Assistant Director, Financial Aid

Saratoga Springs, New York
Skidmore College

Summary

The Assistant Director will have general financial aid counseling, needs analysis and financial aid award packaging responsibilities. Additional responsibilities include Co-managing the Student Employment program, assisting with managing the hiring process for 1,200+ jobs, annually. Program oversight and processing of private loans for students and families. This position will also serve as the “first back-up” for front desk and general phone/email responsibilities when necessary.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide financial aid counseling for all current students and their families in the assigned alpha student section (anticipated 400 currently attending students) annually. Respond to requests for assistance with bill payment, requests for additional assistance due to family and/or student financial hardships and concerns, explain policies and procedures to students and families upon request, generally daily. Provide group presentations to prospective and current students as needed.
• Review the financial aid applications of all attending students in assigned section. This includes determining the validity of the FAFSA application, and making corrections at the Federal site, ensuring correct documentation is received and reviewed for students selected by the U.S. Dept. of Education for additional verification of identity or financial data. Review the CSS Profile for all assigned students, for additional data points to determine the student’s financial need, annually.
• Manage the Federal Pell Grant program. Exchange data files with US Department of Education for each Pell eligible student, for each semester, including summer session. Set up Banner for summer session manual processing. Review all FAFSA filers who enroll in any credits for summer to determine eligibility and manually award and advise all financial aid counselors. Resolve problems with records. Reconcile funds monthly. Use and update annually the UC4 job scheduler to run the Pell import and export jobs. Review daily for errors and resolve.
• Co-Manage the Student Employment program. Approve hires, job postings, and assist with problem resolution and annual set up. Attend Oracle meetings and continually look for efficiencies and effective communication of policies and procedures to students, the faculty and staff who supervise them. Assist in providing trainings for I-9 completion for new hires.
• Manage all private loan transactions. Certify applications and communicate with students and families about eligibility. Provide general instructions on completing applications. Keep “alternative” loan website up to date.
• Complete 300-400 “Final Checks” annually for assigned section. Requires review and evaluation of financial aid application(s) and determination of preferential packaging, to optimize both the Skidmore financial aid budget and student enrollment in support of college admission goals.
• Determine the Federal, State and Institutional eligibility annually for each currently enrolled student in assigned section based upon their financial aid application(s) and supporting materials, in accordance with general financial aid parameters, federal regulations and state requirements. The institutional grant amount should be evaluated against prior year(s) to ensure consistency in packaging methods and in consideration of current circumstances, as well as the College’s current financial aid budget.
• Provide employment verifications of former student workers upon request.
• Assist with coverage in the financial aid office by answering general emails, the main phone line, and in office student traffic when the Office Coordinator is unavailable or when volume of traffic dictates.

Education: Bachelor’s degree requiredExperience:

• 3-5 years of experience in financial aid processing; including experience with student loan processing, needs analysis and financial aid packaging
• Experience with a wide range of student and families, sensitivity to difference, experience working with students and families in all socio-economic ranges
• Experience with alternative loan processing, ELM system
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for the work and Skidmore, generally
• Positive attitude with regard to the private higher education experience
• Willingness to take initiative

Salary: $62,400 – $66,000

Required documents needed to apply:

• On-line application
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• List of Three References

EEO STATEMENT

Skidmore College is committed to being an inclusive campus community and, as an Equal Opportunity Employer, does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, familial status, dating violence, or stalking, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Employment at Skidmore College is contingent upon an acceptable post-offer background check result.

CREATIVE THOUGHT MATTERS.