Financial Aid Technical Specialist

 

Department: Financial Aid

 

Location: Grand Rapids, MI

 

This position supports activities related to the effective and efficient delivery of student financial aid resources and services, including quality assurance, troubleshooting, and error resolution. This individual will complete all the steps necessary to ensure that federal, state, and institutional financial aid is awarded, originated, and disbursed in a timely manner, and in compliance with federal and state regulations and institutional policies and procedures. Additionally, this position is responsible to track, resolve, and provide follow-up for financial aid-related questions and concerns. Based on needs within the office, various team members take the lead on certain programs, while all team members will have the ability to assist and back up the lead person. Finally, this role also supports financial aid student service functions including face-to-face meetings, orientations, financial aid presentations and workshops, phone calls, email, and text campaigns.

 

Requisition ID: 913

Position Number: 00001683

Department: Financial Aid

Employee Group: https://www.grcc.edu/faculty-staff/human-resources/employee-groups-resources/employee-groups/professional-management-administration

Schedule: 40 hours/52 Weeks

Compensation: AP4; $50,005 Annually

Benefits: https://www.grcc.edu/faculty-staff/human-resources/benefits-insurance

Reports to: Associate Director of Financial Aid Operations

Posting Opens: 05/28/2025

Posting Closes: 06/11/2025

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

 

• Manage financial aid processes related to non-term clock hour programs, specifically financial aid awarding, refunds, satisfactory academic progress evaluation, and return of Title IV funds (R2T4) calculations

• Responsible for the processing of return of Title IV funds (R2T4)

• Adjusts aid based on GRCC's Attendance policy

• Work in cooperation with the Student Financial Services Office to facilitate the refund process to ensure that all aid eligibility criteria are met at the time of disbursement

• Monitor student accounts related to repeated and developmental education coursework, and adjust student awards as needed

• If chosen to be lead person on certain State Aid programs, be responsible for that program funded through the State of Michigan's Student Scholarships and Grants Office and monitor recipients to ensure eligibility and compliance with state requirements

• Develop and implement processes for ensuring that students establish eligibility for Futures for Frontliners, Reconnect, and other State programs. This includes monitoring continuous enrollment, minimum GPA, coding students correctly in PeopleSoft, reporting the data to MiSSG, and reporting graduation data to MiSSG

• Work in cooperation with the GRCC Foundation for the accurate awarding of GRCC Foundation Scholarships, including, but not limited to, reporting to the Foundation regularly on the utilization of scholarships, identifying issues that prevent awarding, reporting any issues regarding student eligibility, assisting with data requests from the GRCC Foundation, and providing billing statements at least once per quarter and a final year end statement

• Monitor the process to ensure that outside resources are recorded correctly on student award accounts to ensure accurate awarding of other types of aid, including Federal and State grants and scholarships and student loans

• Provide accurate interpretation of financial aid regulations, policy recommendations, and procedure documentation for the Financial Aid Office. This includes reviewing all updated guidance from the State and Federal governments (including but not limited to email communication, manuals, webinars and other resources) and making appropriate updates to GRCC documentation and processes

• Assist with packaging of federal Direct and alternative student loans, certification of loan applications, loan origination, transmittal of electronic loan data files to external agencies, processing of entrance and exit counseling, ensuring loan applications are completed, and communication to borrowers

• In cooperation with Student Records, complete requests for educational records submitted by students and appropriate agencies

• Directly assist with any audits of financial aid programs, including the annual Single Audit and any State or Federal program reviews

• Assist with monthly reconciliation of student loan disbursements and year end close out functions

• Assist with all other financial aid awards, including packaging and repackaging of Pell, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and Federal Work Study (FWS) awards

• Use Federal and State systems to process financial aid, including NSLDS, COD, FAA Access, Mi- SSG, and other systems

• Assist with file review, verification, special circumstances, and dependency override functions

• Participate in the testing and implementation of new and modified financial aid functionality in the PeopleSoft Campus Wide Information System, in particular as it relates to non-term based programs, R2T4, over awards, attendance monitoring, and refund disbursements. Develop related policy and procedure documentation

• Actively support and participate in the Student Service Excellence Model

• Serve on various committees as appropriate for the work being performed

• Attend professional development conferences, seminars, workshops, and webinars to stay abreast of current regulations, trends, and best practices in student financial aid

• Participate in prospective, new, returning and departing student outreach initiatives, including orientation, financial literacy programming, financial aid presentations and workshops

• Provide financial aid information and assistance to students in person, phone, text, chat, and email.

