Assistant Director, Financial Aid (Graduate)

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Meet with prospective and enrolled students as requested to discuss financial concerns answer questions about financial aid awarding and eligibility and review alternative resources to finance education costs.
• Required to offer a minimum of four hours of office hours per week for incoming and continuing graduate students. This includes a mixture of late morning and late afternoon availability.
• Complete file review including the federal verification process; troubleshooting common errors with posting financial aid packages clearing FAFSA C-Flag etc.
• Review submitted documentation for accuracy and completion making necessary corrections to financial aid applications with speed and accuracy and requesting additional documents as needed.
• Analyze students records and financial aid applications for discrepancies or conflicting information and request the necessary documentation to correct these issues.
• Process all aspects of specific federal or institutional aid programs determine eligibility for Federal Direct Loans and institutional scholarships; build audit and adjust budgets for graduate students every semester.
• Provide outreach to students about registration plans that might need adjustments to their financial aid package based on their registration.
• Serve as the lead Financial Aid officer for specific graduate programs; attend regular meetings with community partners including Financial Aid webinars in-person recruiting events etc.
• Complete reconciliation of specific scholarships to confirm that amounts align with registration and are disbursed at appropriate points in the term.
• Collaborate with graduate aid officers to share timely updates and track applications through each phase of the aid cycle.
• Provide guidance and basic knowledge training and share updates/developments regarding the graduate programs to graduate student workers and Student Financial Services staff who will be assisting with phone coverage.
• Plan and maintain all things needed for a successful academic year (summer fall spring) including timeline of packaging meetings presentations workshops town halls billing deadlines and communications.
• Assist the Office of Student Accounts with account review collection and outreach for active and inactive graduate population ensuring balance payments are collected or received by payment deadlines.
• Assist in the management of graduate level billing rules in Banner as well as invoice creation and management of related population selections.
• Responsible for applying and tracking balance holds for graduate population.
• Support the other graduate student programs with awarding budgeting outreach and webinars as needed.
• Other areas of support include student employment onboarding and support NSLDS/C-Flag processing for federal compliance Loan processing troubleshooting via COD Touchnet payment plan support NFT outreach.
• Work with Student Loan Manager and other Student Financial Services staff to offer exit counseling sessions to graduating students to add additional layer of default prevention.
• Assist the Office of Financial Aid with File Review for incoming undergraduate students when volume is high.
• Assist with department phone coverage anywhere between 4-6 hours each week. During peak hours/times additional coverage might be needed.
• Perform general administrative tasks.
• Perform other miscellaneous duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform job.

• Bachelors Degree required. Masters Degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in finance financial aid accounting and/or strong customer service setting required.
• 2-4 years of experience in a financial aid department is preferred.
• Minimum one year of experience of using Banner required; 2-3 years experience preferred.
• Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail required.
• Fluency in a second language preferred.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES May be representative but not all-inclusive of those knowledge skills and abilities commonly associated with the job.

• Knowledge of Slate Touchnet various other systems/portals
• Proficiency in using Google Suite applications Microsoft suite software and the ability to learn new software easily
• Comfortable navigating COD NSLDS and other federal systems
• Knowledge of undergraduate financial aid packaging rules and regulations.
• Broad understanding of Student Financial Services general services procedures and policies
• Ability to handle difficult phone calls and student meetings by communicating information clearly and compassionately.
• Up-to-date knowledge of college and federal rules governing financial aid policies procedures and pre-requisites
• Understanding of the financial aid review cycles as it relates to applicants current students students returning and students leaving or graduating
• Self-starter with excellent interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills
• Strong customer service skills and the ability to engage with students and parents in a patient and positive manner
• Good organizational skills with the ability to maintain multiple projects simultaneously and to prioritize tasks
• Ability to handle stressful situations in a courteous and professional manner
• Ability to engage well with a diverse population

PHYSICAL ABILITIES Activities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• This position is generally sedentary in nature movement throughout the area is required from time to time.
• Ability to have continuous oral and written communication with students families co-workers and supervisors is essential.
• Repetitive movements occasional lifting of up to 10 pounds reaching lifting stooping and the ability to read a computer screen detect color-coding and read fine print will be expected.

WORK ENVIRONMENT Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

• General office conditions.
• Exposed to moderate noise levels

In addition to a competitive salary Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20 hours per week.

Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses dental plans generous time-off programs and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits such as life and disability coverage as well as commuter offerings are available.

Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.