Financial Aid Systems Analyst (Financial Aid Specialist)

POSITION DETAILS

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students.

Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility - moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond - in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020). Please visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

Under the directions from the Financial Aid Manager, the Financial Aid Systems Analyst will be responsible for analyzing and implementing financial aid regulations and policies; creating and developing financial aid databases, reports, and running queries. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assist in the day-to-day administrative and systems operations for optimal efficiency and customer service;
• Assist in the development of on-line financial aid forms, to reflect ever-changing financial aid regulations;
• Write and develop financial aid reports, databases, and queries;
• Test software upgrades and new aid year configurations;
• Create and maintain business process documentation;
• Conduct CUNYFIRST training for the Financial Aid staff and other student service departments;
• Perform functions required for the compliance and administration of the Federal Title IV financial aid programs (Pell, FSEOG, FWS and Direct Loans), including Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and Professional Judgments;
• Perform functions required for the compliance and administration of the New York State Aid Programs (TAP, Excelsior, PTAP, APTS) for degree and non-degree eligible students;
• Assist with the quality assurance and program compliance of Federal Title IV financial aid programs (Pell, FSEOG, FWS and Direct Loans), including Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), Professional Judgments, and Return to Title IV (R2T4);
• Identify and analyze rejected data and take appropriate action to resolve issues in the processing of the bi-weekly student payroll for federal programs;
• Assist in processing, disbursing and resolving Federal Title IV program and payment issues;
• Assist in preparation of various management reports;
• Conduct internal quality control reviews and assessments to review compliance with federal, state, and university policies and procedures;
• Update appropriate databases and software as needed;
• Recommend and present training sessions, workshops, and webinars for the purpose of reducing workload processing errors and improving accuracy of work output;
• Develop and prepare training sessions based on findings of assessment review and analysis;
• Represent the department on and off campus as requested;
• Keep abreast of financial aid regulations, policies, and procedures. to students applying for federal, state and institutional aid;
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned;

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree and four years' related experience required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in higher education.
• Experience with CUNYFirst system or PeopleSoft, including running and creating queries.
• Knowledge of federal and state financial aid programs, and regulations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of SQL, PeopleSoft, Microsoft office, NextGen
• Schedule must remain flexible during peak periods. Evening hours required.

CUNY TITLE OVERVIEW

Administers and supervises financial aid programs and operations.

• Reviews contracts, disbursements, tuition and fees; validates student eligibility for various programs
• Administers, monitors and troubleshoots CUNY financial aid systems as well as Federal and NY State systems in order to ensure integrity of student databases and timely and accurate delivery of funds
• Assists CUNY staff, applicants, and students/families with advice on financial aid issues and eligibility
• May review and reconcile student payroll processing
• Represents the Financial Aid function at Admissions events; works with academic departments as well as Bursar, Registrar, Admissions and Computing offices to assure staff understand and implement financial aid processes correctly
• Assists in the development and evaluation of Admissions processes
• Prepares documentation, instructions, and materials in various media to support financial aid activities
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Job Title Name: Financial Aid Specialist

CUNY TITLE: Higher Education Assistant

FLSA: Exempt

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

$70,815 - $82,663

Salary commensurate with education and experience.

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

HOW TO APPLY

Visit www.cuny.edu, access the employment page, log in or create a new user account, and search for this vacancy using the Job ID or Title. Select "Apply Now" and provide the requested information.

Candidates should provide a resume and cover letter.

CLOSING DATE: Open until filled.