Financial Aid Advisor II

The role of the Financial Aid Advisor II will be part of a team tasked with administering the college’s need-based and merit based student aid programs:  performing  a variety of technical and clerical tasks in the maintenance and documentation of financial aid information; assisting in the planning, developing, implementing and administering all financial aid funds(including federal/state/institutional grants and institutional/private scholarships); disseminating financial aid information to students; and assisting students, staff and the general public in the interpretation of financial aid program policies and procedures.

The Financial Aid Advisor receives supervision from the Director of Financial Aid. This person may exercise technical and functional supervision over student work-study staff. 

General:

• Provide information to students regarding admissions/financial aid programs, eligibility requirements and application processes; interpret and explain the College’s financial aid policies and procedures to students.
• Provide initial contact and conduct workshops/seminars for financial aid information; respond to inquiries from students, faculty, staff and administration; screen and interview applicants for proper reference to financial aid programs. 
• Review documents as they arrive in the office; log documents and add to student files using the College’s document imagining software.
• Send letters to students notifying them of incomplete or missing information in their files.
• Maintain student records in the Datatel/Colleague System.
• Update and develop the Financial Aid Policy and Procedure Manual.
• Update sections of the Financial Aid web site.
• Perform a wide variety of clerical work; maintain accurate and detailed records; prepare and analyze reports; verify accuracy of calculations; research discrepancies and record information.
• Attend appropriate meetings and serve on committees, as requested.
• Provide excellent customer service to callers in the queue.
• Assist with creating and updating financial aid forms on an annual basis.

Unique responsibilities:

• Ensure institutional compliance with all federal and state requirements and advise senior staff of actions necessary to ensure institutional compliance. Ensure compliance with federal regulatory requirements in monitoring electronic access to the National Student Loan Database System that contains financial aid history information on recipients of student assistance authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. 
• Ensure proper protection of any printed or computer generated National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) information as required by the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended.
• Complete the Golden Leaf spreadsheet submitted to the System Office monthly.
• Promote the COA Foundation application through emails, postcards, website updates and Financial Aid Awareness week. Award scholarship recipients and continually evaluate the individual scholarships to re-award as necessary based on the specific requirements for each one.
• Monitor student enrollment for student aid programs and gather documentation as necessary for return of Title IV calculations including printing screenshots, resolving conflicts of information with Registrar.
• Completing Return of Title IV calculations including: setting up new school calendar profile in COD as needed, completing calculation in COD Access, printing job request/letter to student, adjusting aid, running FATR, working closely with the business office to ensure timely returns, sending CODE adjustments, completing return calculation on state grant portal for any students receiving NCCCG and NCELS that have withdrawn.
• Monitor incomplete grades for changes.
• Assist students to make late charges at the Bookstore.
• Assist with the review of tuition refunds, as needed by the Business Office.
• Importing process including: Importing ISIR’s and sending new list of unlinked ISIR’s to staff, determining which ISIR’s are not active and researching to see if they should be active and updating if needed, printing ISIR’s into Etrieve, checking for DRN’s and recording in Datatel and Etrieve, assigning budgets, assigning SAP statuses, running and reviewing X9FC2 report and updating CRI, printing and mailing information requests, requesting and importing State Grant file from College Foundation.
• Complete subsequent ISIR review and mail appropriate letter or complete FA file.
• Review non-pay report during drop periods.
• Assist as needed with the Colleague Set-up for each new academic year. Update and create financial aid forms.
• Assist with the Satisfactory Academic Progress evaluation at each checkpoint.
• Responsible for determining eligibility award recipients for the COA Scholars Program scholarship.
• Import and review weekly Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used report, update names/percentages on LEU Master List.
• Send current file of approved students to Transfer Monitoring.
• Review the uncashed check list provided by the Business Office. Contact students by various means and return funds if necessary.
• Process regular financial aid disbursements and ConEd disbursements. Send applicable disbursements to the Common Origination & Disbursement system and complete certifications on the state grant portal.
• Review/resolve Residency discrepancies identified on CFNC Portal. Reconcile state grants monthly.
• Verify data and assess tax information for students selected for verification by the US Department of Education and transmit corrections via Colleague or Financial Aid Administrator (FAA) Access.
• Submit information electronically to the US Department of Education for processing.
• Review applications for completeness; determine eligibility for federal, state or private funds and calculate awards; prepare student files; enter data into the computer.
• Communicate satisfactory academic progress with students; help them to understand their options and what effects withdrawing or failing will have on their eligibility.
• Test data prior to the start of each new academic year, review early batches of new Institutional Student Information Reports (ISIRs) – test comments / information letters requests
• Award and disburse last dollar funds to eligible Dare county students.
• Process Finish Line Grant applications.
• Process scholarship applications and notify recipients.
• Re-award Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) as needed.
• Monthly V4/V5 reporting.
• Update Financial Aid reporting spreadsheet monthly.
• Perform other duties in absence of other staff member and as assigned.

Possess the ability to:

• Interpret and apply pertinent college, federal and state policies, procedures, rules and regulations of student financial assistance programs.
• Tactfully respond to requests for information regarding Admissions/Financial Aid.
• Demonstrate ability to manage and use financial aid software, specifically Datatel Colleague.
• Operate a personal computer, including MS Office.
• Excellent analytical skills for financial aid research and data integrity.
• Good eye for detail and exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• Identify challenges and implement solutions.
• Multi-task and work in a high fast paced environment and readily adjust to change.
• Maintain the security of confidential student records.
• Work independently without supervision.
• Prioritize work for timely completion.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Treat others respectfully, speak to others courteously and behave in such a way that creates a workplace environment that is marked by trustworthiness, honest but polite communication and interpersonal interactions that are both personally cordial and professionally appropriate.
• Act as a team player with all employees of the college.
• Establish and co-ordinate lines of communication across areas of the college with an emphasis on Business Office, Admissions Office, Registrar’s Office and with faculty members.
• Attend training sessions necessary to keep current with required financial aid compliance topics and best practices.  This may include local, state or national training.

The salary range posted for this position represents the full approved salary range.  Initial salary placement typically falls between the minimum and midpoint of the range and is determined by the College based on the candidate’s qualifications, relevant experience, internal equity, and budgetary considerations.

College of The Albemarle is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive learning and working environment. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal or North Carolina law and COA policies.

Employment with College of The Albemarle is contingent upon the satisfactory results of background and reference checks.

College of The Albemarle does not provide work visa sponsorships. To be considered for employment, applicants must be permitted to legally work in the United States without employer sponsorship. 

Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies and employment questions may be directed to Human Resources | coa_hr@albemarle.edu