Financial Aid Assistant
Position Description
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) invites applications for a full-time Financial Aid Assistant to join our Financial Aid department.
The Financial Aid Assistant supports the Financial Aid Office’s functions and coordinates the work-flow of various operational activities. The Assistant will serve as the initial service representative within the Financial Aid Office, responsible for assisting students, families, and the University community with inquires related to all aspects of the financial aid process. The Assistant will work as a member of the financial aid team, but will also work independently without daily supervision to make sound decisions using professional judgment.
Essential Job Functions
- Customer Service
- Provide professional customer service – consistently practiced in person, via phone and/or email with students, parents or guardians, and campus departments.
- Respond to inquiries regarding financial assistance; inform and advise students and families about application procedures, financial aid eligibility, financial aid policies, renewal obligations, and university costs, individualizing information to the student’s particular needs and situation.
- Proactively coordinate walk-in traffic with the financial aid staff.
- Work collaboratively with other departments across campus.
- Processing
- Manage the flow of data and files throughout the financial aid process, from admission to graduation; maintain current student files and purge old files in accordance with University policy.
- Maintain student financial aid files (filing, making new files, etc.)
- Coordinate routine outgoing communications, such as missing document letters and award notifications.
- Prepare and process all financial aid documents received for review.
- Provide assistance in the administration of financial aid programs including verification, student employment, scholarships, loans, grants, and satisfactory academic progress.
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary from time to time.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
- Maintain knowledge of both PowerFaids and Jenzabar student information systems.
- Use federal, state, and private software/websites to assist in the administration of financial aid programs. Maintain a secure user ID and password, as needed.
- Participate in campus activities including: Open Houses, Accepted Student Days, and other events as needed.
Qualifications
Education & Experience:
- Demonstrated experience working in a financial aid office and/or some college or associate’s degree. 1-2 years customer service and/or student service experience.
Knowledge & Abilities: Commitment to exceptional customer service through effective oral and written communication skills and the preservation of confidentiality; attention to detail; willing to be hands-on and work closely with students and customers of diverse cultural and economic backgrounds; ability to accurately handle multiple tasks and provide customer service simultaneously in a fast-paced environment; ability to administer established policies and procedures and interpret and comply with regulations affecting financial aid; accuracy and attention to detail in daily work; consistently perform under the pressures of deadlines and other administrative demands; and work cooperatively with others.
Language Skills
- Ability to communicate in both written and oral form.
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as tax returns, procedure manuals, and regulatory compliance documents.
- Ability to write routine correspondence.
- Ability to understand and follow complex policies and procedures.
- Ability to speak effectively before students, parents or guardians, fellow employees and other constituents of the University.
Mathematical Skills
- Ability to pay strong attention to financial data detail. Ability to review student charges, financial aid, and calculate amount due.
Reasoning Ability
- Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out detailed and involved written and oral instructions.
- Ability to problem solve complex issues, using federal, state, institutional regulations as guiding principles.
- Keen ability to review data.
- Ability to use technology to streamline processes.
Physical Demands
- While performing the duties of this job the employee is largely sedentary, the ability to move is required. The employee is occasionally required to traverse within their work area as well as other areas on campus.
Work Environment
- This job operates in a professional office environment. This role uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
- Some evening and weekend work may be necessary to participate in campus-based programs such as Open House, Accepted Student Day, and/or Welcome Weekend.