Financial Aid Specialist – Awarding & Packaging

Job Description

Opportunity at a GlanceJoin our team as a Student Finance Analyst and play a meaningful role in supporting student success through accurate, timely, and compliant financial aid processing. In this role, you will contribute to essential student finance operations, including Title IV (TIV) awarding, verification, disbursement, and credit balance processing, helping ensure students have the financial resources they need to succeed.Working under general direction, you’ll collaborate with both internal teams and external partners to deliver high-quality support with a strong focus on accuracy, compliance, and responsiveness. You’ll also leverage data and reporting to uncover trends, provide actionable insights, and drive continuous improvement across student finance operations.This is a great opportunity for a detail-oriented, analytical professional who thrives in a data-driven environment and is passionate about making a direct impact on student outcomes.Key Responsibilities

• Demonstrate a strong working knowledge of processes, procedures, and policies, applying them effectively in day-to-day responsibilities
• Apply advanced Title IV knowledge with minimal guidance, including troubleshooting issues and recommending solutions
• Generate, analyze, and interpret reports to support student finance operations and informed decision-making
• Identify trends within student finance data and conduct root cause analysis to uncover insights and opportunities
• Proactively anticipate potential risks or questions and communicate recommended solutions to stakeholders
• Evaluate current processes and procedures, recommending improvements and supporting implementation efforts, including training team members
• Present report findings and insights to leadership, clearly explaining trends and any anomalies
• Appropriately escalate concerns or complex issues to leadership when needed
• Support student finance system or database conversions in partnership with leadership and IT teams
• Take ownership of key processes, contributing to team success through execution, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing
• Maintain accountability for meeting team objectives, deadlines, and service level agreements (SLAs), proactively communicating any risks to timelines
• Perform additional duties as assigned while ensuring adherence to all organizational policies and standards

QualificationsQualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred

• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience in student accounts and/or financial aid preferred

• Analytical Background: At least 2 years of experience in an analytical role preferred, with a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making

• Technical Expertise:

  Solid working knowledge of Title IV funding and student finance policies, with the ability to apply regulations in a practical, real-world settingAdvanced analytical capabilities, including the ability to generate reports, interpret complex data, and translate insights into actionable recommendationsProficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, along with experience using database and web-based applications

• Communication & Problem-Solving:

  Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly and effectively convey information to a variety of audiencesDemonstrated ability to proactively solve problems by asking insightful questions, validating information, evaluating alternatives, and maintaining a solution-focused mindset

• Compliance:

  Must be eligible to obtain and maintain access to the NSLDS system (cannot be in default on Title IV federal aid)

Additional InformationIn support of the pay transparency laws enacted across the country, the expected salary range for this position is between $18.70 and $23. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience and training; geographic location; licensure and certifications; market factors; departmental budgets; and responsibility. Our Talent Acquisition Team will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and we look forward to learning more about your salary requirements. The position qualifies for the below benefits.

Covista offers a robust suite of benefits including:

• Health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• 401k Retirement Program + 6% employer match
• 15 Days of Paid Vacation Days each Calendar Year
• 12 Paid Holidays + 2 floating holidays