Financial Aid Coordinator for System Operations Support

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The Financial Aid Coordinator for System Operations Support is an application processing and packaging specialist. Reporting to the Senior Assistant Director for Financial Aid System Operations, this position will support the processing of financial aid applications, batch awarding of financial aid, review packaging and budgeting processes, and test and validate data during system and process upgrades. This role will also help to ensure compliance with federal, state, and university packaging policies and regulations.  Competent administration of the aid process in a highly complex and regulated environment will be essential. The ideal candidate is proactive in improving the financial aid process through the deployment of technology and automations.

Who We Are

The University of Michigan is a premier public research university with more than 52,850 students, including 34,454 undergraduates, and is firmly committed to serving the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic value. U-M is in high demand, with a record of 105,142 undergraduate first-year and transfer applicants in fall 2024 and 8,850 incoming undergraduate students enrolling.

Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Office of Enrollment Management (OEM) manages U-M's enrollment function to efficiently optimize students' experiences throughout their engagement, from prospect to alumni. The division collaborates with campus partners, faculty, and staff in support of the university's mission.

OEM comprises a dedicated team of more than 200 full-time staff members and up to 400 additional student and temporary staff and is structured in five operational units - the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of New Student Programs, the Office of the Registrar, and OEM Administration. OEM strives to provide excellence in access and support to inspiring learners who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Responsibilities*

Financial Aid Application Processing 40%

• Manage the loading of Federal and institutional financial aid applications and ensure appropriate linking to student records
• Assist with the processing of financial aid forms and documents related to institutional review and federal verification.

Financial Aid Packaging 25%

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

System Operation Support 25%

• Assist in the review and set up of new award years to ensure compliance with federal and institutional requirements and perform end-user testing of financial aid software updates
• Provide technical support to financial aid processing and customer service staff.
• Manage daily processes to update students? financial aid accounts to communication and user messages to ensure they reflect current financial aid contact reports.

Other duties as assigned 10%

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education, certification and experience.
• Two years of progressively responsible experience in financial aid in a post-secondary, accredited institution with an understanding of the structure and philosophy of student financial aid programs and systems.
• Ability to make independent decisions and to interpret federal/state/institutional regulations/policies/procedures a must.
• Strong orientation to reviewing and improving existing processes.
• Substantial experience with data organization and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to create and maintain collaborative relationships within the System Operations unit and the Office of Financial Aid.
• Substantial knowledge of and experience with PeopleSoft financial aid systems as either through training or experience.

Desired Qualifications*

• Master's degree
• Additional years of financial aid systems experience
• Knowledge of and experience with third party software integrations

Modes of Work

Enrollment Management requires a hybrid work arrangement of minimally three days on-site and two remote days. Thursdays are required as an on-site work day for all members of the OEM team.

Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

Benefits at the University of Michigan

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Union Affiliation

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the University Staff United (USU), which represents bargaining unit members in all matters with respect to wages, benefits, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.