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Financial Aid Advisor - OCAD University

This is a Temporary, Full-time position.

Province: Toronto, Ontario
Position: Financial Aid Advisor
Deadline: March 11, 2015
Posted: February 25, 2015

Job Description / Duties

Reporting to the Supervisor, Financial Aid & Awards, and under the direction of the Manager, Financial Aid & Awards, the
Financial Aid Advisor is responsible for the advising, administration and delivery of a wide range of internal and external financial assistance programs and services for the benefit of individual students and the University. Responsible for the coordination, administration and delivery of all out-of-province government financial assistance programs, and for the collection and reconciliation of fees and emergency loans remitted through government assistance programs.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES:
 Provide quality service for students in accordance with their eligibility, needs and expectations with respect to the
XOntario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), including: interacting with students and their parents; using the
University’s student information system(s) and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities’ (MTCU) processes
and software; interviewing students; assessing individual needs; and processing OSAP applications
 Assist students, parents and staff in identifying and understanding other internal or external funding programs for which
students may qualify for financial assistance, such as targeted government programs, the University’s scholarship,
awards, bursary or work-study programs, repayment assistance programs, and others
 Process all aspects of the financial aid programs in compliance with the federal, provincial and internal policies,
regulations and audit standards, including: receiving, reviewing and editing financial aid applications and processing
student reviews, appeals, changes and corrections, ensuring all appropriate supporting documentation is received and
information is accurately processed on online data systems
 Authorize and disburse funding certificates, cheques, schedules, and forms in accordance with internal and external
compliance requirements including confirming enrolment through on-line systems
 Defer, collect and reconcile tuition fees and emergency loans in accordance with approved internal policies and
procedures
 Prepare and submit non-routine appeals (e.g. credit check appeals) to the Ministry on behalf of students
 Confirm enrolments for active, non-OSAP students (CIFS), process OSAP withdrawals and refunds according to Ministry
procedures, edit and process Ontario Tuition Grant applications, and act as the designated contact for the Ministry for
the Social Insurance Number change process and the records retention schedule
 Maintain the strictest confidence regarding student records in accordance with FIPPA requirements and MTCU
performance standards
 Maintain current knowledge of all internal and external policies, procedures and general student financial assistance
issues through official MTCU and Ontario Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA)
communications
 Maintain effective communication of financial aid information to the University community; respond to student email
enquiries and student phone liaison within established service standards
 Assist with initiatives targeted to meeting student needs, such as creating and distributing communications, hosting
seminars and workshops, and providing one-on-one counselling and budgeting sessions
 Participate on relevant University committees and professional associations/external networks, as required
 Assist the Supervisor, Financial Aid & Awards and Manager, Financial Aid & Awards in other related tasks that
contribute to the successful operation of the Financial Aid & Awards Office

Qualifications / Required Skills

QUALIFICATIONS:
 University degree in a related field, or equivalent; additional coursework (e.g. customer service, project management,
bookkeeping/accounting, counselling, etc.) an asset
 A minimum of five (5) years related experience (e.g. working in a client-focused environment, advising, financial/budget
planning, dealing with government agencies, etc.) with demonstrated strength in a teamwork orientation and high quality
customer service
 Recent knowledge of OSAP policies and procedures, and relevant experience in the administration of student financial
assistance programs (e.g. loans, bursaries, grants) an asset
 Knowledge of best practices with respect to: customer service principles, using technology to enhance in-person service
deliveries, continuous process improvements and change management

Additional Information

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday, for a total of 35 hours per week. The expected duration of this contract is one-year to
commence as soon as possible.

Salary: $26.68 to $35.07 per hour, plus 4% vacation pay and 6% in lieu of benefits

Contact Information

Andre De Freitas
Manager, Financial Aid & Awards
adefreitas@ocadu.ca

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