Job Type Full-timeDescriptionThe Financial Aid officer is responsible for the timely and accurate awarding, disbursement, and tracking of Institutional, VA and Federal student aid. This position also ensures that all financial aid related activity is in compliance with state and federal regulations, while still maintaining Seminary standards and policies. Clear and effective communication with students, administration and other stakeholders is important in the role as well as strategic thinking for the administration of financial aid policies and procedures.Duties/Responsibilities1. Develop and maintain institutional financial aid policies and procedures.
- Process all financial aid awards, from initial awarding through the disbursement process.
- Maintain disbursement and reporting systems.
- Document compliance with federal and state regulations.
- Collaborate with campus stakeholders on internal reporting for budgeting purposes.
2. Collaborate with the Student Success team to provide service that enhances the student experience
- Provide support for student questions relating to financial aid.
- Advocate for students who have exceptional circumstances.
- Monitor student academic performance and collaborate with the Associate Director for Student Success to contact at-risk students.
3. Serve as the VA School Certifying Official (SCO) and Military TA benefit liaison
- Submit benefit certifications and maintain enrollment changes.
- Act as a liaison with state and federal agencies and participate in relevant audits.
- Complete annual training requirements for SCO certification.
- Maintain compliance with Department of Defense regulations
4. Maintain compliance with Title IV regulations.
- Process all loan requests for students
- Document requirements needed for compliance.
- Participate in relevant audits.
- Complete enrollment verification, exit interviews, default letters, PA Loan letters and other compliance tasks related to maintaining Title IV benefits.
5. Certify Private Loans6. Other duties as assigned by supervisor.Requirements
- Demonstrated skills and experience in project management, including the ability to evaluate and balance competing priorities and meet deadlines
- Strong skills in oral and written communication
- Proven success in data-driven analysis and decision making.
- Demonstrated familiarity with higher education industry; familiarity with FERPA or HIPPA regulatory environments preferred
- Excellent attention to detail
- Must not be defaulted on any loans in order to be able to access government systems.
- Bachelor's degree required, master's degree preferred
- Strong familiarity and appreciation for Westminster's mission, theology, and instruction
Additional Details
- This is a Full time, non-exempt position, 40 hours per week expected.
- Remote / hybrid work possible
- While performing this job, the employee is required to work on a computer
Westminster CompetenciesA successful employee will exemplify these competencies as they fulfill their duties and responsibilities: Demeanor: Embodies the fruits of the Spirit in the office, interacts with people lovingly, joyfully, peacefully, patiently, kindly, faithfully, gently, and in a self-controlled manner. Organization: Organizes their work in such a way that co-workers could find key resources/documents, and/or provide the tools necessary to succeed. Communication - Equips supervisors and co-workers by communicating in a clear, kind, and timely manner Initiative & Innovation - Identifies problems and/or solutions without being asked and consistently develops fresh perspectives, insights, and creative problem solving that help the team more efficiently and/or effectively achieve departmental and institutional goals. Effectiveness & Dependability - Supervisors can trust you to produce timely, high quality, and generally error-free work with an appropriate amount of time and resources, that you fulfill your commitments, are on time to meetings, and provide advance notice of either delays or failures to meet goals. Teamwork / Service - Clears the way for the success of others by providing support to their teammates in whatever way is needed; Technical Proficiency - Effectively utilizes platforms and systems to help the team achieve institutional and departmental goals Westminster Theological Seminary hires only personnel who belong to a Protestant evangelical church and subscribe to Biblical orthodoxy (belief) and orthopraxy (practice). Employees shall affirm their agreement with the historic, trinitarian Christian faith as expressed in the Apostles' Creed. Otherwise, Westminster Theological Seminary is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, except as specifically allowed by federal and state law, and basing employment decisions on merit, qualifications and training. Westminster Theological Seminary does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion (except as religion is a bona fide occupational qualification), sex, national origin, age, disability or any other classification protected by law. In accordance with the above paragraph, all employees are required to sign Westminster Theological Seminary's Community Life Policy affirming their commitment to Christian belief and practice as described in the policy.