Emerson College
Assistant Director, Financial Aid (Graduate)
Emerson College, Boston, Massachusetts, us, 02298
Assistant Director, Financial Aid (Graduate)
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Reporting to the Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid, the Assistant Director, Financial Aid (Graduate) serves in a dual capacity within the Financial Aid and Student Accounts departments. While their primary responsibility lies in assisting graduate students, they also extend support to all students and families in comprehending their financial aid packages and account balances. Precision, attention to detail, and superior customer service skills are essential for this pivotal role.
Essential Job Duties
Meet with prospective and enrolled students as requested to discuss financial concerns, answer questions about financial aid awarding and eligibility, and review alternative resources to finance education costs.
Offer a minimum of four hours of office hours per week for incoming and continuing graduate students, including a mixture of late morning and late afternoon availability.
Complete file reviews, including the federal verification process; troubleshoot common errors with posting financial aid packages, clearing FAFSA C‑Flag, etc.
Review submitted documentation for accuracy and completion, making necessary corrections to financial aid applications with speed and accuracy, and requesting additional documents as needed.
Analyze students’ records and financial aid applications for discrepancies or conflicting information and request the necessary documentation to correct these issues.
Process all aspects of specific federal or institutional aid programs, determine eligibility for Federal Direct Loans and institutional scholarships; build, audit, and adjust budgets for graduate students every semester.
Provide outreach to students about registration plans that might need adjustments to their financial aid package based on their registration.
Serve as the lead Financial Aid officer for specific graduate programs; attend regular meetings with community partners, including Financial Aid webinars, in‑person recruiting events, etc.
Complete reconciliation of specific scholarships to confirm that amounts align with registration and are disbursed at appropriate points in the term.
Collaborate with graduate aid officers to share timely updates and track applications through each phase of the aid cycle.
Provide guidance and basic knowledge training and share updates/developments regarding the graduate programs to graduate student workers and Student Financial Services staff who will be assisting with phone coverage.
Plan and maintain all activities needed for a successful academic year (summer, fall, spring), including packaging timelines, meetings, presentations, workshops, town halls, billing deadlines, and communications.
Assist the Office of Student Accounts with account review, collection, and outreach for active and inactive graduate population, ensuring balance payments are collected or received by payment deadlines.
Assist in the management of graduate‑level billing rules in Banner, as well as invoice creation and management of related population selections.
Apply and track balance holds for the graduate population.
Support other graduate student programs with awarding, budgeting, outreach, and webinars as needed.
Other support areas include student employment onboarding and support, NSLDS/C‑Flag processing for federal compliance, loan processing troubleshooting via COD, Touchnet payment plan support, NFT outreach.
Work with Student Loan Manager and other Student Financial Services staff to offer exit counseling sessions to graduating students to add an additional layer of default prevention.
Assist the Office of Financial Aid with file review for incoming undergraduate students when volume is high.
Assist with department phone coverage, anywhere between 4‑6 hours each week. During peak times, additional coverage might be needed.
Perform general administrative tasks.
Perform other miscellaneous duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree required. Master’s Degree preferred.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in finance, financial aid, accounting, and/or a strong customer service setting required.
2‑4 years of experience in a financial aid department preferred.
Minimum one year of experience of using Banner required; 2‑3 years experience preferred.
Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail required.
Fluency in a second language preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of Slate, Touchnet, various other systems/portals.
Proficiency in using Google Suite applications, Microsoft suite software, and ability to learn new software easily.
Comfortable navigating COD, NSLDS, and other federal systems.
Knowledge of undergraduate financial aid packaging rules and regulations.
Broad understanding of Student Financial Services general services, procedures, and policies.
Ability to handle difficult phone calls and student meetings by communicating information clearly and compassionately.
Up‑to‑date knowledge of college and federal rules governing financial aid policies, procedures, and prerequisites.
Understanding of the financial aid review cycles as it relates to applicants, current students, students returning, and students leaving or graduating.
Self‑starter with excellent interpersonal communication and problem‑solving skills.
Strong customer service skills and the ability to engage with students and parents in a patient and positive manner.
Good organizational skills with the ability to maintain multiple projects simultaneously and to prioritize tasks.
Ability to handle stressful situations in a courteous and professional manner.
Ability to engage well with a diverse population.
Physical Abilities
Position is generally sedentary in nature; movement throughout the area is required from time to time.
Ability to have continuous oral and written communication with students, families, co‑workers, and supervisors is essential.
Repetitive movements, occasional lifting of up to 10 pounds, reaching, lifting, stooping and the ability to read a computer screen, detect color‑coding and read fine print will be expected.
Work Environment
General office conditions.
Exposed to moderate noise levels.
Compensation: $57,250.00 - $70,200.00 annually, commensurate with experience.
Grade of Position: 23-07E
Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25
Benefits In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well‑being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week. Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out‑of‑pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time‑off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits such as life and disability coverage as well as commuter offerings are available. Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.
