Financial Aid Specialist

Position Description To work as a member of the Financial Aid office team, assisting in the effective review, processing, and delivery of financial aid to all qualified students. This is a fully remote position once an employee is determined by the Financial Aid leadership team to have achieved an acceptable level of understanding of the job requirements. Employee must demonstrate that they can successfully and independently perform the job requirements remotely in order to maintain the remote option. The option to be remote may be changed based on institutional needs and or if the institution determines that a position can no longer be a remote position. Alignment with Theological Positions The person who fills this position must be someone who personally agrees with Biola’s Articles of Faith and who is supportive of the positions taken by Biola as contained in its Statement of Biblical Principles and Eschatology Teaching Position. As such, this person may not speak against or act in a manner inconsistent with these positions during the course of their employment at Biola. Department Financial Aid Supervisor This position reports to the Associate Director of Financial Aid/Processing Educational Requirements Bachelor’s degree or prior professional Financial Aid Experience required Work Requirements No prior experience required, however, previous financial aid experience preferred Essential Duties ●As assigned, coordinate the overall administration process of Title IV, state, private, or institutional aid programs. Serve as the institutional liaison, statistical reporter, and office reference expert for the program ●Process standard routine reports to monitor needed aid adjustments. Notify students of changes and missing information on a timely basis ●Serve as a specialist in processing information for students. Assist in reviewing financial aid applications, following up regarding file requirements, and packaging of scholarships, grants, and loans for eligible students. ●Follow federal verification and other eligibility requirements to ensure each student’s file is meeting compliance standards ●Develop written procedures and maintain yearly calendar for office functions unique to the respective position Maintain current policy and procedures documents: Regularly review and update step-by-step guides for areas of responsibility Communicate with Financial Aid Applicants: Work with students and parents by communicating with them via phone or email Work with Student Accounts for reconciliation needs for any program Work on urgent & special projects that come up throughout the year ●Attend local or national conferences occasionally that may require overnight travel ●Some Saturday and evening work may be required during certain times of the year. During peak times, overtime may be mandatory ●Engage in team support, communication with students, and/or other office functions as needed to address Financial Aid operational needs that arise ●Perform such other duties as may be assigned ●Communication Objective Goals to be Attained ●Accurate and timely administration of assigned aid programs. ●Complete file review and program assignments by weekly, monthly, and annual deadlines as applicable to the task ●Keep Financial Aid Office staff and leadership informed of news and policy updates regarding assigned programs ●Achieve each of the employee’s personal/professional goals as set annually by supervisor ●Attend 1-2 webinars each year to stay up to date on regulations for file review/respective programs Required Skills/Qualifications ●Capacity for high volume, high pressure, detail-oriented production required ●Capability to follow required information security safeguards to protect sensitive information ●Knowledge of systems used by the Office of Financial Aid ●Must demonstrate effective people skills ●Must demonstrate proficient verbal and written communication ●Must demonstrate computer literacy ●Ability to work independently and manage project-based work to timely completion ●Capable of independent problem-solving and research using written documentation Other Desired Duties/Skills ●Maintain a lifestyle in consonance with sound Christian principles and those promulgated by the institution. ●Participate in the spiritual growth, development, care, and support of other employees assigned near this position ●Encouraging others in the office with the hope of Jesus, as we are called to do in the scriptures (1 Thess 5:11) The individual should be a team player who works to help out the teams in the office (Specialist, Counselors, overall) to assist with students' & families’ financial aid applications as well as working through issues that may arise day-to-day The individual should display resourcefulness in how they find creative solutions and adapt to changing situations