Staff Assistant, Financial Aid Advisor
The missions of the Financial Aid office are to assist students and families in navigating the world of Higher Education and the costs associated with obtaining a degree. Successful candidates will be staff members that can work with their colleagues to help meet the mission of the Financial Aid office in serving and supporting our racially and ethnically diverse campus community.
Position Summary
The Staff Assistant is a member of the Financial Aid Department residing within the Office of Financial Aid. The Financial Aid Staff Assistant reports to the AVP of Student Financial Assistance and Enrollment Management and has the primary responsibilities of managing the office and front support staff.
The Staff Assistant, Financial Aid Advisor provides student-focused support at a campus that prioritizes the success of our racially and ethnically diverse campus community. The Financial Aid Advisor can provide an understanding of registration, billing and financial aid policies and procedures, as well as the ability to explain policies and procedures to current students, prospective students, and families.
In addition, the Staff Assistant, Financial Aid Advisor will be responsible for ensuring smooth daily operations, effective administration, and clear communications. The Staff Assistant must work closely with the AVP of SFA & EM to ensure that compliance is always maintained.
Essential Duties
1. Provides assistance to students and families with loans, grants, scholarships and the financial aid application process, and reviews applications to assure accurate and complete information.
2. Delivers exemplary customer service to prospective and continuing students and families in planning and coordinating the funding of their education.
3. Maintain a current working knowledge of the financial planning processes of financial aid, assist with billing and payment options and VA Benefits, as well as Residential Life, Admissions, Academic Advising and Registrar processes and how they relate to the students finances in order to fully and accurately advise.
4. Interprets, implements, and maintains up-to-date knowledge of Federal and State guidelines governing financial aid programs.
5. Assist with preparing Institutional, Federal and MA State Audit reporting requirements. Coordinate progress reports and monthly reporting.
6. Utilizing workshops, individual appointments, web tools, email, social media and telephone to disseminate accurate and clear information while counseling, advising and directly supporting students and their families with finance and related processes. Events may include weekends.
7. Collaborate with other offices and departments to provide appropriate resources to students, represent Financial Aid at various programs on and off campus, and serve on college committees as appropriate.
8. Draft and edit correspondences, publication support, including proofreading policies, daily communications, website content management, submitting and promoting events, and managing the financial literacy programing and events. Events may include weekends.
9. Assist the Assistant Vice President and collaborate with other departments in developing strategies that support the goals and objectives of the department, division and university in enrollment, retention, student satisfaction and other related areas.
10. Coordinate the rotation schedule for the administrative staff and engage administrative team to support departmental projects as needed.
11. Process invoices, payments, corporate card reports, reimbursements, and purchase office supplies.
12. Performs other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
To be successful in the role, you will need:
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Experience in service of racial equity (e.g. mentorship of racially minoritized students; service on committees; advising student organizations that represent racially minoritized groups or social justice causes)
• Commitment to customer service excellence/support to enhance an environment of equity, diversity and inclusion
• Strong presentation, interpersonal, networking, and organizational skills
• Strong organizational, multitasking, and time-management skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to take initiative
• Ability to contribute in a team environment
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, meet deadlines
• Takes responsibility to accomplish job assignments within reasonable deadlines
• Experience and comfortability with using multiple computer systems