Financial Aid Specialist

The Financial Aid Specialist coordinates and administers all facets of one or more aid programs and/or major office operations, ensuring that programs and/or office operations are managed effectively and efficiently with a strong customer service orientation, and in compliance with federal, state and institutional regulations. Educates and counsels students and parents on financial aid opportunities and application process. Performs verification review and database match resolution. Delivers funds in a timely fashion. Reconciles and reports on the status of assigned programs or operations.

POSITION SUMMARY

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Coordinates and administers all facets of one or more aid programs and/or major office operations with a strong customer service orientation including application process, grant/scholarship program, Direct Loan program and processing, student employment, default loan prevention, SAP review and processing, monitoring of student enrollment status, recalculation of aid eligibility, end of year reconciliation and reporting, consumer information support, as well as entrance and exit counseling.
• Maintains current knowledge in all aspects of financial aid including changes to federal and state regulations, participating in annual training, professional organizations, and conferences to keep abreast of new information and program changes to be implemented.
• Provides outstanding customer service to students, parents, staff, and community. Responds promptly to requests for service and assistance.
• Counsels students and parents on financial aid opportunities, Direct Loan entrance and exit procedures, application process and status, delivery of funds and managing college costs and debt.
• Assists with the awarding and reporting requirements for all State of New Jersey financial aid programs, including but not limited to Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG), Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG), and NJSTARS to ensure compliance with regulations and policies.
• Prepares all forms, consumer information disclosures and student communication to inform students of program eligibility requirements, their rights and responsibilities and institutional procedures related to the program or services.
• Educates students on the information required for completing financial aid applications and assists them with accurate data input as required by Federal and State financial aid websites.
• Assists students with accessing various online Federal and State Financial aid portals required to facilitate the Financial Aid application and verification process.
• Supports development of content for the Financial Aid website and ensures content is accurate and current.
• Reviews, reconciles and reports on the status of the assigned applications and files and recalculates aid eligibility to verify data accuracy; imports and exports applicant and disbursement rosters and submits changes.
• Provides technical and administrative support in the fund delivery process; coordinates and manages program funds and their reconciliation program(s) or operation(s) on a monthly and year-end basis.
• Imports and exports ISIR’s and corrects transactions, resolves processing and transmissions errors and runs auto packaging.
• Coordinates the review and correction of ISIR records selected for verification.
• Conducts annual financial set-up process.
• Performs federal verification, including special circumstance reviews, C-codes and reject resolution, dependency overrides and professional judgements. 
• Defines and implements procedures to determine student eligibility and to deliver aid and other financial aid services to students.
• Represents the office, as appropriate, on college committees and professional meetings.
• Performs additional tasks or duties as assigned by the Assistant Director, Director of Financial Aid or other designated management.

SPECIAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s Degree required.

Experience: Three or more years of progressively responsible financial aid experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:  Demonstrates understanding of the community college mission and practices an open door policy.  Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of state and federal laws and regulations of agencies governing the student aid programs assigned to the position. Function knowledge of Ellucian’s Colleague or other similar system is preferred. Has basic proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Office suite. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment doing multiple tasks and projects while attending to the immediate needs of members of the campus community. Exhibits strong skills in:  

• Communication
• Customer and Student Focus
• Building Relationships
• Organizing
• Planning

SALARY AND BENEFITS

• Annual Salary is $55,000-$57,500
• NJ Educators Health Plan with free Vision and Dental. NJ State Pension plan.
• 15 vacation days, 15 sick days, 4 personal days, 2 floating holidays, all designated holidays and 5 non-designated holidays a year. 3 Partial Sick Days.

Bergen Community College provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.