Financial Aid Officer
- Requisition no: 535874
- Work type: Full Time
- Location: Morningside
- School/Department: School of Law
- Grade: Grade 10
- Categories: Finance/Accounting, Stdnt Affairs/Educational Admn, General Administration, Administrative Support
- Job Type: Officer of Administration
- Bargaining Unit:
- Regular/Temporary: Regular
- End Date if Temporary:
- Hours Per Week: 35
- Salary Range: $58,500 - $61,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Director of Financial Aid, the incumbent assists in administering the financial aid programs of the Law School and has primary responsibility for the management of email communications and providing financial aid counseling to students, as well as support for the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) and student award packaging. The incumbent is also expected to cultivate positive working relationships with deans, faculty, administrators, staff, students, alumni/ae, central administrators at Columbia and at other academic institutions, lending institutions, and with members of peer institutions.
Responsibilities
- Assumes responsibility for counseling prospective, current, and former students and their families regarding matters of financial aid, educational financing options, credit issues, and debt management. Interprets and explains financial aid policies to applicants, students, and others. Must participate when needed for outreach activities. Adheres to complex and changing regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to financial aid programs, while ensuring compliance with federal and University regulations and policies.
- Supports the Director with the administration of the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) through communication management (phone, email and in-person counseling), application review, award processing, presentations and various other duties.
- Manages email exchanges through accurate, effective and knowledgeable communications to both individual students and larger groups regarding the financial aid process and requirements.
- Reviews application materials for institutional grants and loans in accordance with Law School policy and standard methodology. Assists with generating financial aid award letters.
- Works in conjunction with the Director to support the administration of federal and various other loan programs for law students. Provides assistance in maintaining computer systems required to support electronic loan processing with the central University’s SFS Operations and Loan teams. Coordinates the entrance and exit interview processes for all loan programs.
- As assigned, assists with: the generation of reports for the financial aid systems, including PowerFAIDS, SIS, and Desktop reporting; the preparation of student consortium agreements with external educational institutions; stipend requests from within the Law School, as well as from other University divisions and external sources; maintaining the external sources of funding data for law students; the processing of institutional grant and loan awards for Office of Graduate Programs students; managing the awarding of the Law School’s Federal Work-Study Program for the public interest and human rights internship summer programs; stewardship assignments of restricted scholarship and other financial aid funds.
- Performs various other duties and projects as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree preferred or the equivalent combination of experience and education. A minimum of two years of relevant experience (preferably financial aid experience in a university setting, or a background in related counseling and office experience) required. Knowledge of management information systems and computer software required; knowledge of PowerFAIDS preferred. Understanding of financial aid need analysis and federal regulations that govern the management and delivery of financial aid funds required. Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and analytical skills, with a proven ability to handle multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment required. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, math aptitude, and an ability to work collaboratively as part of an administrative team required.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.