Financial Aid Administrator

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Manager, OSAP and Operations, the Financial Aid Administrator supports student success by providing expert advice and guidance on financial assistance programs and resources. This role helps students access funding opportunities and navigate financial aid processes to support the achievement of their academic goals.

Responsibilities:

General

• Research, review and possess the knowledge of all available student financial aid services and products federally, provincially and at the institution to support student success by ensuring student have access to all available financial educational resources.
• Responds to live chat/video conferencing, telephone and email inquiries regarding all government, private and college funded financial assistance programs administered through Seneca’s Financial Aid Office.
• Utilizes Ontario Student Assistance Program AS400, ONe-key, Ontario Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators List-serve, Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Website & policy and procedures, Salesforce and PeopleSoft, including the Financial Aid module.

 BSWD Support

• Supports Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) program and BSWD advisor with applications and administration of the program including related communication.

Student Support

• Responds to student inquiries regarding the status of their application for financial assistance.  Investigates and resolves anomalies and discrepancies which result in delays in application processing.
• Resolves problems related to either unusual applicant/student circumstances or school/financial aid program needs.  Determines those extenuating cases that require referral to a Financial Aid Advisor for specialized counselling and documentation.
• Advises students with completing application forms for financial assistance for: federal and provincial loans, government bursaries, college and external donor scholarships, bursaries and awards.
• Represents the Financial Aid Office at student-focused events such as orientation, open houses and other college events as required.

Administrative Support

• Provides clerical support to manager, operations specialist and the FAO team as required including awards processing and adjudication, fee extensions, OSAP downloads and microcredentials.

MCURES Support

• Authorizes Confirmation of Interest Free Status within Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security ( MCURES) and departmental guidelines.
• Participates in departmental meetings to examine what works for the department, learn new skills, and review procedures.
• Completes research and determines inconsistencies in student records between the MCURES and Seneca to resolve Ontario Education Number error reports.

Data Entry
 

• Assists with data entry of applications, corrections of errors, changes to student files to the Ministry OSAP on-line system.

Record Keeping

• Builds and maintains applicant files: ensures appropriate documentation is submitted with applications.
• General data review, correction and entry inclusive of updating Record of refunds on OSAP files and NSLSC updates.

Qualifications:

Education
 

• Completed 2-year diploma (or equivalent) in business, finance, office administration.  

Experience

•  Minimum of three (3) years recent work experience in a Student Financial Aid office working with policies and procedures governing the Ontario Student Assistance Program as well as regulations and objectives of each sub-program including BSWD.
• Previous experience working with Ministry systems (ONeKey, AS400, BRS).  
   

Skills

• Ability to work within confidential parameters as stated by Seneca and established government FOI legislation.
• Knowledge of process and procedures for applications relating to scholarship, bursaries and awards available to students.
• Ability to analyze, organize, execute and control complex procedures while utilizing and interacting with a sophisticated student information system and Ministry on-line system.
• Proficiency in computer software applications MS Excel, MS Word and Financial Aid PeopleSoft module.  
• Data entry keyboarding skills at 45 wpm minimum
• Ability to effectively interact with diverse groups.