Assistant Director - Financial Aid

This is an on-campus position on the Wheeling Campus with college-wide duties. Provide student-focused service and guidance to students, plus parents, faculty and staff, regarding student aid programs, educational funding options, and the financial aid application process including federal, state and alternative funding sources. Work collaboratively with the Student Care and Success team to support the recruitment, retention, success and completion goals of the College. Work closely with the Financial Aid Director, Office staff, and other college employees in the management, administration, and strategic direction of financial aid programs offered by Northern. The Assistant Director of Financial Aid develops best practices for managing the extensive and complex financial aid programs within the Financial Aid Office. Contributes to short-and long-range planning and goal-setting; assists with the supervision and management of all department personnel; coordinates, monitors, and awards and disburses financial aid funds; ensures compliance with policies and procedures; certifies student loans; counsels students, families, and high school personnel and others on financial aid policies and procedures; and manages Banner and the U.S. Department of Education SAIG (EdConnect) transmissions. Responsibilities and Duties include but are not limited to: Rotates with other office staff to handle "on demand/walk-in" student aid advising. Facilitates student financial aid file review. Verifies application information and assesses the validity of documentation including the review and correction of student aid reports. Packages and awards student financial aid in accordance with institutional and governmental policies and regulations. Manages federal grant and loan origination & disbursement reporting via electronic processes. Manages AmeriCorps funding awards. Imports ISIRs daily and ensures that the appropriate required documents are scheduled. Responsible for setup, processing, awarding and notifications of all scholarship funds including communications with students, high schools, WVNCC recruiter, the WVNCC Foundation, business office and outside scholarship funding organizations. Manages "Return of Title IV" processing including understanding of current regulations on all fund types, audit documentation, student processes and notifications and coordination of fund return with the business office. Assists in aid transfer processes to the Business Office. Handles regular reconciliation of accounts for assigned programs. Monitors enrollment confirmation and early alerts for attendance issues and takes appropriate action regarding aid eligibility. Assist with monitoring "Still Owes List," then "holding" students in classes and tracking attendance for fund disbursement. Responsible for processing applications, administering and managing all WV State aid programs. Coordinates with Human Resources Development to ensure student eligibility for employment (work-study) placement and new student orientations. Processes student employment paperwork, posts/monitors student employment earnings, tracks FWS expenditures and keeps director informed. Cross-trains with other staff as backup for retrieval of electronic applications for the Department of Education secure site. Participates in open houses, college night and community events to present financial aid information. Maintains current knowledge of federal and state aid regulations as they relate to assigned duties as well as institutional goals and objectives regarding financial aid. Maintains an up-to-date Policies and Procedures Manual. Assists with default management to achieve lowest loan default rate.

Additional miscellaneous responsibilities:

Assists with general office operations and perform other administrative duties as assigned. Understands the interdependence of other areas of the college such as billing, admissions, and registration and works with those areas to proactively resolve student issues. Establishes and maintains a positive working relationship with internal and external school contacts to gather information and identify and resolve issues.

Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Education, Higher Education or a related Field, required.

Experience:

Experience Experience Details Req Pref 2 year + Customer service X 1 year + College financial aid experience X 2 year + Community College experience X Proficient in English written and verbal communication skills Knowledge of financial aid regulations and programs. Knowledge of and ability to understand the Title IV federal student aid statute and regulations. Knowledge of the State of WV financial aid regulations and programs. Knowledge of and ability to understand WV Invests, HEAPS, WV Advance, Learn & Earn, etc. Demonstrated time management and priority setting skills. Ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks. Demonstrated customer service skills. Excellent organizational skills. High-level computer skills including Microsoft Work, Outlook, and Excel skills. Knowledge or ability to learn computer information systems (preferably SCT Banner system). Knowledge of and ability to understand the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act and other federal, state, and institutional policies and procedures.