Financial Aid Advisor II

Under the directions of the Director of Financial Aid the Financial Aid Advisor II performs specialized technical duties involving financial aid advising packaging and complex eligibility determination; conducts student need analysis and assists students in the application process for financial aid; analyzes complex application documents and interfaces with other agencies to verify student eligibility; packages financial aid awards as assigned monitors and evaluates student academic records to determine if students meet financial aid satisfactory academic progress standards; and performs other related duties as assigned by the Director.

This position is currently open until 11:59 pm on January 30th 2026.

This position is only open to internal applicants (currently employed Classified employees).

Internal candidates are interviewed and considered prior to any external candidates in accordance with the current Classified Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Financial Aid Advising & Awarding Duties may be distributed between team members based on business needs and workflow efficiency (approx. 70% of Time)

1. Performs specialized technical duties involving financial aid advising packages and complex eligibility determinations; serves as a technical resource to other employees regarding financial aid eligibility; interprets and applies federal and state regulations related to financial aid-related regulations administrative policies and operational procedures.
2. Assists students in the application process for financial aid by providing information and answering questions regarding financial aid helps complete appropriate and required forms provides advice on rights and responsibilities concerning financial aid and provides information regarding the status of financial aid applications in person via email telephone or other electronic means.
3. Analyzes complex application documents required to determine financial aid eligibility by reviewing identifying and resolving discrepancies between financial aid applications federal tax returns and database matches; initiates requests for supporting documents to resolve conflicting information.
4. Interfaces with other external agencies to verify eligibility by exchanging information using various databases and software systems; verifies dual enrollment; determines the validity of foreign homeschool and online high school diplomas and refers students to evaluation agencies as needed; determines appropriate financial aid eligibility for students in special circumstances including but not limited to; consortium agreement student eligibility verification.
5. Packages financial aid awards in accordance with standard need analysis criteria and federal and state eligibility regulations and current policies/procedures; processes awarding of funds to students following state and federal rules and regulations including special financial aid programs which may include grants scholarships or loans.
6. Acts as a liaison to otherappropriate Districtdepartment(s)and outside agencies to provide technicalassistanceon the financial aid application process regulationsandcurrent policies/procedures.
7. Conducts and coordinates financial aid workshops for studentsparentsoutside groupsandhigh schools.
8. Engages collaboratively in the day-to-day office operations; maintains office procedures for positions and provides input on technicalimprovements tostreamlinefinancial aidapplication processing.
9. Searches databases and record systems gathers compiles and reports financial aid information; prepares complex and detailed reports correspondence and other documents to summarize data on financial aid recipients awards and disbursements; maintains specialized information and complex interrelated files in filing systems.
10. Reconciles awarding as assigned on a monthly quarterly and annual basis.
11. Maintain forms and communication templates as needed. Monitor all financial aid communications to ensure critical information related to awards deadlines outstanding items are communicated in a timely manner.
12. Maintains confidentiality of records andcomplies withthe Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations andprotectingthe privacy of student records.
13. Maintains documentation to comply with audit requirements.
14. Academic Progress (SAP) Monitoring
    1. Monitors and evaluates student academic records to determine if a student is meeting financial aid satisfactory academic progress standards to maintain eligibility; monitors and manages subsequent Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications; identifies conflicts and notifies students of documents required for resolution.
    2. After approval from Director process student appeals and communicates appeal decision to students and advisors.

1. Internal and External Scholarship & Institutional Waiver Processing
   1. Assist in the development of a scholarship calendar for academic year and set deadlines; provide support for processing applications and notifying students of their selection and disbursing funds.
   2. Inputs various awards from internal and external sources (e.g. scholarships grants) into the Districts database system.
   3. Conduct financial need analysis for tribal students and work with Tribal Education Office to ensure students are receiving aid.
   4. Receive record and process all external scholarship funds; coordinate with the College Foundation and other sources to determine the amount of funds available to award; initiate the award of scholarship monies and approve the disbursement of funds in accordance with established guidelines and criteria.
   5. Maintain information and data required to support timely monitoring of the status of all scholarship awards regardless of source including award notifications requests for and status of disbursements status of student accounts and existence of unused funds.
   6. Provide technical support and assistance to all students seeking information about or applying for scholarships including paper-based as well as online applications.
2. Work Study & Student Employment Processing
   1. Coordinate the federal work study program.
   2. Work in conjunction with Human Resources to maintain the student employment database. Approve all federal work study positions in the Colleges database system in accordance with college policies and procedures; troubleshoot and correct discrepancies in the system as needed. Process federal work study and general student applications.
   3. Provide staff students and employers with information regarding policies and procedures relative to the campus student employment opportunities. Create and maintain the federal work study student handbookprocedures and forms as needed.
   4. Identify employment opportunities on and off campus for work study; including jobs that meet the federally mandated community service requirements.
   5. Maintains work study program data and end of year federal reporting.Process monthly expenditure reconciliations.
   6. Reconciles Student Federal Work Study (FWS) records with appropriate College department(s) resolves over-awards by adjusting aid as applicable and informing the department management of any changes.
   7. Work collaboratively with payroll to reconcile student employment records and reporting as required. Monitors monthly earnings of students and notifies supervisors of eligible hours available.
   8. Monitors financial aid award reports for award changes. Provides advice and guidance in employment counseling and counsels students on alternatives to work study funding.
   9. Conduct training sessions for supervisors.
   10. Monitors program compliance on the applicable local state and federal laws policies procedures and regulations including conducting mandated on-site visits to work locations to ensure integrity of program guidelines.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Associates degree required.

