Financial Aid Program Manager

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

This position plays a key role in enacting the College’s commitment to providing a welcoming, inclusive and accessible environment to a diverse group of students seeking to learn and grow at Kirkwood. Financial Aid Program Managers create and maintain structures for their programs that lessen barriers for students while ensuring required compliance. This position requires a high degree of independent judgment, initiative, organization, and problem-solving skills. The ideal candidate collaborates with staff and faculty in order to identify and remove barriers to student success, and provides education and outreach to student-facing staff.  

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain up to date expert knowledge of federal and state Financial Aid regulations.
• Is responsible for one or more of the following:
  • State Awarding and Reporting
  • Loan Processing
  • Default Management Program
  • Work-study coordination
  • Direct Loan and Pell Reconciliation
  • Financial Aid Communication
  • Other Financial Aid Programs
• Manage appropriate financial aid program or programs by:
  • Reconciling disbursements monthly
  • Completing required federal or state reporting
  • Ensuring all regulations are followed to prevent financial loss to the college
  • Being the point of contact for staff inside and outside the Financial Aid Office
• Exercise Professional Judgment regarding financial aid eligibility.
• Provide support to staff regarding financial aid questions.
• Advise and assist students regarding high level financial aid topics. May assist with other financial aid questions as needed.
• Assign correct budgets, completes financial aid files and awards financial aid.
• Complete detailed reports as required by the Federal and State Government.
• Maintain working knowledge of degree audits to determine if a student is making satisfactory academic progress.   
• Serve on the financial aid appeals committee.
• Periodically review processing procedures to determine their effectiveness and efficiency.
• Gives financial aid presentations to various groups as required.
• Performs other related work duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree 
• Experience in Higher Education or related field

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, OR REGISTRATIONS: 

• Three years of financial aid experience  
• Experience understanding and explaining complicated regulations
• Program management experience
• Experience with Ellucian Colleague