Advisor, Financial Aid & Veterans Services

Financial Aid Advisor

Do Great Things! Durham Technical Community College is hiring an Advisor in the Financial Aid & Veterans Services Department. This position is responsible for providing a prominent level of customer service, advising, and support to students on all aspects of financial aid and basic student account information. The Financial Aid Advisor initiates and/or implements corrective action as needed to ensure that an excellent standard of service and an elevated level of student satisfaction is maintained, facilitates the resolution of difficult and/or unusual situations related to student financial aid issues, demonstrates cultural competency, and actively seeks to grow in this area.

Examples of Duties

Manages the veteran affairs educational benefits programs.

Provide accurate and timely reporting to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Advise veterans, their dependents and active-duty military on procedures for attaining and using veteran affairs educational benefits. Informs benefit recipients of program eligibility and documentation requirements and assist them in applying for education benefits.

Informs the state approval agency and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs of new programs, changes to programs and program deletions each academic year, as well as institutional changes.

Serves as the main point of contact to veteran affairs officials during annual audits. Coordinates with College departments to compile requested documentation.

Maintains documentation for all veteran students. Provides all available school records to representatives of the state approval agency and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Maintains annual training requirements in order to remain eligible to be a school certifying official.

Serves as liaison for students to resolve payment issues.

Serve as backup Financial Aid Advisor as necessary. Advise financial aid students regarding financial aid status and eligibility.

Develop objectives and recommend changes to existing processes and practices to increase the accuracy of information and the office's efficiency and responsiveness in order to promote the highest level of customer service.

Create a welcoming and positive relationship with visitors and ensure the interaction is a welcoming, efficient and satisfying experience.

Maintain a cooperative working relationship with internal and external partners including the Business Office and Bookstore to obtain necessary documents, resolve problems, facilitate solutions, enhance customer service, and ensure quality services for veterans and students receiving aid or benefits.

Actively participate in financial aid and veterans-related outreach events including but not limited to open houses, and orientation.

Review and suggest updates to the veteran information found on the Durham Tech website to ensure current cost of attendance, compliance with federal regulations, accuracy of processes, and the integrity of consumer information.

Participate in unit meetings and serve on committees as needed.

Ensure proper security for Durham Tech's student educational records in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), state law, community college system regulations, and college policies and procedures.

Adhere to all the college's policies, guidelines and statutory requirements and recommend to senior management adoption and/or changes to policies, practices, procedures, and guidelines.

Additional duties shall include other appropriate activities as assigned by the Director, Vice President, and President.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in a subject area within Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Student Personnel, Student Development, or other related fields.

Work Experience: Two years of relevant experience in administering veteran's affairs educational benefits programs and/or federal, state, institutional financial aid and scholarships.

Supplemental Information

Ability to interact appropriately with students and co-workers in high stress situations.

Ability to serve internal and external stakeholders with an increased level of customer service skills, to include, understanding the value of and initiating appropriate responses to inquiries whether in the office, online, or via telephone.

Evidence of strong counseling skills to assist students who have unique needs, exceptional circumstances, and/or need alternative sources of financial support. Elevated level of ability to provide accurate, timely information regarding the status of students' awards.

Knowledge of and sensitivity to the needs and expectations of the community college student, faculty, and staff, and community groups.

A elevated level of ability to organize work tasks and provide attention to detail.

Ability to work with a diverse student population.

Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and interpersonal relations throughout the college and the community.

Ability to process applications for financial aid awards.

Thorough knowledge of administering rules and regulations governing state and federal aid.

Knowledge of higher education financial aid services and programs.

Ability to perform with a high-level of proficiency in a college student information system (e.g. Colleague or Banner), Windows, and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint).

Proven record of participation in professional organizations and initiatives.

Physical Demands: Reasonable accommodation may be made to establish individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. The physical and mental demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee in performing the essential functions of this job.

• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time;
• Ability to lift, at times, 10 lbs.;
• Sufficient visual acuity and manual dexterity to use a computer for extended periods of time;
• Ability to express or exchange ideas through oral communications and to hear vocal responses within classroom range;
• Infrequent travel between buildings on campus, to other campuses, or locally or out of town to attend conferences.

Normal Working Hours: A minimum of a 40-hour work week as determined by the supervisor to allow the employee to fulfill the assigned duties and responsibilities, including occasional evening and weekend hours. Summer schedules may vary to enable four day or four- and one-half day work weeks.

Benefits

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave. To learn more details, visit our Employee Benefits and Retirement page.