Financial Aid Specialist at Arkansas Colleges of Health Education – Fort Smith, Arkansas

LOCATION

This position is fully on-site and requires a regular presence in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Remote or hybrid work is not available for this position.

JOB SUMMARY

The Financial Aid Processor must have a working knowledge of federal and state policies and regulations governing the various financial aid programs available to graduate students. The processor will assist in administering programs to ensure federal regulations and institutional goals are met. Under the direction of the Executive Director of Financial Aid, the processor will oversee functional areas of the financial aid office, including but not limited to, Veterans Affairs funding certifications, institutional and private scholarships, and federal loan returns. This position will have primary focus of ACHE’s on-line graduate programs. The candidate should be student-centered, creative, team-oriented, and versed in cultural diversity. Attention to detail is required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a point of contact for online learners regarding financial aid questions, documentation, and eligibility guidance.
• Provide support with packaging, verification, aid adjustments, cost of attendance updates, and enrollment-driven changes for the ACHE’s online population.
• Maintain communication workflows, email templates, and outreach strategies tailored to online students throughout the aid year.
• Provide support with private loan certifications, scholarship processing, and other general financial aid tasks.
• Adhere to regulations as set forth by governing agencies and institutional policies.
• Performs data integration between various financial aid management systems.
• Assist with the advisement of students and families on available educational funding options.
• Assist with operational procedures for student eligibility of institutional, state, and federal awards.
• Assist with analyzing student financial aid information for the awarding process.
• Accurately document student information, while maintaining the confidentiality of student records.
• Assist with reporting.
• Assist with the Exit Interview preparation.
• Demonstrate and maintain a current and thorough understanding of the College, as it relates to Admissions, Registrar, Financial aid, enrollment, student accounting, and support services to ensure students are directed to subject matter experts as appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director of Financial Aid or their designee.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education or equivalent student financial services experience.
• Eligible to receive federal authorization to access and process Title IV financial aid programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Title IV funds administration.
• Familiarity with financial aid management systems, Ellucian Colleague preferred.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Ability to travel and to represent the college.
• Ability to prepare and present information to small and large groups.
• Familiarity with Student Information Systems.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, goal-oriented atmosphere, both independently and as part of a unified team.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and speaking skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Office products including Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Display professionalism for the college in all communication and interaction.
• Ability to prioritize and organize numerous and varied assignments.

ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THE JOB

Communication and Comprehension

ACHE is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate with regard to applicants or employees with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodations when necessary. The following are essential abilities and physical requirements for all positions at the college.

• Ability to orally communicate effectively with others with strong interpersonal skills and customer service orientation.
• Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues and supervisory staff at all levels.
• Ability to understand oral and written information, using the English language, and organize thoughts and ideas into effective forms of communication.
• Ability to make decisions which range from moderate to a significant impact on the immediate work environment, as well as outside contributors.
• Possess public communication skills that allow professional representation of ACHE to a variety of business and community customers and associates.
• Strong organizational skills.

Problem Solving

• Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, and apply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine and complex nature.
• Expertise in negotiation.

Physical and Sensory Abilities

• May be exposed to short, intermittent, and/or prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing in performance of job duties.
• May be required to accomplish job duties using various types of equipment/supplies to include, but not limited to pens, pencils, calculators, computer keyboards, telephone, etc.
• May be required to transport oneself to other campus offices, conference rooms, and on occasion, to off-campus sites to attend meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars, etc.
• May require significant travel or work away from campus.
• Requires attendance at events representing ACHE both within as well as outside of the college setting.
• Frequently required to work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations.
• Frequently required to see for purposes of reading matter.
• Frequently required to hear and understand speech at normal levels.
• Occasionally required to lift items in a normal office environment.
• Frequently required to operate office and presentation equipment.

If you need assistance in the application process because of a disability, or any other reason, please contact Vicki Broadaway, Vice President of Human Resources, at 479.308.2287 or vicki.broadaway@achehealth.edu.

Arkansas Colleges of Health Education is an equal opportunity employer.