What are the responsibilities and job description for the Financial Aid Program Specialist - State Programs position at SLCC?
Work type: Staff Full-Time
Location: Lafayette, LA
Categories: Student Affairs
College: SLCC
Department: Academic & Student Affairs
Sub department: Student Accounts
Type of Appointment: Unclassified - Administrative/Staff
Salary: $39,755.00 - $48,397.00
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Maintain functional knowledge and ensure compliance with all laws, regulations, accreditation standards and professional guidelines regarding financial aid.
- Manage eligibility, invoicing, payment applications and reporting for all state programs.
- Package, award, and distribute federal, state, and institutional aid resources to eligible students in accordance with all federal and state rules and regulations.
- Monitor, administer, and evaluate the state program regulations,
- Receive, research, and respond to internal and external stakeholder inquiries by telephone and email, regarding TOPS eligibility, billing, grades, and renewal issues.
- Accomplishing required verification of the accuracy of financial data and other detailed information submitted by students and families in accordance with federal, state, and institutional regulations/policies.
- Create Financial Aid verification and specialty forms for students.
- Resolve outstanding file issues.
- Provide updates to the Associate Director Policy and Compliance on the status of outstanding student applications and awards.
- Successfully navigate financial aid databases to gather information to process and report student aid. Databases including Banner, NSLDS, COD (Common Origination and Disbursement), FAA (Financial aid administrators), etc.
- Ability to work independently
- Interface and work closely with federal and state agencies for student aid processing.
- Learn and coordinate all computer software programs and services with federal and state agencies.
- Develop and submit reports on the program's progress to include detailed data as required by federal and state regulations.
- Maintain functional knowledge and ensure compliance with all laws, regulations, accreditation standards and professional guidelines regarding federal and state aid programs.
- Perform other related duties as required or assigned.
Behavioral Standards: (20%)
- Make recommendations regarding operations, policies, and processes to achieve continual improvement and efficiency.
- Demonstrate an elevated level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
- Use independent professional judgment to advise stakeholders by instructing and interpreting information and delivering the most equitable outcome for the student.
- Use independent professional judgment to advise stakeholders by instructing and interpreting information and delivering the most equitable outcome for the student.
Institutional Support: (20%)
- Complete and submit files for audit.
- Work with Associate Director Programs and Compliance and Manager of Customer Service on individual student appeals concerning eligibility.
- Assist in the Return to Title IV process including counseling students, calculating financial liabilities, monitoring attendance, and reporting liabilities to students, Business Office, and the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
Team Relations: (20%)
- Possess the ability and endurance necessary to work the hours needed to complete the job.
- Predictable and reliable attendance is required to provide consistency and continuity of the business services provided to the college.
- Perform other duties that will assist in promoting the college within the community.
Required Experience: Three years of experience in a higher education financial aid office; Demonstrated experience in student financial aid related to financial aid counseling, eligibility determination, need analysis, verification, and packaging required. Extensive experience working within COD, NSLDS, and Banner Financial Aid Management System.
Optional experience with Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) state programs management.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Soft Skills: Strong people skills. Excellent customer service skills, along with the ability to interact with various populations.
Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public. Must be able to demonstrate the proven abilities of intellectual reasoning, power of persuasion, and consistent dedication to the position.
Mathematical Skills: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Reasoning Ability: High Skills: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. The ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Computer Skills: Knowledge of Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word). Ability to learn to operate College-specific software and applications.
Other Qualifications: Ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines. Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with a demonstrated ability to multi-task.
Required Licenses or Certifications: Criminal Background Clearance. Valid Driver’s License.
Benefits: As a member of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, SLCC has an attractive benefits package with a wide variety of benefit options. Benefits offered include retirement, multiple medical insurance options, supplemental insurances (dental, term life, disability, accident, vision, etc.), Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some child care and medical expenses), holidays (14 per year, typically includes longer break at Christmas), generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits and Employee Assistance Program. Specific benefits depend on job category, percent effort and length of employment.
Passing pre-employment criminal background screen is required as a condition of employment. SLCC is an equal opportunity/equal access employer. SLCC is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) agency that supports improved employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Advertised: 11 Mar 2025 Central Daylight Time
Applications close: 25 Mar 2025 Central Daylight Time
Salary : $39,755 - $48,397
