Position Location: Southeastern, WI

Reporting Relationship: Interim Financial Aid Director

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside welcomes internal applications for Lead Financial Aid Counselor in the Financial Aid Office. At this time, only current UW employees will be considered.

Under the general supervision of the Director of Scholarships & Financial Aid, this position will serve as the point-person for the financial aid counselor team as well as oversee regulatory compliance with student aid administration. As a member of the broader Enrollment Management team, this position will provide support for the Enrollment Management Division through admission and retention related initiatives. This position is a blend of student financial aid functional knowledge, people skills, customer service expertise, business analysis skills, and technical expertise.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree.

• Minimum five years professional work experience in higher education.

• Minimum three years professional work experience in post-secondary education as a financial aid advisor/counselor or as a representative of an organization associated with the financial aid profession.

• Demonstrated comprehensive functional knowledge of Financial Aid business processes.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse student and faculty/staff population.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, student personnel, or related field.

• Documented prior supervisory experience.

• Documented experience writing policies and procedures as well as interpreting student financial aid regulations.

• Prior experience with financial literacy programs including presentations at high schools, orientations, and other venues speaking about financial choices and paying for college.

• Documented proficiency using PeopleSoft Student Administration software.

• Documented experience working with business process improvement.

Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance & General Financial Aid Operations:

1. Ensure compliance with Federal, State, institutional, and private agency regulations for administering financial aid programs.

2. Monitor, analyze, and communicate on the impact of changes in Title IV rules and regulations including the impact to long range planning and general business operations.

3. Oversee the review, interpretation, and application of new and revised financial aid related regulations.

4. Develop, initiate, maintain, and revise policies and procedures for the general operation of financial aid programs and organized in a manner for effective usage.

5. Review campus financial aid processes to ensure the accurate and timely processing of student financial aid applications and the proper processing of federal funds in accordance with Title IV regulations.

6. Compile documentation for audit requests. Assist in the coordination of institution’s response to any audit findings.  

7. Ensure on-going reconciliation of financial aid programs between Cashier’s Office, Business Services, state, and federal agencies.

8. Develop, schedule, and conduct staff training to ensure on-going professional development regarding financial aid knowledge, customer service, policies and procedures, etc.

9. Assist Director with reporting needs to various agencies.

Lead Financial Aid Counselor:

1. Serve as the point-person for the financial aid counselor team including verification specialist.

   1. Provide financial aid counseling/advising to prospective and current students.

   2. Counsel students regarding various appeal processes (academic progress, special circumstances, etc.).

2. Coordinate Outreach Efforts for the office:

   1. Conduct presentations both on and off campus to help educate students and families about paying for college and financial literacy.

   2. Actively participate in student service programs that support the admission and retention of students (new student orientation, FYE etc.).

   3. Chair the University financial literacy outreach committee

3. Train new staff as well as oversee on-going staff training.

4. Work collaboratively and serve as a liaison with offices/initiatives to assist with pro-active efforts to help improve student success (ex. Admissions, FYE, Student Support Services, OMSA, etc.).

5. Participate in all aspects of the financial aid award packaging process from beginning to end.

6. Oversee the administration and reconciliation of specific financial aid programs (loans, state aid, grants, scholarship, etc.).

Participate as a team member in meeting departmental and institutional goals:

1. Active involvement with initiatives within the Enrollment Management Division that support admission/retention efforts.

2. Assist with financial aid counseling and awarding as needed.

3. Communicate the intent of University policies and procedures to students.

4. Represent the office on university committees and the institution in state and national professional organizations.

5. Participate in professional development opportunities through webinars, workshops, conferences, etc. to maintain up-to-date knowledge of federal and state regulatory changes, and network with colleagues from other campuses.

6. Serve on behalf of the Director when the Director is unavailable. Perform other related duties as assigned by the Director.

Essential Knowledge And Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of regulations for administering student financial aid programs, financial aid need analysis, and processes.

• Considerable experience working with specific financial aid programs.

• Working knowledge of FERPA rules and regulations and ability to ensure compliance.

• Strong oral and written communication skills.

• Considerable experience with MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint), PeopleSoft, imaging and the ability to create queries.

• Ability to work well with diverse people and groups with different levels of technical ability.

• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional working relationships with individuals at all organization levels on campus.

• Ability to work independently and with a team of colleagues.

• Ability to efficiently plan, organize and prioritize multiple work assignments and projects.

• Ability to identify, analyze and resolve problems or concerns.

• Ability to perform work often under pressure to meet student service and operational demands while maintaining service standards.

• Demonstrated understanding of student learning and student development theory.

Salary:  Commensurate with qualifications and experience. The University of Wisconsin System provides a liberal benefits package, including participation in a state pension plan.

Review of Applications: Applications received by May 21^st, 2014 are ensured full consideration. The position is open until filled.

To Apply: Interested candidates should submit the following, preferably in electronic format:

• a cover letter outlining their qualifications for the position

• resume

• list of three or more professional references with contact information

Go to: www.careers.wisconsin.edu Click the "Apply Now" button. You must create an account and login before you can apply. If you have not yet registered, click on the "Click here to Register" link to begin the registration process. If you are already a registered user, input your "User Name" and "Password' and select "Login."

• Your application will not be considered complete until all required documents are attached and all required fields are completed.

If you have application questions call or email:

Barb Kis Financial Aid Office Support Staff

Phone: 262-595-2647

Email: kis@uwp.edu

It is the policy of UW Parkside to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance, or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact us using the information below. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual's disability.

About the University:

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is a comprehensive campus of the University of Wisconsin System with approximately 4800 students, 120 faculty, and 70 instructional academic staff offering 33 undergraduate majors and 3 master's degrees in 22 academic departments. The campus is located between the cities of Kenosha and Racine in southeastern Wisconsin, within the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor.

The university is situated on 700 acres of prairie and woodland approximately two miles west of Lake Michigan. Consisting of 15 buildings, the coherence and unity of the original campus design within its natural landscape has been sustained over four decades of development. Recent additions include a renovated and expanded student center, a 250 bed suite-style residence hall, and a greatly expanded and renovated center for the arts and humanities.