Financial Aid Specialist

Position Summary

This position plays a key role in supporting the operation and compliance of the financial aid office with responsibility for understanding and maintaining an extensive knowledge of financial aid programs, processes, requirements, and policies. The Financial Aid Specialist is responsible for processing financial aid files and related documentation with a high level of accuracy and efficiency to meet departmental objectives. Duties include preparing, reviewing, maintaining, and transmitting records, forms, documents, correspondence, and reports. A Financial Aid Specialist must also answer financial aid questions and resolve issues via email, chat, phone or in person providing quality customer service, professional and articulate correspondence, and accurate guidance based on federal and state regulations and college policies.

Essential Job Duties

• Maintain a working knowledge of federal, state and institutional financial aid programs and supporting regulations and translate regulations into logical processes.
• Apply problem solving skills to identify and request the appropriate documentation needed to fulfill all financial aid application and aid program requirements.
• Serve as the subject matter expert in basic principles of student eligibility, application, verification, and professional judgment as prescribed by federal and state regulations and institutional policies which administer those regulations.
• Track receipt of required documents, analyze the accuracy of the information, note inconsistencies in reported information, and process corrections to student application data.
• Monitor and process records in work queues including verification, professional judgement, and satisfactory academic progress to ensure timely and accurate completion.
• Partner with student success team members to facilitate aid processing to assist students with financial aid concerns and disseminate information to student success by attending meetings and providing updates regarding changes in regulations and organizational policies.
• Provide specialized support for elevated student inquiries from College Navigators, Admissions Counselors, and Student Success Representatives, ensuring timely and accurate responses to complex financial aid questions and concerns.
• Facilitate communication with various agencies by using software and database systems to create, modify, extract, transmit, receive, and maintain financial aid records.
• Participate in training and professional development opportunities to provide continuing education in financial aid administration.
• Contribute to student satisfaction through delivery of quality customer service in all aspects of the administration of financial aid.
• Participate in the development of institutional financial aid policies and processes that will positively impact efficiency and quality of service provided.
• Execute assigned responsibilities, duties, and tasks according to established college policies, procedures, and standards in a safe manner and with minimal supervision working independently to identify problems and recommend solutions.
• Perform other duties as directed, including internal and external committee assignments, and attendance at college, community, and professional events.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Preferred Knowledge Skills & Abilities

Working at Ozarks Technical Community College Provides Great Benefits

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk; use hands to finger / touch, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee must be able to move around and about their area, and operate a computer as needed. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.