Financial Aid Operations and Data Specialist

Job Description:

Position Summary

The Financial Aid Operations and Data Specialist is responsible for providing both administrative and technical support for the day-to-day operations of the Financial Aid Office. This position requires a blend of customer service skills, student financial aid functional knowledge, and technical proficiency.

Administrative duties include acting as the first point of contact for students and families, responding to requests for information via office email, phone and in person; providing office support to financial aid staff and managing office operations and calendar; overseeing office supply inventory and office billing; training and supervising financial aid student workers.

Technical duties include maintaining all electronic student financial aid files, importing records from outside databases, and overseeing the office electronic student communication process. Related responsibilities include participating in annual system updates, testing and integration of Financial Aid Management databases, managing and updating the financial aid website, managing the financial aid book program, administering and maintaining the SEAS program database. The Financial Aid Operations and Data Specialist will serve as the technical contact between the Financial Aid Office and Library and Information Technology Services (LITS) department. This role will also serve as a back-up for packaging of financial aid applicants and currently enrolled student files.

Responsibilities

• Greeting visitors; answering main office phone; researching and resolving problems for students and parents relating to financial aid material; directing calls to appropriate individuals within the office and on-campus; monitoring and maintaining office email account.
• Provide a broad range of office support which includes: designing various online forms; scheduling conferences, workshops, appointments and meetings; monitoring the inventory and ordering of office supplies and printed materials; coordinating mass mailings and projects; maintaining routine office operational budget.
• Assist with the operation, configuration, upgrading, testing and development of various databases used by the Financial Aid Office. Assist staff with technical matters and to implement efficiencies.
• Using databases and electronic communication, oversee student financial aid checklists, including submission of documents.
• Retrieve and process electronic student records from an outside database.
• Manage the book program by assessing eligibility, updating the Google sheet shared with the Book Store, notifying students of benefit eligibility.
• Oversee the management of SEAS requests, to include logging in requests, researching eligibility for the SEAS Committee review and documenting decisions.
•  Format and produce electronic award letters, checking for accuracy, printing and emailing to students. Maintain updated electronic copies in office databases.
•  Oversee duplicate and unmatched ISIR records that fail posting process.
•  Monitor and oversee updates to Financial Aid Office website, and social media accounts (as applicable).
•  Assist with packaging financial aid awards for applicant and enrolled students. This will include learning the process/procedures and institutional policies for packaging.
•  Enter financial aid appeals in database, and then on Google Sheet, along with criteria needed for Appeal Committee.
•  Hire, train and supervise Financial Aid Office student workers.

Education & Experience

• Associates Degree preferred, equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

•  2-4 years administrative experience is required, financial aid office preferred

• PowerFAIDS financial aid software experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Excellent customer service skills; capable of working collegially and effectively with a diverse group of visitors, students, parents and staff.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal communication skills, both written and verbal, including grammar and proofreading.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality, judgement and discretion when aiding students and parents.
• Excellent PC/computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat Pro, database software, and financial aid software packages.
• Proficient in working as a member of a team and collaborating with others.
• Technical ability to understand and Ability to troubleshoot technical issues and track data.

Compensation Range:

$23.00 - $25.00 per hour

EEO Policy:

Benefits:

For Benefits Information, please navigate to the following link:

Employment - Work at Hamilton - Hamilton College