• Assist the Executive Director of Financial Aid, Associate Director of Financial Aid Operations, Assistant Director for State Aid and Compliance, and Functional Analysts with special projects and other duties as assigned

• Review financial aid packages for over-awards and resolve as necessary due to changing aid eligibility after packaging

• Review and process student appeals to make determinations for continuing or new aid eligibility

• Audit processes and procedures to innovate and improve processes in response to changing Federal, State, or GRCC policy

• Regular attendance during normal scheduled hours is required. Being present is essential for serving customers and performing the essential functions of this position

 

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

 

Education Credentials

 

• Bachelor's Degree required

 

Work Experience

 

• A minimum of 2 years of financial aid or relevant student financial experience required

• A minimum of 2 yeas of FAFSA Simplification Act experience (experience in financial aid since 2021) highly preferred

• A minimum of 2 years of experience utilizing financial aid-related web systems (such as SAIG, COD, NSLDS, FAA Access, Mi-SSG, etc.) preferred

• Experience with data software systems, preferably higher education systems such as PeopleSoft

 

Skills

 

• Financial Aid Compliance and Processing Expertise

• Analytical and Problem Solving

• Attention to Detail and Accuracy

• Technical Proficiency with Financial Aid and ERP Systems

• Customer Service and Communication

 

Physical Demands

 

• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time.

• Long periods at a computer.

 

Mental Demands

 

• Ability to plan and work independently and as a team member

• Ability to follow detailed processes

• Must be punctual with a good attendance record

• Ability to accommodate a flexible work schedule, which includes evenings and weekends as needed

 

Working Conditions

 

• GRCC will comply with any mandated health and safety requirements. Compliance information is available on our https://www.grcc.edu/faculty-staff/general-counsel/policies

• Office is shared by multiple GRCC staff members, primarily Financial Aid employees

 

BENEFITS

 

• Health Coverage: Six health https://www.grcc.edu/faculty-staff/human-resources/benefits-insurance/medical-plans, including one with no health insurance premiums

• Time off: Enjoy substantial https://www.grcc.edu/sites/default/files/docs/humanresources/MeetConferHandbook_05222024.pdf

• Wellness Program: Access resources for physical and mental wellbeing, and an onsite https://www.grcc.edu/employers-community/ford-fieldhouse

• Continuous Learning: https://www.grcc.edu/faculty-staff/grants-department and https://www.grcc.edu/faculty-staff/finance-administration/employee-reimbursement/tuition-benefit

• Retirement Plans: Secure your future with our https://www.grcc.edu/faculty-staff/human-resources/payroll/annuities-retirement-information, including the state retirement plan or a 401A with a 12% employer contribution

 

NEXT STEPS / APPLICATION PROCESS

 

Please fill out an application athttps://www.grcc.edu/jobs. Submit a cover letter and resume. The opportunity to apply for this position will close at the end of the day on the close date referenced at the top of this job posting.

 

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

 

Grand Rapids Community College creates an inclusive learning and working environment that recognizes the value and dignity of each person. It is the policy and practice of GRCC to provide equal educational and employment opportunities regardless of age, race, color, religion, marital status, sex/gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, height, weight, national origin, disability, political affiliation, familial status, veteran status or genetics in all programs, activities, services, employment and advancement including admissions to, access to, treatment in, or compensation in employment as required by state and federal law. GRCC is committed to reviewing all aspects of GRCC programs, activities, services and employment, including recruitment, selection, retention and promotion to identify and eliminate barriers in order to prevent discrimination on the basis of the listed protected characteristics. The college will not tolerate any form of retaliation against any person for bringing charges of discrimination or participating in an investigation. Further information may be obtained from the EEO Office or the Office of General Counsel, 143 Bostwick Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3295.

 

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/6261379

 

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