Financial Aid Counselor - Higher Ed. jobs in Colorado

About Us:

The BeOnAir Network is an organization that instructs students in all areas of the broadcast industry to become the next generation of media professionals. Our brand promise is “Learn from a Pro to Become a Pro”; students are trained by broadcast media professionals working in the field. The organization operates seven campuses across Ohio, Illinois, Colorado, and Miami. Like all members of the BeOnAir Network staff, the Financial Aid Advisor is expected to project the organization's core values and core purpose. This position supports a college and creative culture and ensures graduates are fully ready for entry-level employment opportunities.

A key role of the Financial Aid Advisor is assisting students with their financial aid eligibility. This individual is accountable for the one-on-one advising involved in ensuring students comply with their federal financial aid. The Financial Aid Advisor will work closely and in conjunction with the Admissions Departments to provide financial aid options for potential new students and complete their packaging on time.

The Financial Aid Advisor is also responsible for meeting a monthly cash collection goal. Additional responsibilities may include participation in orientation, graduation, campus events, and various tasks.

The Financial Aid Advisor must have extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish campus and department goals.

Scorecard accountabilities: Financial Aid first-time appointments, applicants that enroll within five days, same-day financial aid estimate, students enrolled in auto debit/payer express, cash collected vs. cash due, title 4 drawdowns on time, complete student financial aid packaging promptly.

Responsibilities:

• Meet prospective students and determine their eligibility for financial aid and other most appropriate tuition options, including payment plans or other financing options.
• At a student’s first meeting with the Financial Aid advisor, the goal of the visit is to be able to achieve an estimate of Financial Aid eligibility as a result of the student completing the FAFSA and receiving the EFC in an email confirmation. If the student has already completed the FAFSA during this session, the student should assign the school OPEID code to their FAFSA so the school can proceed with packaging. A follow-up appointment is to be scheduled within 48 hours so the student can return to complete the FA process.
• After a student is packaged and all internal documentation is filled out, enroll the student in payer express to contribute to the campus goal.
• Set all students up in QuickBooks Campus and QuickBooks Cash Receipt with all pertinent information, and upload award letters into QuickBooks.
• Upload files for review by NFA and RFA through the enrollment cycle.
• Upload Term 2 files for review by NFA and RFA once SAP is received from Education
• Submit completed drop packet for review by NFA and RFA
• Complete a payment plan form to ensure auto payment authorization and specific payment dates. Program tuition/fees or approved packing is due for all students by the end of add/drop.
• Assist students who are flagged for verification to complete the verification process within 2 weeks of informing student of being selected for verification.
• If any packaging for a student results in more than an out of pocket $5000 balance as of the last day of the last term, then approval must be requested from the CEO prior to the student sitting in class or being counted as an enrolled student.
• Ensure packaging does not exceed 30 months. If any additional time, seek approval from the National Director of Financial Assistance and Planning (NDFAP). - Adhere to non- interest payment plan: only available to students who after borrowing from Direct and Plus loans still have a balance left on their account.
• Print and file student ledgers to confirm all pulls were received.
• Maintain compliant FA files to include all documents on checklist that relate to the first term. (This includes: Enrollment Agreement, ISIR, NSEstimate of FA, Signed Award, Entrance Counseling, MPN, Payment Plan, and any items flagged for verification and ledger card. For the second terms proof of SAP assessment, revised ledger card and before graduation Exit counseling.)
• Responsible for maintaining receipt of payments.
• Complete nightly bank deposits.
• Interact with students using phone, email, texts, social media channels, and one-on-one communication to ensure accounts are less than 30 days past due.
• FA Advisor must conduct a daily review of the aging reports and/ or internal tracking reports for payments due by active cohorts to manage meeting weekly cash goal.
• Join in on weekly one-on-one ledger reviews with NFA and RFA and send a follow-up email about any pending financial aid needing to be requested
• Ensure payments are collected and processed on the due date. (If a due date falls on the weekend, payment should be sought the Friday before.)
• Complete a weekly review of grads and drops on aging to ensure accounts are current.
• Execute MPN’s by the end of the drop/add period.
• Conduct Entrance and Exit counseling as due.
• Follow up with pending financial aid students to ensure they have all information needed for their education decision to meet app to enroll weekly goal.

Supervision Received:

This is an independent position that reports to the Campus Director and National Director of Financial Assistance and Planning. Two mandatory weekly meetings takes place: 1) Financial Aid Advisor to discuss goals to actual achievements; 2) Staff Meeting. Supervision of Others This individual may supervise another financial aid advisor should campus needs require.

Physical Demands

In order to fully service the staff and student needs this position requires the employee to often physically move from department to department. This is not a sedentary position.

• Occasional lifting, bending and climbing stairs
• Frequent talking, listening, walking, sitting and standing
• Ability to perform multiple concurrent tasks and function in a fast-paced working environment

Work Experience Requirements

• Three years of business experience, ideally within a financial aid/customer service background.
• May need to complete credit, criminal, and drug background checks successfully.

Education Requirements

• 4-year college degree and/or experience equivalency.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.