FINANCIAL AID OPERATIONS SPECIALIST
ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
Classification: Level 3 / Class Code 2206 / Full-Time / Non-Exempt / Benefited / Represented
Hiring Salary Range: $29.24 - $31.73 per hour (commensurate with qualifications)
ABOUT THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE:
UC Hastings was founded on the belief that a top-tier legal education should be financially accessible to everyone. The Financial Aid Office is committed to helping students achieve their educational goals through the administration of the law school's scholarship/grant program, Federal Student Loan program, and Public Interest Career Assistance Program.
THE ROLE
Under the direct supervision of the Director of Financial Aid and working closely with all members of the Financial Aid Office and Enrollment Management Office, the Financial Aid Operation Specialist performs a variety of tasks in support of the Financial Aid Office, the Enrollment Management Office, Fiscal Services, Records, and the Alumni Office.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Typical duties and responsibilities consist of, but are not limited to, the following:
- Coordinating and processing Financial Aid awards and award packages for entering and continuing students.
- Overseeing and implementing quality control functions, such as review of awards, review of fund balances, compliance with funding prerequisites, monitoring and processing of repayments/refunds, and monitoring the completion of Entrance and Exit counseling.
- Coordinating the Federal Work Study Program: Counseling students on federal program overview and determining eligibility, awarding appointments in Colleague, distribution of application documents to on-campus/off-campus supervisors as well as monitoring completion and submission of paperwork, processing appointment changes and terminations, and generating reports on wages earned and active appointments.
- Data entry and ensuring data accuracy; auditing output to identify errors and discrepancies; processing corrections.
- Monitoring expenditures and data relevant to the College's Financial Aid program.
- Conducting research and providing information and reports pulled from informer to internal and external parties, including requests for information required during the annual financial audit of the College and by the ABA, IPEDS, and FISAP.
- Conducting internal audits of financial aid awards, processes, and related data to ensure compliance with fund terms and internal policies, and making adjustments as required.
- Assuring program compliance with applicable federal and state regulations and internal policies.
- Providing support to the Admissions Office and Enrollment Management for scholarships and grants awarded through the admissions and retention processes.
- Answering incoming calls and assisting walk-in visitors with Financial Aid-related questions.
- Evaluating and helping to improve current Financial Aid processes.
- Performing a variety of administrative tasks, including creating student files and archiving older student files.
- Other duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree strongly preferred; if N/A, then Associate's degree required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Two years of professional experience in student financial aid operations and administration required; 5 years strongly preferred;
- Knowledge of and experience working with the Department of Education's Common Origination and Disbursement (COD);
- Experience and ability to work at an advanced level with Datatel's Colleague system strongly preferred;
- High level of skill in relational database management and command prompt queries;
- Requires advanced SQL query knowledge and complex programming knowledge in Excel;
- Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and anticipate system/process requirements;
- Must be organized and have good writing and editing skills;
- Must be able to prioritize well at all times due to the high volume and level of complexity of demands throughout the year;
- Must possess the ability to quickly learn new programs and systems;
- Must be excellent at multitasking and a superb problem solver;
- Superior customer service and interpersonal skills, and demonstrated ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds;
- Ability to interact professionally and effectively with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and external constituencies;
- Must be able to work as a team player and demonstrate an ability to be collaborative and supportive; and
- Ability and willingness to travel to the annual Datatel Conference, as necessary.
BENEFITS
HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS
- Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance coverage
- Flexible Spending Accounts for transportation-related, healthcare and dependent care expenses
- Employee Assistance Program
FOR YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE
- Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Legal Insurance
- University of California Retirement Plan (defined benefit)
- Deferred Compensation Plans/Pre-tax Retirement Savings Programs
FOR YOUR WORK/LIFE BALANCE
- Fourteen paid holidays per year
- Generous vacation and sick leave
- Commuter Benefits Program
THE HIRING PROCESS
Failure to provide the information as required on the application and/or instructions to apply shall immediately disqualify an applicant from employment consideration.
Please note: This position has been designated as “sensitive” and requires a pre-employment background check.
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please contact Human Resources if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Applicants who meet the position requirements will be competitively evaluated to identify the individuals whose breadth and depth of experience and education most closely relate to the stated requirements and the needs of the College. Not all applicants will be contacted for an interview.
The position is open until filled.
The skills listed above are comprehensive, and we understand there are great candidates who possess only a subset of those skills, or who have other important skills. If you match some of these skills, please do not hesitate to apply.
UC Hastings College of the Law is an Equal Opportunity Employer. UC Hastings strives to provide a diverse and inclusive educational environment that fosters cultural awareness, mutual understanding and respect. UC Hastings College of the Law is interested in candidates who will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education through their teaching. Qualified women and members of underrepresented minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply.