Job Description Summary

The Senior Financial Aid Manager position requires a student-oriented, self-starting, critical thinker with a keen attention to detail. In addition to serving as a member of the Financial Aid team, this position will monitor and interpret best practices and legislative updates from state, federal, and other agencies and organizations. This position will make recommendations and advise the Director of Financial Aid as needed in order to ensure compliance within policies and procedures. This position will require applicants to have a genuine interest in promoting student success.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (other duties may be assigned)

1. Monitor and interpret best practice and legislative updates from the State of Michigan, the Department of Education, and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) and advise leadership on action needed to maintain compliance.
2. Monitor all required student disclosures that must be posted online and review and update all financial aid related sections annually.
3. Responsible for updating and maintaining the policy and procedure manual for the financial aid office.
4. Responsible for overseeing the communication and internal operations of the financial aid office pertaining to email, mail, documents, data systems, and the website.
5. Perform various need analysis functions using financial aid information submitted by applicants utilizing established federal, state and university standards and guidelines to determine financial need.
6. Serve as a backup for monitoring student satisfactory academic progress (SAP) and ensure students are eligible to receive Title IV aid based on SAP standards.
7. Serve as an alternate on the Scholastic Standards and Appeals Committee and demonstrate compassion, empathy, and discretion toward students with special circumstances.
8. Assist with scholarship competitions, admissions visit days, and other events that require financial aid staff.
9. Meet with current and prospective students and families as needed and provide excellent customer service and demonstrate empathy, understanding, and care in all student and family interactions.
10. Ensure the security and integrity of confidential student data.
11. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work.
12. Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVIORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Functional supervision may be exercised over student assistants.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures (minimum requirements)

• Bachelors Degree

Required Experience (minimum requirements)

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in financial aid, administrative higher education, compliance/policy, accounting, or closely related field.
• Skill and experience in project management and organizational effectiveness while maintaining strict attention to detail.
• Experience using advanced features of word processing and spreadsheet/ database software.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Experience using Banner
• Experience working in a higher education setting
• Experience reading and interpreting law and policy
• Master’s degree in higher education or related field

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities (minimum requirements)

• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex financial aid regulations, preferred knowledge of Title IV and other federal financial aid programs.
• Excellent interpersonal, customer service, and written/oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Demonstrated ability to explain and convey complex information.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and take initiative to solve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work assignments independently in a complex work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to use appropriate judgement when dealing with highly confidential information.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with others in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new computer skills and features.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries and work harmoniously with diverse groups of students and staff.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Advanced communication skills with the ability to communicate to a variety of audiences ranging from students, to parents, to faculty.
• Demonstrated ability to independently organize, prioritize, and complete multiple work assignments in a complex work environment.
• Ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and report data in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated ability to explain and convey complex information.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new computer skills.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

Evening and weekend work will occasionally be required.
The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate
The work environment is that of a typical office setting

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:

• Employee Safety Overview

• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training

• Annual Data Security Training 

• Annual Title IX Training

Background Check:

Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Other Conditions of Employment:

The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. Visa sponsorship is unavailable at this time. This is not an E-Verified Position.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities

1.00

FLSA Status

Exempt

Appointment Term

12 months

Shift

Pay Rate/Salary

Negotiable based on experience. No less than $45,000.

Title of Position Supervisor

Associate Director

Posting Type

Dependent on Funding

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

Additional Information