Financial Aid Specialist Bookmark this Posting Print Preview | Apply for this Job

Posting Details

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number S02802

Position Title Financial Aid Specialist

Internal Position Title Financial Aid Specialist

Department Financial Aid

Position Type Staff

Job Family Specialist

Job Summary

College of Lake County is seeking a full-time Financial Aid Specialist! Under the administrative supervision of the Assistant Director of Financial Aid, the Financial Aid Specialist is responsible for advising and assisting students and parents on how to effectively access and receive federal and state financial aid, as well as available scholarship resources through the College of Lake County. The specialist will review and award financial aid applicants and monitor eligibility. In addition, the specialist educates students and families through seminars and workshops. This position is also responsible for compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations and policies governing the operations of the Financial Aid Department and the dissemination of financial aid policies and procedures.

Why choose the College of Lake County for your next opportunity?

The College of Lake County ( CLC ) offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits that includes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois health, Delta Dental and Superior Vision insurance plans, tuition support for employees and qualified family members, three retirement plans, disability, group and supplemental life insurance, health and dependent care flexible spending account plans, a compressed work week in the summer (Closed Fridays!!), generous vacation, sick and personal time off and 14 paid holidays each year. Some benefits will not be available for part-time employees (ex: health insurance).

CLC is a comprehensive community college located in northeastern Illinois committed to being an innovative educational institution providing life-changing paths for our students by offering exceptional learning experiences. CLC achieved a milestone in 2023 with its designation as a Leader College. This national recognition awarded by the Achieving the Dream Network is the result of improved student outcomes through the CLC’s relentless commitment to transformational change and the implementation of innovative practices within the student success model over the past few years.

CLC aspires to be a place where every student succeeds, every employee thrives, so that every business achieves and every community grows. Our mission is to be innovative and value-driven in supporting student success through developing and encouraging employees of all backgrounds on their journey toward achieving personal and professional growth.

Required Qualification(s)

• Bachelor’s degree

• Minimum of two (2) years’ financial aid, auditing, or accounting experience.

• Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations.

• Working knowledge of office technology (word, excel, use of databases).

• Ability to adapt to an ever-changing environment.

• Ability to interpret complex regulations and procedures.

• Ability to handle a heavy workload and set priorities.

• Ability to work effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities; demonstrate sensitivity to and ability to work with the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff, including those with disabilities; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

• High level of interpersonal and communication skills

• Judgment and decision-making skills.

• Knowledge of customer service (providing customer service, needs assessment, quality standards, and evaluation of customer satisfaction).

• Mathematics and calculation skills.

  Desired Qualification(s)

• Extensive knowledge of financial aid programs and college policies and procedures.

• Bilingual in Spanish and English

  Posting Date 09/05/2024

  Closing Date 09/21/2024

  Expected Start Date

  Special Instructions Summary

  Pay Rate $25.42/Hr.

  Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

  Location Grayslake

  Total Hours per week 40.00

  Work Schedule

Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Occasional evenings and/or Saturdays may be required to support the needs of the department.

Interview Process Requirements None

EEO Statement

The College of Lake County is an equal opportunity employer and has a strong commitment to diversity. In that spirit, it seeks a broad spectrum of candidates including minorities, women and people with disabilities.

Summary of Essential Functions

Department Operations & Procedures | 40%

1) Advise students and parents with complex, extenuating, or unusual circumstances, exercising discretion and sensitivity. Collect and interpret required documentation, evaluate “special circumstance appeal” and effectively communicate decisions.

2) Approve book voucher requests, handle consortium contracts with other schools, and oversee the special awarding requirements for study abroad and correspondence course students).

3) Analyze data from various agencies (e.g. NSLDS , COD , ISAC , etc.) to determine if awards should be reduced to avoid overpayment.

4) Award scholarships and student loans based on student’s eligibility needs and interpret and modify award packages as needed.

5) Complete and process forms for students from agencies requesting information.

6) Create item types for processing and awarding student aid.

7) Exercise professional judgment and make decisions regarding students with special conditions as defined by federal guidelines.

