"Financial Aid Advisor"

Excelling in quality, innovation, and impact, UCLA Extension (UNEX) is one of the top providers of continuing and professional education in the United States, offering programs and classes to more than 50,000 students per year through approximately 4,500 classes and certificate programs to meet the professional development, continuing education, and personal enrichment needs of the full spectrum of traditional, nontraditional, domestic, international, professional, and continuing education students throughout and beyond Los Angeles. Access, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (AEDI) is one of UCLA Extension's guiding principles. We strive to extend access to UCLA, our programs, and services to underrepresented communities and populations, while serving as a model organization for AEDI in the field of continuing higher education. Committed to attracting and retaining diverse staff & instructors, UCLA Extension welcomes your experiences, perspectives, and unique identity.

Under the direct supervision of the Financial Aid Manager, the Financial Aid Advisor is responsible for counseling students and parents regarding all aspects of financial aid including the financial aid application and delivery system, federal, state and university financial aid programs, the Federal Direct Loan Program, Veterans Affairs-related benefits, and other types of aid/Work Force Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) contracts. This role involves conducting student financial aid processes, including receiving and maintaining student files, processing and awarding aid, counseling/advising students, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Additional responsibilities include serving as the Veterans Affairs Coordinator, managing special programs (Dentistry, WIOA contract and UCLA Global Online), utilizing various student service systems, and assisting the Financial Aid Manager with report completion and scholarship fund administration. They will also screen and answer questions via phone calls and emails in a timely manner.

*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

Qualifications:

• 2 - 3 years Minimum of progressively responsible, related professional experience in financial aid, preferably in a postsecondary or closely related setting (Required)
• Strict compliance with Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) laws; Strict compliance with Federal, State, and University policies and regulations governing Financial Aid, Workforce Investment Board and Veterans Benefits. (Required)
• Strict compliance with the UC, UCLA, and UNEX policies governing enrollment, academic records, academic integrity, financial aid; Ability to read policies and procedures written in Standard English text and interpret the information clearly and accurately to students and other internal/external customers in a manner that is easy to understand. (Required)
• Ability to honor confidentiality and handle confidential/sensitive matters with discretion and tact. (Required)
• Mathematical skills sufficient to perform basic calculations, ratios, rates, percentages and other financial operations with speed and accuracy. (Required)
• Working knowledge of Financial Aid Management System (FAM) or similar systems. (Preferred)
• Demonstrated expertise in using current and future UNEX systems required for service to students, including but not limited to Student Information System, Virtual Contact Center, live chat, and queue-management systems; ability to understand basic work (Required)
• Ability to respond to customer needs and expectations in a supportive and professional manner, with attention to promptness and a focus on solutions. Diplomatically resolve complaints, and demonstrate respect for persons of various social and cultural backgrounds; Ability to maintain a calm and professional demeanor when communicating with disgruntled students or facing an emergency situation. (Required)
• Adhere to established work schedule; arrive on time and prepared for meetings; follow through on promises and commitments. (Required)
• Ability to foster strong, collaborative relationships with other Student Services units, UNEX academic and administrative offices, and campus partner offices. (Required)
• Ability to take initiative in resolving communication problems or misunderstandings in the workplace calmly, respectfully, and with professionalism at all times; Demonstrated ability to advise, facilitate, problem solve, and to work effectively and diplomatically under time pressures, frequent interruptions, and distractions in a fast-paced environment. (Required)
• Exceptional professional judgment working with a population of students who can sometimes be vulnerable and in need of sensitive support; Demonstrated experience working with financial aid in a post-secondary educational institution. (Required)
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to ensure direct, effective, respectful, and cooperative interactions with diverse groups of people, including students, instructors, senior-level administrators, staff, campus department; Ability to successfully balance responsibility to the institution with responsibility to the student. Keen instincts on when an issue should be escalated to Manager for consultation or resolution. (Required)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations:

• Bachelor's Degree Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training (Required)
• Master's Degree Master's degree in higher education / student affairs and / or related area (Preferred)

Special Conditions for Employment:

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.
• Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.
• Ability to occasionally work flexible shifts (nights and weekends) for special events. (Required)

Schedule: Monday - Friday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm PST