Minimum of three (3) years of related work experience including at least two (2) years of experience in financial aid operations and administration required.

Successful applicants for this position must possess the following knowledge skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing using the English language with or without the use of an interpreter. Ability to effectively communicate orally with groups and/or individual and deal with peers the public and the community in a positive empathetic and professional manner.
• Ability to work effectively with populations representing diverse social economic cultural ideological and ethnic backgrounds life experiences and abilities including community members students faculty and staff.
• Ability to follow established procedures and work independently to accomplish those procedures.
• Ability and willingness to manage a flexible work schedule with self-discipline including travel various hours and possible weekends/evenings as well as work days at other college locations.
• Exhibit a high level of computer literacy sufficient to use software such as email word processing spreadsheets and databases to produce correspondence documents and reports. Ability to use Internet Microsoft Outlook Word and Excel as needed.
• Ability to plan organize and carry out activities independently. Strong time management skills to support efficient work production and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work with time deadlines and a high level of accuracy using independent judgement in determining college and student eligibility.
• Clear understanding of the role of registration and student records in protecting the integrity of the academic -depth knowledge of FERPA and records security.
• Knowledge of the administration of federal financial aid programs processes and regulations with such knowledge maintained through regularly attending industry workshops and webinars monitoring agency updates and engaging with financial aid peers at state and national levels.
• Knowledge of computerized student information systems computer applications in admissions/registrar services related technologies and experience with systems development implementation and enhancement.
• Ability to develop and apply flexibility resourcefulness and creative approaches to solve problems with an understanding of the institution-wide systems.
• Ability to develop and present educational programs and/or workshops.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A degree in accounting or business related program.
• Jenzabar and PowerFaids experience.
• Experience in Career counseling or employment guidance work.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OR LICENSES

None

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Southwestern Oregon Community College only accepts applications through this online application system. We want you to be successful in applying with us. We highly encourage you to complete and submit your application in advance of the deadline.

For assistance with this please For technical assistance with your application please call .

Please note: We recognize that our application process can be lengthy so before you begin please read all of the stated requirements to determine if you meet them. Applicants must meet all of the stated minimum/special qualifications and additional requirements to be considered for this position. Based on your responses to the qualifying questions the system may automatically screen you out from further consideration.

Required documents must be provided at the time of application. Please remove any personal information such as photographs date of birth gender social security number and other protected information from your containing protected information will be considered incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Positions are subject to budget consideration and approval. For the candidate who is hired into this position salary placement will be based on guidelines in administrative policies and procedures or collective bargaining agreements (as applicable). For this reason please be sure to include everything in your application that you want the college to consider towards placement.

The college does not sponsor employees in the visa application process if they intend to use this as their means to work in the United States. This means that all required work visas must be in place and supported by appropriate evidence to be employed by Southwestern.

Final candidates will be subject to a criminal background check as part of the employment process.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

This job description is a general description of essential job is not intended as an employment contract nor is it intended to describe all responsibilities skills effort or work conditions associated with the job someone in this position would perform. All employees of Southwestern Oregon Community College are expected to perform tasks as assigned by Southwestern Oregon Community College supervisory/management personnel regardless of job title or routine job duties.

VETERANS PREFERENCE STATEMENT

Applicants are eligible to use Veterans Preference when applying with Southwestern Oregon Community College in accordance with ORS 408.225 408.230 and 408.235; and OAR and . Preference will only be given if the applicant meets the minimum qualifications and any special qualifications for the position and electronically attach the required documentation at the time of application.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

• MEMBER COPY 4 of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215) OR Letter from the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs indicating a non-service connected pension.
• Disabled Veterans must also submit a copy of their Veterans disability preference letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • You can request copies of your military service record through the National Archives website at: information regarding Veterans Preference qualifications visit the following website: is the policy of Southwestern Oregon Community College Board of Education that there will be no discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race color gender marital status sexual orientation religion national origin age political affiliation parental status veteran status or disability in any educational programs activities or employment. Persons having questions about equal opportunity and nondiscrimination should contact Vice President of Administrative Services in Tioga or TDD . All other issues concerns and complaints should also be directed to the Vice President of Administrative Services for referral to the appropriate Manager.

    
    

    Annual Campus Crime/Annual Fire Safety (Clery Act) Report

    The Jeanne Clery Disclosure for Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (formerly the Campus Security Act) is a federal law that requires institutions of higher education to disclose campus security information including crime statistics for the campus and surrounding area. As a current or prospective Southwestern student or employee you have a right to obtain a copy of this information. You may review this information here:Annual Campus Crime/Annual Fire Safety (Clery Act) Report. You may also obtain a hard copy of this information upon request by contacting Administrative Services at .