Financial Aid Assistant - Front Desk
Job Title: Financial Aid Assistant – Front Desk
Classification: C4
Department: Financial Aid
Updated: February 2024
Job Summary
Provides customer service and support for a variety of functions within the Financial Aid Office. Sets a welcoming atmosphere and creates office-wide efficiency by addressing as much of the visitor’s needs as possible.
Essential Functions
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Assists students, families, faculty, and staff in person at the front desk.
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Provides information and completes transactions as required by students.
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Process short term emergency loans for students.
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Processes hardship requests for students.
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Work closely with Assistant Director relative to graduate student supervision and training at the front desk.
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Interprets regulations and procedures and responds appropriately.
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Works at the front desk-answers questions, receives and provides paperwork for responding to customer needs and performs typical administrative functions.
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Meets with students in-person for FAFSA and loan completion.
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Assists with financial aid tabling during orientation.
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Completes notes and assists with completion of documents and processes in the various financial aid workflows.
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Coordinates and assists in the answering of e-mails through the GVSU Financial Aid e-mail box.
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Handles financial aid concerns.
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Able to address most questions and interactions at the front desk rather than referring to counselors as walk-in appointments.
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Acts as customer service liaison to students, parents, and general public in relation to financial aid policy and procedure with a positive and personable attitude.
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Provides support and training to new staff on financial aid procedure.
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Provides support as needed for Office of Student Support and Belonging, including reconciling purchases for Thompson Scholars, Fostering Laker Success and Oliver Wilson Scholars.
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Serves as liaison to Financial Aid with the Oliver Wilson Scholars, tracks the summer bridge students and follows up as necessary, supports mentors with assistance throughout the year, and additional support as needed per Office of Student Support and Belonging.
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Participates on the Financial Aid Communications Team and Tik Tok/Social Media Team.
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Serves as a member on the Adult SEMP Team.
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Answers phones as needed.
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Other related duties as assigned.
Non-Essential Functions
Assists other areas in the office during high demand times.
Required Qualifications
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High school graduate or equivalent.
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Minimum of four years of relevant work experience.
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Demonstrated administrative and organizational skills.
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Experience with various computer software applications such as Microsoft Office and/or equivalent.
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Data entry experience.
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Typing and spelling competency with grammar and proofreading skills.
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Possess strong verbal and written communication skills.
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Demonstrated experience to successfully provide quality customer service.
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Demonstrated experience to successfully work independently, organize own work and coordinate work activities of others.
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Demonstrated experience to successfully coordinate large projects.
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Demonstrated experience to successfully handle multiple demands efficiently.
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Demonstrated experience to successfully organize and prioritize workload.
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Demonstrated experience to successfully navigate challenging situations in the workplace, while using good judgement.
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Demonstrated experience to successfully work under pressure and meet deadlines.
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Demonstrated experience to successfully maintain satisfactory work performance and attendance records.
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Ability to successfully maintain positive intercultural and interpersonal relationships.
Preferred Qualifications
Not Applicable.
Supervision Received
Receives minimal supervision from a designated supervisor. Much of the work is self-initiated. Person is expected to function with considerable independence and apply appropriate policies and procedures within the assigned area of responsibility.
Supervision Exercised
Hire, train, schedule and coordinate the work of student employees and may act as lead worker to PSS staff members within the department/unit/division.
Physical Demands
- To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.