What are the responsibilities and job description for the Financial Aid Advisor position at Geneva College?
Summary of Responsibilities: The Financial Aid Advisor - TUG serves to support the enrollment/retention goals and objectives of the College. As a member of the Financial Aid team, you are expected to provide superior student-friendly customer service and knowledgeable advice to students and parents on all aspects of financial aid including Federal, State, Institutional aid, loans, billing, and payments. The person in this role may be asked to represent the College at various types of recruitment events, on and off campus from time to time and to provide training to other college personnel on matters related to financial aid. The Financial Aid Advisor – TUG reports directly to the Director of Financial Aid.
Essential Responsibilities: (These essential responsibilities are those the individual must be able to perform unaided or with the assistance of reasonable accommodation.)
- Student-friendly customer service/advising:
- Provides student-friendly customer service that supports recruitment and retention by assisting current and prospective students and parents in understanding and navigating educational financing options, including Federal, State, and Institutional grants/scholarships, loans, and student employment.
- Counsels students and parents on all aspects of the financial aid process and their individual financial circumstances, including completing the FAFSA, understanding financial aid awards, deadlines, billing, cost of attendance, funding options, payment methods, and managing financial responsibilities.
- Serve as a liaison with internal departments providing a high level of customer-focused service in a courteous, friendly, and professional manner.
- Program Management
- Serve as school liaison and coordinates all aspects of out-of-state grants, PA State Grant and other special state programs, tracking rosters and regulations for each program.
- Attend training, workshops, and professional organizations to keep abreast of new information and program changes to be implemented for compliance with federal and state regulations.
- Maintains appropriate files, database systems and generate reports.
- Awarding, programs, and general responsibilities:
- Assists in the development, implementation, administration, and management of the financial aid programs that support the achievement of enrollment/retention goals in all programs of the College and actively participates, as requested, in assessing, improving, and maintaining the program(s).
- Assists with processing student financial aid applications, evaluating financial aid eligibility and creating financial aid awards for students.
- Performs need analysis calculations to determine eligibility requirements to satisfy all federal, state and institutional regulations; determines award amount adjustments, changes, or corrections as needed.
- Manages completion of the federal FAFSA verification and invalid FAFSA records process for students in Traditional Undergraduate Program.
- Coordinates with Crossroads for study abroad and off-campus awarding implementation.
- Assists, as requested, in the development, implementation and delivery of in-person, webinar or workshop training programs for students/parents on topics such as completing the FAFSA, student loans, NetPartner, financial literacy, managing student debt, etc.
- Assists in financial aid advising of Graduate Program, Online Degree Program, and Center for Urban Biblical Ministry Program when needed.
- Attends conferences and workshops specific to programs of oversite as requested.
- Miscellaneous:
- Performs other duties as requested by the Director of Financial Aid.
Exhibits behavior that is consistent with and supportive of Geneva’s mission, vision, core values, and standards of conduct:
- Geneva Mission Statement: Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor.
- Vision Statement: Geneva College will inspire students to integrate faith in Christ into all aspects of life in the real world, and to serve faithfully within their callings for Christ and Country.
- Core Values:
- Serve with grace
- Pursue Godly wisdom
- Foster academic strength
- Engage culture faithfully
- Inspire vibrant hospitality
- Honor one another
- Standards of Conduct: Employees of Geneva College will affirm upon hire, and annually thereafter, their promise to abide by the College’s Standard of Conduct Policy. All employees must conduct their personal affairs so there can be no opportunity for unfavorable reflections upon the Christian beliefs and mission of the College, either expressed or implied. It is expected that employees will conduct themselves in a manner consistent with biblical standards, values, and character. These standards of personal conduct do not apply to family members and/or friends of the employee.
Job Requirements - Administrative:
- General: Individuals must possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the essential responsibilities of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations in order to safely perform the essential responsibilities of the job.
- Physical: Must be able to perform the following: talking, hearing, and seeing. Must have sufficient manual dexterity to be able to operate all office equipment including, but not limited to computers, printers, copiers, scanners, and telephones.
- Confidentiality: Individuals must recognize that management of data, including personal information, grades, budgets, programs, and policies is necessary to the operation of the College. Such information must be kept private and confidential for the protection of the College and to obey Federal and/or State laws. Should there be doubt as to whether a certain matter is to be protected, it should be discussed with your supervisor before making a disclosure.
- Mental: Must be able to reason, analyze, prioritize, conceptualize, make judgments, and solve problems.
Qualifications:
- Minimum:
- Education/Certification: Bachelor’s degree.
- Experience: 0-1 year of experience that is directly related to the responsibilities as specified above. Clear understanding of and ability to communicate the value of Christian higher education.
- Skills/Abilities:
- Clearly articulate your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication, time management and organizational skills.
- Demonstrate a willingness and ability to provide student-friendly customer service and have experience delivering quality customer service.
- Provide attention to detail and system processes.
- Demonstrate a professional appearance and “team player” attitude; be self-motived with a strong desire to learn and demonstrate a desire to take on additional challenges and responsibilities.
- Demonstrate a teachable spirit and a desire to grow professionally.
- Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel; demonstrate an aptitude for using technology.
- Christian Commitment: An eligible candidate must be a thoughtful and articulate Christian and an active member of a Protestant evangelical Christian church. Preference will be given to the candidate who supports and has an articulate understanding of the Reformed faith. An eligible candidate must understand and support the College’s “Foundational Concepts of Christian Education” by expressing an evangelical Christian profession of faith and demonstrate the ability to integrate a Christian perspective in their work.
- Preferred:
- Education/Certification: Bachelor’s degree in business/accounting.
- Experience: Two or more years of previous experience in a financial aid or admissions environment.