Financial Aid Assistant and Office Administrator

Financial Aid Assistant and Office Administrator

Amherst Campus
Full Time
JR4847

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Financial Aid Assistant and Office Administrator position. The Financial Aid Assistant and Office Administrator is a full-time, year-round, on-campus position with an optional remote day after the probation period, job group and level AO-3 (starting at $24.50/hour - commensurate with experience). Given Amherst's distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

The Financial Aid Assistant and Office Administrator serves our diverse student and parent population mainly in an in-person front-line role in counseling on all aspects of the financial aid programs and application process at Amherst College. The successful candidate will deliver, with grace, information regarding institutional policies and procedures, financial aid application requirements, and aid offer details in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as well as the US Department of Education regulations.

Other responsibilities include financial aid processing, maintaining a high standard of accuracy in tracking financial aid application materials and follow-up, and providing administrative office support; providing support in the processing of financial aid revisions; and assisting in compliance with federal requirements for financial aid recipients.

About the Office of Financial Aid and Amherst College:

Financial Aid Staff balance a student-centered culture with the responsible stewardship of all financial aid funds. We emphasize and model the partnership in funding, as students, families and the College work together to develop a financing plan. Working with the Amherst College Office of Financial Aid requires a desire to engage on issues of antiracism and equity in educational opportunities. All members of the Amherst Financial Aid team take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment. In support of our institutional vision of expanded access and broad diversity across geographic, racial, ethnic and socioeconomic dimensions, Amherst is committed to need-blind admission and generous need-based, no-loan financial aid for all students, regardless of citizenship.

Summary of Responsibilities:

Financial Aid Front-Line

• Delivers exceptional customer service to a diverse group of prospective and current students, colleagues, and families, including timely, accurate, and professional responses to all phone, email, and in-person inquiries.
  
• Serves as primary responder to all emails and phone questions and inquiries submitted through the Departmental email account and phone extension.
  
• Educates prospective and current students on the navigation of the financial aid application submission process, including technical support of the FAFSA and CSS Profile systems and the institutional portal.
  
• Manage outreach and support to students with incomplete financial aid applications and difficulties completing the process.
  

Financial Aid Processing and Records

• Facilitates the financial aid application processes and the awarding of institutional scholarships, federal loans, and institutional loans.
  
• Revise financial aid awards in cases of eligibility based on student medical insurance, supplemental grants, etc. and send award communications through the financial aid management system, PowerFAIDS.
  
• Quality check aid offer details for financial aid applicants prior to distribution.
  
• Track documents and communications of financial aid materials and correspondence.
  
• Evaluate tax form and application completeness and follow-up for additional documentation; annotate electronic records regarding submitted materials.
  
• Initiate refunds for financial aid credit balances and student emergency funds.
  

Office Support

• Manage administration of software used for appointment requests for prospective and admitted students.
  
• Manage office supplies, purchase orders, and billings.
  
• Manage and coordinate space booking and support divisional events.
  

Qualifications:

Required

• Associate's Degree or equivalent and 1 to 3 years of related experience or equivalent work experience in lieu of minimum education and related experience.
  
• One to three years in a customer-focused environment.
  
• Excellent interpersonal, time management, organizational, and customer service skills.
  
• Commitment to or experience working with a diverse community and showing empathy for the needs of people from diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
  
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills.
  
• Proficiency in MS Office, Google Suite, and the ability to learn new software programs.
  
• Ability to take the initiative and work independently and collaboratively.
  
• Being able to prioritize assignments and switch between tasks.
  

Preferred

• Fluency in a foreign language.
  
• Familiarity with financial aid management systems, student information systems, and/or document imaging systems.
  
• Knowledge of financial aid regulations.
  
• Preference for experience with writing and editing.
  

Amherst College offers many opportunities for professional growth and development, continued learning, and career advancement.

Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for Benefits Information.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume online at https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Amherst_Jobs. Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Jobs Hub icon from their Workday home screen) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.


To apply, visit https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Amherst_Jobs/job/Amherst-Campus/Financial-Aid-Assistant-and-Office-Administrator_JR4847-1


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