Seniority level Mid‑Senior level
Employment type Full‑time
Job function Education and Training
Industries Higher Education
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Reporting to the Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid, the Assistant Director, Financial Aid (Graduate) serves in a dual capacity within the Financial Aid and Student Accounts departments. While their primary responsibility lies in assisting graduate students, they also extend support to all students and families in comprehending their financial aid packages and account balances. Precision, attention to detail, and superior customer service skills are essential for this pivotal role.
Essential Job Duties
Meet with prospective and enrolled students as requested to discuss financial concerns, answer questions about financial aid awarding and eligibility, and review alternative resources to finance education costs.
Offer a minimum of four hours of office hours per week for incoming and continuing graduate students, including a mixture of late morning and late afternoon availability.
Complete file reviews, including the federal verification process; troubleshoot common errors with posting financial aid packages, clearing FAFSA C‑Flag, etc.
Review submitted documentation for accuracy and completion, making necessary corrections to financial aid applications with speed and accuracy, and requesting additional documents as needed.
Analyze students’ records and financial aid applications for discrepancies or conflicting information and request the necessary documentation to correct these issues.
Process all aspects of specific federal or institutional aid programs, determine eligibility for Federal Direct Loans and institutional scholarships; build, audit, and adjust budgets for graduate students every semester.
Provide outreach to students about registration plans that might need adjustments to their financial aid package based on their registration.
Serve as the lead Financial Aid officer for specific graduate programs; attend regular meetings with community partners, including Financial Aid webinars, in‑person recruiting events, etc.
Complete reconciliation of specific scholarships to confirm that amounts align with registration and are disbursed at appropriate points in the term.
Collaborate with graduate aid officers to share timely updates and track applications through each phase of the aid cycle.
Provide guidance and basic knowledge training and share updates/developments regarding the graduate programs to graduate student workers and Student Financial Services staff who will be assisting with phone coverage.
Plan and maintain all activities needed for a successful academic year (summer, fall, spring), including packaging timelines, meetings, presentations, workshops, town halls, billing deadlines, and communications.
Assist the Office of Student Accounts with account review, collection, and outreach for active and inactive graduate population, ensuring balance payments are collected or received by payment deadlines.
Assist in the management of graduate‑level billing rules in Banner, as well as invoice creation and management of related population selections.
Apply and track balance holds for the graduate population.
Support other graduate student programs with awarding, budgeting, outreach, and webinars as needed.
Other support areas include student employment onboarding and support, NSLDS/C‑Flag processing for federal compliance, loan processing troubleshooting via COD, Touchnet payment plan support, NFT outreach.
Work with Student Loan Manager and other Student Financial Services staff to offer exit counseling sessions to graduating students to add an additional layer of default prevention.
Assist the Office of Financial Aid with file review for incoming undergraduate students when volume is high.
Assist with department phone coverage, anywhere between 4‑6 hours each week. During peak times, additional coverage might be needed.
Perform general administrative tasks.
Perform other miscellaneous duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree required. Master’s Degree preferred.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in finance, financial aid, accounting, and/or a strong customer service setting required.
2‑4 years of experience in a financial aid department preferred.
Minimum one year of experience of using Banner required; 2‑3 years experience preferred.
Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail required.
Fluency in a second language preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of Slate, Touchnet, various other systems/portals.
Proficiency in using Google Suite applications, Microsoft suite software, and ability to learn new software easily.
Comfortable navigating COD, NSLDS, and other federal systems.
Knowledge of undergraduate financial aid packaging rules and regulations.
Broad understanding of Student Financial Services general services, procedures, and policies.
Ability to handle difficult phone calls and student meetings by communicating information clearly and compassionately.
Up‑to‑date knowledge of college and federal rules governing financial aid policies, procedures, and prerequisites.
Understanding of the financial aid review cycles as it relates to applicants, current students, students returning, and students leaving or graduating.
Self‑starter with excellent interpersonal communication and problem‑solving skills.
Strong customer service skills and the ability to engage with students and parents in a patient and positive manner.
Good organizational skills with the ability to maintain multiple projects simultaneously and to prioritize tasks.
Ability to handle stressful situations in a courteous and professional manner.
Ability to engage well with a diverse population.
Physical Abilities
Position is generally sedentary in nature; movement throughout the area is required from time to time.
Ability to have continuous oral and written communication with students, families, co‑workers, and supervisors is essential.
Repetitive movements, occasional lifting of up to 10 pounds, reaching, lifting, stooping and the ability to read a computer screen, detect color‑coding and read fine print will be expected.
Work Environment
General office conditions.
Exposed to moderate noise levels.
Compensation: $57,250.00 - $70,200.00 annually, commensurate with experience.
Grade of Position: 23-07E
Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25
Benefits In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well‑being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week. Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out‑of‑pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time‑off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits such as life and disability coverage as well as commuter offerings are available. Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.
Seniority level Mid‑Senior level
Employment type Full‑time
Job function Education and Training
Industries Higher Education
#J-18808-Ljbffr