or undergraduate Bachelor's degree.
• 2-4 years of relevant experience.

For Senior level:

• Undergraduate Bachelor's degree.
• 3 - 5 years of administrative / coordination experience.

*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.*

Preferred Qualifications

For both levels:

• Master's Degree.
• Experience working in a financial aid office and administering federal, state, and institutional aid.
• Demonstrated ability to efficiently and effectively solve problems and initiate and implement projects independently.
• Demonstrated organization skills including skills in coordinating projects, evaluating data and establishing priorities.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and ability to work with a diverse student, staff, and faculty population.
• Demonstrated capacity to adapt to change.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

For both levels:

Knowledge

• Knowledge of government rules, regulations, guidelines, and procedures related to financial aid.
• Knowledge of higher education law, including FERPA, Title IX, HIPAA, etc.

Skills

• Skills in prioritizing and completing multiple tasks of varying complexity and urgency in a timely and efficient manner.
• Customer service skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Skill in planning, organizing, and giving direction to meet desired office goals and objectives.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.

Abilities

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in working with students and individuals of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to analyze problems and make well-reasoned sound decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Extensive customer service experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively.

Compensation

Financial Aid Advisor, Intermediate:

• Salary range begins at $42,409. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

Financial Aid Advisor, Senior:

• Salary range begins at $47,174. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.