Summary
The Office of Financial Aid is seeking a dynamic and highly skilled candidate with expertise administering financial aid in complex, unique and mitigating student situations. The Financial Aid Administrator evaluates student aid application compliance, utilizes autonomous professional judgment, determines eligibility for various financial aid programs, counsels and advises students and families on the suite of available financial aid, coordinates one or more federal, state or institutional financial aid programs, and is responsible for data integrity and record maintenance.



Counselors within the Office of Financial Aid have different areas of emphasis. All counselors are expected to demonstrate qualitative and quantitative proficiency, intellectual curiosity, attention to detail, understanding of diversity, and critical thinking skills. Competent administration of the aid process in a highly complex and regulated environment will be essential. Strong communication, listening, and interpersonal skills are also essential in providing quality customer service to students, families and campus partners via phone, email, virtual and in-person connections. Counselors in the Outreach Unit must also possess strong public speaking skills.

The University of Michigan is a premier public research university enrolling 50,000 students including 32,000 undergraduates, with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and affordability. U-M is in demand and for fall 2022 received nearly 84,000 applications from first-year and transfer students from Michigan, the nation, and the world.

The Office of Enrollment Management division provides campus-wide leadership in executing the strategic recruitment, admission, enrollment, records management and student financial support functions for the university. Our reporting units work strategically with the schools and colleges, leveraging expertise and best practices.




Responsibilities*
Evaluate financial aid applications: Review application documents including comprehensive and complex family financial statements, federal tax returns, and additional supporting material of a confidential nature. Evaluate when additional information is necessary. Interpret application materials for use in needs analysis methodologies.



Authorize financial aid offers: Assess eligibility for a multitude of financial aid programs administered by the Office of Financial Aid and authorize aid for which the student is eligible, ensuring compliance with all applicable policies, procedures, rules, and laws.



Develop and manage assigned financial aid programs, ensuring compliance with institutional, state, and federal policies, including awarding, policy and procedure documentation, process innovation, and staff updates/training as needed.

Counsel and advise students and family (individually and in groups) on financial aid programs, policies and procedures. Assist students in making responsible financial decisions. Liaison with and refer students to other UM offices and outside agencies as appropriate.

Autonomously exercise professional judgment to resolve complex, unusual and mitigating family circumstances and amend aid eligibility. Professional Judgment determinations enter into all aspects of the Financial Aid Administrator position.

Liaison with assigned university offices as a subject-area expert: Coordinate, develop and present requested educational programming. Participate on and inform internal and external university committees.

Maintain a thorough knowledge of and interpret Federal Title IV regulation and guidance, state program directives, institutional awarding policies, needs analysis methodologies, federal and state tax law, and office policies and procedures.

Retain and update complete working knowledge of aid management software. Advise on software concerns.

Represent the Office of Financial Aid at professional conferences and workshops internal and external to the University of Michigan as a subject-area expert.

Assist in other areas as assigned by the unit Associate or Assistant Directors.

This position may require travel to events and workshops. Any required travel will be subject to U-M restrictions, pending public health guidelines.

In addition to responsibilities above, Outreach Counselors will travel to deliver financial aid presentations designed to address affordability and expand access (peak travel in fall and spring). Any required travel will be subject to U-M restrictions, pending public health guidelines.




Required Qualifications*
A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is necessary.
Ability to make independent decisions, appropriately utilize professional judgment and to interpret federal/state/institutional regulations/policies/procedures a must.
Ability to manage multiple projects, stay on task, and the ability to prioritize required work to meet deadlines. Two years of experience in financial aid or closely related field is required. Some experience in counseling and/or student services.
High level of communication skills, both verbal and written
Demonstrated commitment to diversity and equal opportunity.
Additional required qualifications for Outreach counselors include:

Excellent facilitation of presentations and strong public speaking skills
Overnight travel, evening, and weekend work is required. Ability to travel on short notice is necessary at times.