Position Summary: The Financial Aid Assistant is responsible for providing financial aid services to students, resolving student problems with financial aid issues, and providing application information for scholarships, grants, and other financial aid programs. This position will ensure student understanding of policies and procedures related to financial aid, as well as supervise student workers.

Qualifications

Required:

  • Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited University.
  • Experience with financial aid services, policy and procedures, and federal, state, and local laws pertaining to financial aid.
  • Experience with Microsoft Office.

Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Ability to manage time effectively, set priorities, resolve problems independently, and make informed appropriate decisions.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
  • Strong written and verbal skills, with attention to detail.
  • Ability to handle stressful situations with professionalism.
  • Ability to analyze problems, identify solutions, and take appropriate action to resolve problems using independent judgment and decision-making processes.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other departmental staff, faculty, students and the public.

Responsibilities: Within the scope of college policies and procedures, this position:

  • Performs exceptional customer services for students, employees, and the public by responding to inquiries concerning financial aid eligibility while ensuring students understand all policies and procedures related to their financial aid records.
  • Responsible for counseling and advising students and parents on the Financial Aid process.
  • Awards student aid based on independent assessment of student’s eligibility needs and interprets and modifies computer generated award packages as needed.
  • Maintain the front office area, while modeling excellent customer service, organizational details, and professionalism.
  • Maintain all Zoom Zendesk operations regarding answering phone calls and tickets from One Stop.
  • Supervising and training all student workers for the Financial Aid Office through the Federal Work-Study program.
  • Responsible for responding to the needs of students, the general public, and staff by coordinating all communication with the financial aid email account.
  • Responsible for handling all visitors/students for “on demand/walk-in” student aid counseling.
  • Responsible for retrieving, opening, processing, date entering, and routing all incoming mail.
  • Provides general information to prospective and returning students regarding the financial aid application process and federal, state, and institutional guidelines.
  • Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines related to assigned work.
  • Participates and collaborates in outreach activities and special events for the Financial Aid Office.
  • Learn financial aid processes and counseling techniques utilized by our institution.
  • Cross-trains with other staff as backup for all financial aid processes.
  • Any additional duties/responsibilities assigned by the Director of Financial Aid.

Application Deadline: Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled.  Only complete applications will be accepted.

To Apply: Send materials listed below to:

William Washburn

Interim Director of Financial Aid

The University of West Alabama

Station 3

Livingston, AL 35470

wwashburn@uwa.edu

  1. Cover letter.
  2. Resume/vita, documenting related work experience.
  3. Email and phone number of three professional references; reference letters may be requested later.
  4. Transcripts of all college work. Unofficial transcripts will suffice for application. Official transcripts must be submitted immediately upon employment.

Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation, including information obtained from social media and other internet sources.

The University of West Alabama does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, hearing status, personal appearance, color, sex, pregnancy, political affiliation, creed, ethnicity, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability (including perceived disability), age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any grievance process on campus, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or other human rights agencies.

AA/EO Employer.