CDS GRADUATE FINANCIAL AID SPECIALIST, Office of the Provost

General Description

The CDS Graduate Financial Aid Specialist supports all graduate-level financial aid and related operational processes primarily in support of BUs online at scale programs and with residential graduate programs as needed.

This role is responsible for the planning management and communication of financial aid including federal aid (FAFSA Direct Loans Graduate PLUS Loans) scholarships external funding for masters students. Reporting to the CDS Assistant Director of Graduate Financial Aid and Operations this position works closely with prospective and enrolled online students online graduate program leadership and BU-wide partners on financial aid strategy and processing. The role requires strong attention to detail cross-functional collaboration organizational skills customer service orientation and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced academic environment.

Essential Functions

Loan Processing 30%

Responsible for overseeing all financial aid and scholarship processing for online masters students ensuring compliance with federal and institutional financial aid regulations and updating policies and procedures to reflect best practices. This role manages communications through BU SIS systems email and website updates processes student refunds and participates in university-wide financial aid meetings and training.

Financial Aid Counseling 30%

Responsible for providing financial aid counseling to prospective and current students on cost of attendance federal loan eligibility including Direct and Grad PLUS loans alternative and private loan options external scholarships and payment plan options. This role advises students on the financial implications of withdrawal or leave of absence conducts one-on-one counseling with students and families and serves as a liaison to key BU offices including the Office of Financial Assistance Student Accounting GPAC and the SIS renewal team.

Cross College Coordination 20%

Responsible for collaborating with colleagues across program home colleges to ensure student needs and program-specific requirements are effectively supported while aligning financial aid processes and communications across multiple colleges to promote consistency and clarity for students. This role serves as a liaison between CDS and partner colleges to coordinate policies timelines and student support strategies identifies and resolves cross-college operational challenges related to financial aid admissions and the student experience and ensures compliance with varying college and university policies while maintaining a seamless student experience.

Enrollment & Compliance Oversight 20%

Responsible for tracking part-time eligibility adjusting awards based on enrollment changes and assisting with the term-by-term monitoring of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) including issuing warnings managing ineligibility notifications and reviewing appeals. This role also advises students on multi-year borrowing strategies and the financial aid implications of part-time enrollment status.