JOB DESCRIPTION:

Position Summary:
The Financial Aid Awards Specialist oversees the awarding and disbursement of institutional, state, and federal financial aid for prospective and current students, and is a key member of a highly functioning and service oriented team. This position is responsible for the packaging and maintenance of all financial aid awards, as well as the disbursement authorization of all institutional, state, federal, and outside grants and scholarships. Additional administrative responsibilities include systematic database updates, awareness and adapting to programmatic changes, and management and assigning of recipients for endowed scholarships.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Minimum three years professional financial aid work experience. Associates Degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & EXPERIENCE

• Working experience with PowerFAIDS, Colleague, Workday, COD, NYS HESC preferred. Knowledge of financial aid programs, as well as federal and state regulations
• Ability to work both independently and as a team player.
• Demonstrated success in managing multiple priorities
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Attention to detail and high level of accuracy
• Commitment to service-oriented and mission-driven work

• Package all incoming and enrolled students via PowerFAIDS database system, including all subsequent revisions. This includes detailed checking of accuracy with multiple guidelines for specific awards, maintaining system budget updates, and communicating accordingly with prospective and current families.
• Revise currently enrolled student offers, when informed by the Registrar of enrollment changes, and communicate accordingly with impacted students.
• Certify student eligibility for New York State financial aid programs, specifically the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). This includes confirming eligibility, maintaining the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) database for student records, and keeping up to date with New York State regulations. Responsible for making appropriate award changes to student’s financial aid offer.
• Responsible for applying all grants and scholarships to student accounts, and maintaining accurate records. Work closely with Student Accounts Office to transmit all financial aid to student accounts.
• Reconcile institutional, state and federal funds, as required.
• Manage the identification of recipients for endowed Hamilton College Scholarships and appropriate spending based on fund restrictions and availability. In addition, apply Hamilton prize scholarships and special scholarships to student awards.
• Collaborate with the Student Accounts Office to manage the reporting and receipt of outside scholarships and adjust financial aid awards accordingly.
• Responsible for return of Title IV aid, through appropriate federal and institutional systems. Must keep up to date with applicable federal regulations.
• Contribute to current and future system integrations, such as Workday and PowerFAIDS CLOUD, by providing awarding, disbursement, communication, and reconciliation expertise.
• Create and maintain documentation for all processes for which the Financial Aid Awards Specialist is responsible
• Perform other related duties as required or assigned.