Financial Aid Specialist I

JOB CLASSIFICATION
Pay grade level: 11
Compensation: $38,967 - $53,578. Compensation will be commensurate with education and experience.
Employee category: Full Time Staff
Department: Student Financial Aid       
Reports to: Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid
FLSA status: Non-Exempt
Job Code: SA051FTNSLS
Location: Primarily Main Campus, but any other college location as assigned by the appropriate administrator

SUMMARY
This is a full-time position responsible for analyzing student loan requests, satisfactory academic progress appeals, provisional independent appeals, unusual enrollment history documentation, and unaccompanied or homeless student documentation. Compliance prescreening includes determining student need, securing all documentation for several compliance-based processes, and student communication of results.

This staff member will monitor eligibility for students and prepare reports as needed to maintain federal compliance. This position is responsible for assisting in student outreach as it pertains to financial literacy and retention. This individual will report directly to the Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

• Determine student loan eligibility for student loan applicants and complete certification worksheet for each loan requested.
• Resolve loan request discrepancies and ensure the accuracy of information transmitted to and from the U.S. Department of Education remains in compliance with federal student eligibility and needs analysis requirements.
• Monitor and verify each student's eligibility for a loan on the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
• Aid students and prospective applicants regarding financial aid eligibility standards.
• Support compliance by regularly reviewing student records as it relates to satisfactory academic progress, unusual enrollment history, provisional independence, and unaccompanied or homeless student statuses.
• Resolve discrepancies presented under the federal transfer monitoring process.
• Routinely correspond with students regarding their completion of their student financial aid file and loan exit requirements.
• Provide support to students who have questions regarding their federal financial aid eligibility.
• Contact students in a timely manner with award offers and resolve conflicting data in a timely fashion.
• Research student demographic data to provide pre-claims assistance to federal loan servicers.
• Respond promptly to student telephone inquiries and e-mails.
• Provide guidance to students in completion of federal loan requirements including entrance counseling and completion of their Master Promissory Note (MPN).
• Adjust student loan packages to ensure compliance with current enrollment and federal student eligibility requirements.
• Configure data annually on defaulted student loan borrowers, graduates and other student loan populations.
• Prepare and distribute consumer information and loan debt letters to those students who have reached their subsidized or aggregate loan limits.
• Monitor daily changes to student enrollment affecting loan eligibility and ensure federal compliance is being met.
• Maintain a knowledge base of current federal, state, and institutional regulations governing federal student aid.
• Attending on and off campus financial aid training as recommended by supervisor.
• Represent the Student Financial Aid Office at campus and public events as requested.
• Must be available for some travel and be able to work evening and weekend hours when required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Have a demonstrated in-depth knowledge of a diverse and broad range of student financial aid
• programs and services to attract and support adult and non-traditional students.
• Have a clear knowledge of both federal and institutional policies as they relate to the student financial aid and enrollment process.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to and ability to work with a diverse student, faculty, and staff population.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to inclusive practices that promote social justice and equity.
• High energy, self-starter who can work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to develop and maintain excellent working relationships and establish credibility with all levels of students, faculty, and staff in the organization and community partners.
• Detail-oriented.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 applications.
• Ability to manage several projects with multiple deadlines simultaneously.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Two (2) years of relevant customer service experience
• For financial aid recipients, must be in good standing on all federal student aid programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate degree
• Demonstrated experience working with student financial aid programs and services.
• Demonstrated experience within a higher education institution working with a student population with a highly diverse, first-generation, and financially fragile population.
• Demonstrated experience working with a student information system, database, customer relationship management, or similar software system.
• Multilingual speaking and writing proficiency.

WORKING CONDITIONS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and occasionally push or lift items. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK SCHEDULE
40 hours per week. Variable hours between 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Must be able to work a variable schedule/hour to meet operational needs. May require evening and weekend hours.

To Apply

Visit www.kckcc.edu and click on CAREERS for a list of available positions.

• Read the job announcement carefully noting the initial screening date, minimum qualifications, and required information. Note that information contained in your application materials will be used to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. Make sure you complete/submit all the documents listed as required.
• If the position lists a required transcript (during the application process) unofficial transcripts may be submitted. However, please note that upon selection for hire, you will be required to submit official transcripts.
• Ensure that your transcripts show that a degree was awarded or conferred if you are stating that it is your highest level of education completed. If you certify your level of education and it cannot be verified from your transcript(s), your application may not be referred to the selection committee.
• Foreign degrees are acceptable provided they have been translated and/or shown to have equivalency to a United States: Associate, Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate level degree.
• Documentation verifying completion of a degree, course work within a discipline, or other educational criteria should be electronically attached (uploaded) to your application.
• Three (3) professional references with phone number and email addresses are required.
• A college selection committee is responsible for application review and interviews. The final candidate(s) selected to be hired will be made by the hiring manager.
• Successful completion of a background check on all persons recommended for employment is required Individual hiring departments may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions as part of the applicant selection/hiring process.

***This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. This job description may be revised upon development of other duties and changes in responsibilities.

KCKCC is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Educational Institution