Financial Aid Specialist/Veterans Affairs Hybrid

The Financial Aid Counselor/Veterans Affairs School Certifying Official supports prospective and continuing students by reviewing and evaluating financial aid eligibility; providing efficient and timely delivery of accurate information, services, and funding to all students; and ensuring the quality control, application tracking, and verification of student files. Performs the day-to-day activities of a professional financial aid specialist as well as serves as the Veterans Affairs School Certifying Official.

This position reports to the Dean of the DeSoto Center and the District Director of Financial Aid. This position will work out of the DeSoto Campus and the Senatobia Campus. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Associate’s Degree 
• Experience in Financial Aid, Student Counseling, or directly related experience
• Prior experience in computer data entry; ability to operate other office equipment, and also experience in dealing with the public
• Proficient with MS Office, especially Outlook, Word, Excel. 
• Prior experience operating office equipment in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Must be passionate about the Customer/Student Service experience
• Positive, approachable, collaborative personality

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree 
• Experience administering Title IV federal student aid or experience in accounting, finance, or any other business-related field
• Two years’ experience in financial aid, student counseling, or directly related experience
• Experience with federal financial aid regulations, COD and NSLDS.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

1. Assist with the processing of electronic financial aid, loan applications, and military
2. benefit applications for students and prospective students; assist with processing all
3. federal aid, state financial aid and scholarship programs.
4. Assist students with filing the electronic financial aid and loan applications.
5. Student counseling and assistance in submission of all applications for financial aid.
6. Track and scan financial aid, loan and VA paperwork into the computer system.
7. Assist with registration of students.
8. Review of non-verified FAFSA’s for packaging purposes.
9. Assist military students with filing for military benefit applications (all chapters and
10. tuition assistance).
11. Maintain all military student files by reporting schedules/changes, grades,
12. graduations/probations to the VA, and ordering funds.
13. Maintain overall school compliance to the VA.
14. Assist all military students to connect with institutional support services including
15. admissions, academic counseling, disability services, tutoring, mental health services,
16. job search support, and housing.
17. All other duties as assigned by Center Dean and/or District Director of Financial Aid.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Strong overall financial aid knowledge with program-specific knowledge.
• Demonstrated management skills.
• Ability to research, comprehend and interpret complex regulations, rules, and policies.
• Professional demeanor with the ability to maintain consistent communication.
• Strong verbal and written communication, time management and human relations skills.
• Advanced problem identification, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills; judgment
• and decision-making ability.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to do the following:

• Talk, hear, view, and assist students 
• Communicate with others in person, telephone, zoom, & live chat
• Sit, use hands to handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms
• Stand, walk, stoop, or kneel
• Occasionally lift and/or move items of at least 15-20 pounds

APPLICATION:

To apply, please attach and submit the following:

• Application at www.northwestms.edu  
• Resume
• Three (3) Professional References (Name, Phone Number, Email Address)