8) Maintain an accurate and thorough knowledge of College policies and procedures related to academic standards, admissions requirements, and business practices affecting and interfacing with the Financial Aid Department

9) Maintain accurate skills and competency in all aspects of the financial aid programs, including application, processing, awarding, and disbursement of financial aid.

10) Maintain maximum security and control of student financial aid records.

11) Maintain documentation to account for advice, information, and decisions made regarding financial aid responsibilities.

12) Meet with students and prospective students to provide information regarding costs of attendance, available financial aid options, and student loan counseling. Conducts confidential, student-specific meetings to ensure that information presented is clearly understood, and responds to questions or concerns. Directs students to appropriate resources for applications, forms, disclosures, and information resources and counsels on proper completion of forms.

13) Monitor student eligibility to receive financial aid (satisfactory academic progress, verification, program limitations, etc.) and advise students with concerns.

14) Perform accounting functions related to grant, loan, and scholarship accounts which may include reconciling awards and payments/transactions.

15) Prepare and coordinate the preparation of statistical, operating, and planning records and/or reports; maintain spreadsheets for tracking and balancing purposes; ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with regulations and deadlines.

16) Process and track verification and eligibility (such as c-flags) documentation submitted to the Financial Aid Office; enter all required corrections.

17) Process loan requests for the financial aid office and process documents from the financial aid folder.

18) Provide backup to other areas in the Financial Aid Office as needed.

19) Review and award financial aid applicants in accordance with federal, state, and institutional regulations and policies.

20) Review and respond to financial aid email inquiries.

21) Review financial aid applications for completeness and accuracy. Initiate correspondence to applicants regarding incomplete files. Complete federal verification of applications selected institutionally or by the Department of Education (ED).

Student & Customer Service Excellence | 45%

1) Advise students on different types of aid available, making recommendations based on the student’s financial situation, educational intent, work options, and current loan obligations.

2) Answer financial aid phones.

3) Assist students in their dealings with other departments that are associated with student financial aid e.g. Bursar’s office, accounting office, admissions, and academic departments, and assist in recruiting and orientation activities as needed.

4) Explain complex financial aid concepts in easy-to-understand terms. Guides students through all aspects of the financial aid process.

5) Follow up with students regarding missing information/documents

6) Intake documents, log and scan into document imaging/perceptive content.

7) Provide high levels of customer service and professionalism in a stressful, high-volume environment.

8) Review and respond to financial aid email inquiries Work with students and parents to assess financial aid needs. Verifies student eligibility criteria for federal and state financial aid and assists students with completing application requirements.

9) Review and respond to financial aid email inquiries.

10) Work with students and parents to assess financial aid needs. Verifies student eligibility criteria for federal and state financial aid and assists students with completing application requirements.

Project Leadership | 10%

1) Assist in the development of and implementation of office procedures, rules, and policies; analyze clients’ needs and recommend policy changes to administrators.

2) Conduct student workshops and seminars sponsored by the Financial Aid Department. Represents the Financial Aid Office during recruitment events (i.e., Open House, Convocation).

3) Maintain an accurate and thorough knowledge and familiarity with federal and state financial aid regulations. Recommends changes in procedures to meet changing regulations needs. Attends financial aid workshops for continued training and specialization.

4) Participate in the development of forms, letters, and brochures needed to collect financial aid data from student applicants.

5) Participate in advisory committees and workshops.

6) Serve as liaison with other college departments and outside agencies that work with the Financial Aid Office.

Other | 5%

1) Perform other related duties as assigned.

Posting Specific Questions - supplemental questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • Do you have a Bachelor's degree or higher?

• Yes

• No

• • Do you have a minimum of two (2) years of financial aid, auditing or accounting experience?

• Yes

• No

• • Do you have working knowledge of office technology (Word, Excel, databases)?

• Yes

• No

• • Do you have extensive knowledge of financial aid programs and college policies and procedures?

• Yes

• No

• • Are you bilingual and proficient in Spanish and English?

• Yes

• No

  Applicant Documents

  Required Documents

• Resume

• Cover Letter

• Unofficial Transcript 1

  Optional Documents