Financial Aid Assistant, Financial Aid

Company: University of Montana
Location: Missoula
Posted on: February 16, 2020

Job Description:

Job DescriptionFinancial Aidinvites applications for two (2) Financial Aid Assistants (Administrative Associate II) to provide excellent customer to students navigating the process of applying for and receiving aid, and to perform the clerical duties related to processing Federal Direct Loans, private student loans, federal and state work-study programs, and scholarship programs. Our financial aid department is looking for smart, analytical, creative individuals, who have a philosophy of exceptional customer service, are quick learners, are able to problem solve and troubleshoot, are comfortable with complexity and continual change, are excellent communicators, are good at reconciling data, can manage conflict, and are interested in becoming part of a dedicated team.If you are hired, you will serve as one of the offices first points of contact for students, their families, community members, agency representatives, faculty and staff, which requires that you learn the financial aid processes, policies and systems to provide excellent customer service over the phone, by email and in person. Additionally, you will learn to complete the loan certification process for private loans, process loan checks, and record loan reductions and returns, enter hire cards, draft contracts for off-campus agencies, reconcile earnings reports, enter scholarships into the administrative database, process external scholarship checks, and handle scholarship appeals.Incumbent will be expected to become acquainted with Federal and State aid regulations, and UM policies and procedures. Additionally, this position is expected to become proficient in the use of Banner, COD, NSLDS, Blackbaud Award Management (BAM), and ScholarNet. Also, it is expected that the selected candidate will become familiar with CyberBear, the UM Financial Aid website, FAFSA.gov, BAM, and studentloans.gov to assist students and families with navigating through them.Required Skills

• Possess strong communication skills and be able to have consistently positive interpersonal interactions with students, families, agency representatives, faculty, and staff
• Ability to be granted access to federal aid databases, meaning cannot be in default on any federal loans
• Possess good mathematic/accounting skills and have great attention to detail
• Ability to understand and effectively communicate complex policies to customers and staff
• Ability to effectively troubleshoot customer needs
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to adjust quickly to changing job demands
• Ability to use standard office equipment including copiers, fax machine, ten-key adding machine, multi-line phone system
• Demonstrated skills in the operation of personal computers and related word processing, spreadsheet, and database software (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) with the ability to learn other softwareMinimum Required Experience
  • High school diploma (or equivalency)Preferred Qualifications
    • Experience with financial aid.
    • Excellent writing skills.
    • A combination of three (3) years of higher education and/or related work experienceAbout Financial Aid and UMWe, the staff of the Financial Aid office, in order to support the educational goals of students, equitably distribute financial resources to an economically diverse population within the bounds of imposed regulations, providing a depth of service corresponding to the needs of our community.We strive to build the reputation of the university by being courteous, knowledgeable and approachable to all. We endeavor to effectively use technology and continually seek to improve our communication and processes. We embrace each staff members strengths, creating a positive environment where all can thrive.The University of Montana provides a culture that values hard work, intellectual curiosity, diversity, collegiality, innovative thinking, and teamwork, making it a great place to grow and develop professionally. The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its essential values of innovation and creativity, impact, openness, and partnership.Position DetailsPosition Title: Financial Aid Assistant (Administrative Associate II)Position Number: 006500; 009800Department: Financial AidWork Schedule: Full-time, 1.0 FTE (40 Hours a week), Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 12 months/year.Salary: $12.42/hr Current employees rate of pay for this position will be determined by the staff compensation plan and may be different from the posted salary.For questions and details regarding the staff compensation plan, email the Compensation Department.Union Affiliation: FOCUS - MFPEProbationary Period: Six months minimumBenefits Include: Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to Offer of Employment In accordance with University regulations, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's PreferenceReasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References: References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing: Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. Employment Eligibility: All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).#How to ApplyApplication Deadline: Sunday*, March 1, 2020 *by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)Candidates are required to submit all of the following materials online.A complete application Includes:
    • Letter of Interest addressing your qualifications and experience related the stated required skills for the position.
    • Detailed Resume listing education and describing work experience.
    • Professional References names and contact information for three (3) professional references.Need additional help? Check out our UM Jobs FAQ website.Tracking Code: 2557-254Job Location: Missoula, Montana, United StatesPosition Type: Full-Time/Regular

Keywords: University of Montana, Missoula , Financial Aid Assistant, Financial Aid, Accounting, Auditing , Missoula, Montana