Financial Aid Technician II

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This position involves the Coordination/Management of Scholarship and Default programs. This individual will be responsible of providing financial aid & scholarship guidance to students, parents, staff, faculty and high school counselors. Communicate with students, parents, counselors, high schools, donors, and other involved parties. Strong written and oral communication skills is required. Effective interpersonal and presentation skills is a must in this position. The Financial Aid Technician II will assist the Director with presentations to faculty, staff and students on Scholarship processing procedures, service initiatives and programs. Supports and affirms a culture of distinctive excellence and exceptional service. Maintain the applicant database, track, process and prepare applicant information in a timely matter for scholarship committee review; Responsible for receipt, preparation, and reconciliation of internal and external scholarship information accurately into Banner for scholarship payments with the Bursar’s Office.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities

1. Maintain the online scholarship application system, be the department liaison to the third-party Default Prevention company.
2. Coordinate and communicate the Scholarships Application process, review timeline, produce funds reports, and review best practices.
3. Respond to requests for scholarship information via phone and email. Assisting with updating the LC Scholarship website and marketing materials.
4. Conducts virtual appointments for incoming and current students to inform them about existing scholarships and financial aid programs.
5. Interviews and counsels’ students, parents and others regarding eligibility requirements for financial aid and repayment of loans.
6. Coordinates “Exit” interviews with priror loan borrowers and graduating students.
7. Presents Scholarship opportunities to High Schools within the College’s region.
8. Award, process, certify, monitor, evaluate, adjust and reconcile scholarships (and other financial aid) in accordance with Laredo College, Title IV, donor/endowed, state and private financial aid guidelines.
9. Remain current on all federal regulatory requirements and program changes.
10. Deliver all-inclusive and excellent customer service in a fast-paced and engaged student service environment.
11. Assists in the preparation of the department’s Policies and Procedures Manual.
12. Develop understanding of scholarship / Financial Aid systems to guide students through successful completion of the scholarship application as it relates to Financial Aid.
13. Prepares required status reports on work performed to include volume of applications, outstanding requests, inquiries handled, and items referred to senior leadership team.
14. Provides support to other team members as required to ensure the efficient delivery of financial aid services.
15. Performs other duties as assigned as directed by the Director of Financial Aid.
16. Authorizes and coordinates release of scholarship funds to eligible students responsible to reconcile all scholarship accounts with Accounting Department.
17. Collects data from financial aid applications; processes data to locate missing information and makes corrections as necessary.
18. Develop scholarship application forms, reports, and processes that assure access, accountability, and adherence to donor intent.
19. Responsibilities include confirming that students write thank you letters for certain scholarships.
20. Attend various meetings that pertain to scholarship information
21. Counsel students and parents concerning available financial opportunities and help resolve issues and serve as a liaison between students and external agencies.
    
    

Qualifications/Certifications/Licenses/Skills

NOTICE: Required Documents
To be considered for this position, you are required to upload your unofficial transcript(s). In addition, if a license or certificate is required for this position, upload proof of your current license/certificate.

Required:

• Associate Degree
• Two years of experience working in a College or University setting.
• Two years working with college students.
• Valid Driver's License

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Experience in college financial aid or higher education student services
• Proficient in Banner & Argos

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must be able to communicate effectively in English and Spanish.
• Must be able to interpret and implement guidelines.
• Should understand principals of student financial aid.
• Must be able to meet deadlines and handle work by priorities.
• Must be willing to work weekends and overtime and travel.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must have a high-level word-processing skill using the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks/projects.
• Ability to follow through on projects in order to meet tight deadlines
• Ability to handle difficult customer interaction.
• Must possess strong organizational skills, excellent written and verbal communication abilities, project management and problem-solving skills.
  
  

Additional Information

Supervision Exercised
Director of Financial aid & Veterans, Assistant Director, Lead Financial Aid Coordinator.

Supervision Received
Director of Student Financial Aid & Veterans.

Physical Requirements
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit.
The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move items weighing up to 50 pounds.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment
Work is performed in a standard office environment.
Work-inside a well-lighted and air-conditioned area most of the time.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

Safety
Required to work safely and follow safety rules.
Report unsafe working conditions and behavior.
Take reasonable and prudent actions to prevent others from engaging in unsafe practices.

Special Conditions
Immediate supervisor may assign other duties.
May be required to work outside regular working hours, as needed.
May be required to work at a different college work site or campus as needed.

EEO Statement
In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Laredo College is open to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, or national origin who are otherwise eligible for admission as students. Furthermore, Laredo College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and no applicant or employee will be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability or national origin. This institution will not enter knowingly into any contractual agreement for services or supplies with any firm failing to follow fair employment practices.

Foreign Degrees
Foreign degrees require an evaluation for United States equivalency from an approved stated education agency or having membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Transcripts issued outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached to your online application at the time of applying. For your convenience, we have provided the following links to assist you in complying with this requirement. However, you may use any other certified transcript evaluation service. http://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Certification/Out-of-State_Certification/Foreign_Credential_Evaluation_Services/ http://www.naces.org/members.htm

Disclaimer
The above description is an overview of the job. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities of the job, nor is it intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Duties and responsibilities may change with business needs. LC reserves the right to add, change, amend, or delete portions of this job description at any time, with or without notice. Employees may be required to perform other duties as requested, directed, or assigned. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made by LC as its discretion to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Laredo College offers a comprehensive benefit package.To read more about our Benefits, please visit this page on our College website