Financial Aid Advisor

Job Summary: The Financial Aid Advisor provides financial aid assistance and student support to prospective and currently enrolled students, families, campus partners, and external customers. Under the direction of the Director of Financial Aid, this position assists students and families in navigating the financial aid process, reviews financial aid documentation, processes awards, and provides accurate information regarding federal, state, institutional, and other financial aid programs. The Financial Aid Advisor is an important point of contact and is expected to provide welcoming, professional, and student-centered service. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, sound judgment, and a willingness to learn and apply complex financial aid regulations and institutional policies. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: - Administer federal, state, institutional, and other financial aid programs in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, institutional policies, and established procedures. - Counsel and advise prospective and currently enrolled students and their families regarding financial aid eligibility, application procedures, available programs, award requirements, deadlines, and financial aid policies. - Interpret and apply federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations and communicate requirements and decisions clearly and accurately to students. - Maintain accurate, complete, and confidential student financial aid records in accordance with FERPA and applicable laws, regulations, and College policies. - Provide accurate and timely responses to student inquiries through in-person visits, telephone, email, and other communication channels. - Maintain a high level of customer service while assisting students with sensitive financial and personal circumstances. - Understand and maintain working knowledge of Federal, State, Foundation, and Institutional aid programs and financial aid award allocations. - Review/evaluate financial aid applications and supporting documentation to determine eligibility and ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional requirements. · - Process and monitor financial aid awards, including grants, scholarships, work-study, student loans, and other forms of financial assistance. - Review and resolve verification requirements, conflicting information, professional judgment requests, satisfactory academic progress issues, enrollment changes, overawards, and other eligibility concerns. - Exercise professional judgment, when appropriate, in evaluating student circumstances and making financial aid eligibility determinations consistent with federal regulations and institutional policies. - Review and process financial aid appeals and other requests for reconsideration in accordance with established College procedures. - Handle aspects of daily operation including responding to voice mail messages and emails in a timely manner, handle incoming and outgoing mail, completing requisitions, scheduling appointments, and performing data entry. - Assist with the administration and reconciliation of federal, state, institutional, and external financial aid programs. - Identify and resolve discrepancies between financial aid records, student information systems, institutional accounts, and other applicable data sources. - Collaborate with Admissions, Registrar, Business Office, Advising/Recruitment, TRiO, and other College departments to resolve student issues and ensure accurate and timely delivery of financial aid. - Maintain working knowledge of financial aid software, student information systems, reporting tools, and other technology used in the administration of financial aid. - Participate in professional development and training to maintain current knowledge of financial aid regulations, best practices, and industry s andards. - Contribute to the development and improvement of financial aid procedures, processes, forms, communications, and services designed to improve student access, affordability, and success. - Support institutional enrollment, retention, and student-success initiatives through effective financial aid advising and collaboration with campus partners. - Develop and deliver financial aid presentations, workshops, orientations, and outreach activities for students, families, prospective students, and community partners. - Other duties as assigned. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: - Excellent communication skills; ability to effectively convey information -- oral, written, and interpersonal. - Active listener; demonstrate patience and judgment to act based on knowledge and training. - Self-starter, initiative to work independently and complete tasks in a timely manner. - Troubleshooting and problem solving. - Microsoft Office at an advanced level. - Excellent organization and time management. - Understand and interpret often unspoken and/or unclearly articulated needs and requests of the financial aid customer. - Manage a high volume of public contact. - Read and write at a level appropriate to duties of the position. - Basic math and budgeting. - Detail-oriented with the ability to multitask. - Plan and present informational programs to individuals and groups. - Considerable skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with officials, employees, students and parents. - Understand and adhere to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). - Understanding of integrated database systems and Policies & Procedures of NWCCD. - Working knowledge of Title IV financial aid process and office procedures. Working Conditions/Physical Requirements: - Office setting. - Occasional weekends and evenings. - Occasional travel. - Occasional lifting. Minimum Qualifications including education, experience, required licensures, certifications, and registrations: - Associate degree from accredited institution required, bachelor's degree preferred. - Microsoft Office experience. - Computer databases and records maintenance experience. - Budget maintenance and reconciliation experience. - Prior financial aid experience preferred. - Prior higher education experience preferred.