College of The Albemarle, located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, is the state's first community college, founded in 1961. We strive to transform lives by inspiring and empowering individuals and communities of our seven-county service area. Through our four locations, we provide quality college transfer and career and technical education to residents in northeast North Carolina. 

Description

Position Subject to Availability of Budgeted Funds

Salary commensurate with degree and experience

The role of the Financial Aid Advisor will be part of a team tasked with administering the college's need-based and merit-based student aid programs:  performing a variety of technical and clerical tasks in the maintenance and documentation of financial aid information; assisting in the planning, developing, implementing and administering all financial aid funds (including federal/state/institutional grants and institutional/private scholarships); disseminating financial aid information to students; and assisting students, staff and the general public in the interpretation of financial aid program policies and procedures.

The Financial Aid Advisor receives supervision from the Director of Financial Aid. The Financial Aid Advisor may exercise technical and functional supervision over student work-study staff. 

Examples of Duties

General:

• Provide initial contact and conduct workshops/seminars for financial aid information; respond to inquiries from students, faculty, staff and administration; screen and interview applicants for proper reference to financial aid programs.
• Review documents as they arrive in the office, logging and adding them to student files. Send letters to students notifying them of incomplete or missing information in their files.
• Maintain student records in the Datatel/Colleague System.
• Assist with updates to and development of the Financial Aid Policy and Procedure Manual.
• Update sections of the Financial Aid web site.
• Perform a wide variety of clerical work; maintain accurate and detailed records; prepare and analyze reports; verify accuracy of calculations; research discrepancies and record information.
• Provide excellent customer service to callers and walk-ins.
• Assist with creating and updating financial aid forms on an annual basis.

Unique responsibilities:

• Ensure institutional compliance with all federal and state requirements and advise senior staff of actions necessary to ensure institutional compliance. Ensure compliance with federal regulatory requirements in monitoring electronic access to the National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS) that contains financial aid history information on recipients of student assistance authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. 
• Ensure proper protection of any printed or computer generated NSLDS information as required by the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended.
• Administer the Golden Leaf Scholarship Program every semester for both the curriculum and continuing education scholarships.
• Promote the COA Foundation application. Award scholarship recipients and continually evaluate the individual scholarships to re-award as necessary.
• Compile all Federal Work-Study information, reports and forms; and work with various departments in placing students in positions. Review and complete all Federal Work-Study payroll information monthly and annually for the Business Office.
• Monitor student enrollment for student aid programs and gather documentation as necessary for return of Title IV calculations including printing screenshots, resolving conflicts of information with Registrar.
• Assist with monthly reconciliation of Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, and Federal Work Study with Business Office.
• Monitor enrollment status of consortium agreement students.
• Monitor incomplete grades for changes.
• Update earliest disbursement dates on the State Grant Portal.
• Assist with the review of tuition refunds, as needed by the Business Office.
• Assist with Financial Aid Disbursement responsibilities and the Financial Aid payment process.
• Manage the importing process including importing Institutional Student Information Reports (ISIRs) and associated processes. Complete subsequent ISIR review and mail appropriate letter or complete FA file.
• Assist with the Satisfactory Academic Progress evaluation at each checkpoint.
• Determine eligibility award recipients for the Foundation's Gift Aid Program scholarship.
• Import and review weekly Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used report, update names/percentages on LEU Master List.
• Review/resolve Residency discrepancies identified on CFNC Portal.
• Verify data and assess tax information for students selected for verification by the US Department of Education and transmit corrections via Colleague or Financial Aid Administrator (FAA) Access.
• Submit information electronically to the US Department of Education for processing.
• Review applications for completeness; determine eligibility for federal, state or private funds and calculate awards; prepare student files; enter data into the computer.
• Communicate satisfactory academic progress with students; help them to understand their options and what effects withdrawing or failing will have on their eligibility.
• Process scholarship applications and notify recipients.
• Process non-institutional scholarships, meeting the donor's intentions of the scholarship requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Required:

• A Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with major course work in business.
• One year work experience with financial aid, admissions, or related work experience in education, accounting, OR working with federal, state, local, or other governmental agencies, OR work experience involving business transactions with accountability.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Possess the ability to:

• Interpret and apply pertinent college, federal and state policies, procedures, rules and regulations of student financial assistance programs.
• Tactfully respond to requests for information regarding Admissions/Financial Aid.
• Demonstrate ability to manage and use financial aid software, specifically Datatel/Colleague.
• Operate a personal computer, including MS Office.
• Excellent analytical skills for financial aid research and data integrity.
• Good eye for detail and exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• Identify challenges and implement solutions.
• Multi-task and work in a high fast paced environment and readily adjust to change.
• Maintain the security of confidential student records.
• Work independently without supervision.
• Prioritize work for timely completion.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Treat others respectfully, speak to others courteously and behave in such a way that creates a workplace environment that is marked by trustworthiness, honest but polite communication and interpersonal interactions that are both personally cordial and professionally appropriate.
• Establish and coordinate lines of communication across various areas of the College.

College of The Albemarle is an Equal Opportunity Employer and seeks candidates who reflect the diversity of our region. In striving to create and sustain a welcoming learning community for all members, employment decisions shall be made without regard to race, national origin, color, religion, sex, disability, age or political affiliation.

Employment with College of The Albemarle is contingent upon the satisfactory results of background and reference checks.

College of The Albemarle does not provide work visa sponsorships. To be considered for employment, applicants must be permitted to legally work in the United States without employer sponsorship.