Financial Aid Counselor - Online AY1

Purpose:

The role of an FA Counselor is to facilitate the process of clearing student's financial aid eligibility as they transition from the admissions department to financial aid. This role will challenge individuals to think outside the box to provide outstanding customer service while playing a crucial role in support of our students. FA Counselors should have a high-level understanding of Title IV funding, guidelines, and Federal regulations as well as the ability to demonstrate or coach students on this subject matter. FA Counselors will be expected to meet with leadership on a weekly basis to communicate trends, obstacles and needs of their assigned students. FA Counselors should possess in-depth knowledge of current FSA systems and internal LAFS processes.

This opening is a full-time, primarily remote role with required in-office days scheduled per month. Our online team offices are based in Winter Park, FL.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Advise incoming students and parents of all necessary processes relating to Title IV financial aid, ensuring a seamless experience prior to the student's start in their program.
• Advise student of total program costs, out of pocket expenses and eligibility of Title IV financial aid funds.
• Develop and maintain relationships and communication channels with students, parents, and all Los Angeles Film School departments involved in pursuit of degree.
• Request, track, and advise student on all outstanding documents needed for student to utilize Title IV financial aid funding.
• Communicate timelines to students and parents to ensure any documentation is received in a timely manner.
• Review documentation and make necessary corrections to student information based on Department of Education guidelines for clearing the student through verification processes.
• Update tracking systems to reflect student's status within the financial aid process.
• Maintain telephone coverage during assigned hours, including answering inbound calls from students and internal customers, and making outbound calls to collect student documentation and arrange for Financial Aid appointments.
• Meet with Team Leads multiple times per week to update student files and relay student progression through the financial aid process.
• Adhere to policies and procedures of the Los Angeles Film School.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of company and personnel information.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to the mission and values of the organization.
• Adhere to company attendance standards.

Other Responsibilities:

• Perform other duties as assigned

Competencies | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities:

• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Flexible schedule; ability to work night and weekend coverage as required.
• Ability to deliver outstanding customer service by telephone, e-mail, and other methods.
• Ability to follow processes, work effectively on a team, and maintain a positive attitude.
• Creative problem-solver with attention to detail.
• Professional, upbeat, social, and dependable.
• Ability to answer complicated student questions accurately and in detail.

Education | Experience:

• Bachelor's degree preferred but will consider financial aid experience in lieu of degree.
• At least one year of Financial Aid experience required.
• At least one year of customer service experience required.
• At least one-year experience working within FSA systems (CPS, COD, NSLDS) preferred.
• Applicant must not currently be or have been in default on student loans.

Computer Skills:

• Strong computer software skills (Excel, Word, and Outlook) required.
• Ability to learn new programs as required, etc.

Environmental Factors:

• Employee must be able to provide suitable workspace; quiet & free of distractions
• Employee must be able to provide high speed internet access at home
• Work is performed in an office environment and may include sitting for extended periods of time. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to have the ability to maintain active communication; access, input, and retrieve information from the computer system; enter alpha-numeric data into a computerized system often while listening on the telephone. Hearing ability, visual acuity and dexterity are also required to perform this function.

Physical Demands:

• Demonstrated physical, visual, and auditory capacity to work on a computer and communicate effectively with students via telephone and computer for required shift length.

Emotional & Mental Demands:

• Self-motivated, proactive, able to maintain focus across multiple disciplines.
• Exceptional interpersonal, problem-solving, follow-up, and counseling skills

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.