Job Description / Duties

PRIMARY FUNCTION:
Provide financial counselling and advice to students regarding budgeting, financial planning for post-secondary, student financial assistance and awards program options, and student eligibility. Provide financial counselling to students in financial distress. Determine student eligibility for, and authorize the disbursement of, emergency financial assistance and other forms of student bursaries, scholarships and awards.

JOB DUTIES AND TASKS:
1. Provide financial counselling and advice to students regarding financial planning for post-secondary including student financial assistance and award program options:
a. Provide financial counselling and advice to students tailored to individual financial circumstances, and/or to address a financial crisis.
b. Provide information, instruction and advice to students regarding student financial assistance programs.
c. Conduct student financial need assessments, review student financial assistance options and determine eligibility for financial assistance programs.
d. Provide advice and direction to students regarding debt management, debt reduction and student loan repayment.
e. Develop programming and awareness among government student loan recipients regarding minimum course load, the impact of withdrawal from studies, unsuccessful studies, student loan default, appeals, reassessments and other matters related to student eligibility for government financial assistance.
f. Assist students with completing application forms and other related documentation including reviewing for completeness and accuracy.
g. Develop and deliver client-focused programs and services, including workshops and special events (i.e., financial planning for post-secondary, eligibility for financial assistance and award programs, student loan repayment, and debt management).
h. Develop, recommend and implement communication strategies that promote services and programming offered by SAFA and to help students access financial assistance, awards, debt management and financial planning resources.
i. Refer students to external resources such as federal and provincial agencies, external funding sources, and external financial counselling services.

2. Determine the eligibility and authorize payment from student financial assistance and awards funds:
a. Conduct student interviews, analyze student financial need, and determine eligibility for a variety of financial assistance options.
b. Authorize student funding from KPU’s demonstrated need bursary, emergency bursary, emergency loan, and other student financial assistance and awards programs, in addition to student eligibility for participation in work study and for fee deferral.
c. Authorize and disburse emergency bursaries and loans on a discretionary basis to students facing unexpected financial emergencies impacting their ability to continue their studies.
d. Authorize the disbursement of student funding from the Adult Upgrading Grant (AUG) program on behalf of the Ministry of Advanced Education.
e. Interpret and apply external eligibility criteria as well as internal policies related to the authorization and disbursement of student financial assistance (i.e. Canada and BC Student Loan, Canada Part-Time Loans and Grants, US Direct and PLUS Loans, etc.).

f. Confirm student status and verify enrolment with government student loan authorities and agencies, with other KPU departments, and with other post-secondary institutions for the purposes of student loan and award eligibility and disbursement.

3. Represent SAFA and KPU to government student loan and other external authorities and agencies:
a. Prepare student appeals regarding government student financial assistance eligibility and/or reinstatement giving recommendation to the Ministerial Appeals Committee.
b. Determine the eligibility of academic progammming at KPU for Canadian and US government student loan and grant programs.
c. Prepare and maintain KPU’s Institutional Appendix of academic programs eligible for government student loan and grant and their associated program costs for use in the government’s calculation of student financial need for student loan and grant eligibility.
d. Identify issues and independently advocate with government agencies regarding the application of student financial assistance programs, policies and procedures, on behalf of KPU and its students.
e. Prepare reports and make recommendations for the Ministry of Advanced Education regarding student financial awards.
f. Exchange student information with authorized government officials regarding student loan and grant applications, appeals, reassessments and procedures.
g. Exchange information with other KPU departments, with post-secondary institutions, with provincial and federal agencies and with other external agencies regarding student financial assistence issues and information.
h. Participate on Ministry committees and subcommittees to represent KPU in making recommendations related to government student financial assistance policy and procedure.

4. Related duties:
a. Secure cheques, award documents, government forms and student information.
b. Prepare reports, statistics and correspondence as required.
c. Maintain and update student financial records and statistics.
d. Identify, develop and implement systems solutions to streamline financial awards processes and improve service.
e. Assist with scholarship and award ceremony preparations and events.
f. Assist with compiling information for annual budget requests and other reporting.
g. Develop financial awards forms, booklets and brochures for distribution and posting online.
h. Maintain departmental website.
i. Liaise with other KPU departments to support awareness of SAFA services and to promote opportunities for collaboration.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
Reports to the Coordinator, Student Awards and Financial Assistance.

SUPERVISION/DIRECTION EXERCISED:
Provide orientation and training for new employees as required, ongoing training and support of Financial Aid Assistants, and direct supervison of student assistant and auxiliary staff as required.

PHYSICAL ASSETS/INFORMATION MANAGEMENT:
Maintain and update student records in KPU’s student information system. Maintain SAFA student files and records in accordance with KPU and government policies. Secure cheques and loan and other sensitive or confidential documents. Ensure the security and integrity of personal information contained within government and KPU databases.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES:
Determine student eligibility for student financial assistance programs; authorize and recommend funding for student financial assistance and awards; disburse various loans, scholarships and bursaries; administer awards program budgets by monitoring and ensuring that expenditures remain within limits; order office supplies, forms and brochures.

The above statement reflects the general details considered necessary to describe and evaluate the principal functions of the job identified, and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the job.

Qualifications / Required Skills

EMPLOYER REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
1. Must possess a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline.
2. A minimum of 3 years previous experience working directly with students in an advising capacity in a post-secondary student services setting.
3. Demonstrated experience working with student awards and financial assistance programs inclusive of government student loans and grants.
4. Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
5. Must possess strong public speaking and presentation skills.
6. Demonstrated customer service experience in a fast-paced complex setting dealing with sensitive situations calling for the use of empathy, diplomacy and tact in the delivery of information.
7. Superior time management, problem-solving, organizational skills. Must be able to work under pressure.
8. Demonstrated ability to maintain statistical records.
9. Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
10. Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise good judgment demonstrate initiative, and meet deadlines.
11. Demonstrated ability to recognize, analyze and resolve problems.
12. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with University administration, faculty, staff and students.
13. Ability to communicate patiently and effectively with diverse ranges of people including the ability to deal effectively with difficult, hostile or upset clients.
14. Demonstrated working knowledge of the Student Banner system, or a similar student records system (e.g. Colleague, PeopleSoft).
15. Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Access and Excel at an intermediate level.

Salary: Salary Range: $42,551.60 - $47,574.80/year

Contact Information

Please forward your resume, including photocopies of post secondary transcripts, quoting competition number 16-62R by June 10, 2016 to: employ@kpu.ca

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Employer Profile

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is currently seeking a full-time, permanent Financial Aid Officer based on our Surrey campus. The successful candidates must be outgoing, enthusiastic and customer service oriented with superior public speaking, presentation and organizational skills. Through student interviews and workshops, the incumbent will provide financial counselling and advice to students regarding budgeting, financial planning for post-secondary, student financial assistance and awards program options, and will provide financial counselling to students in financial distress.

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree and 3 years of previous experience working directly with students in an advising capacity in a post-secondary setting. Candidates must possess previous experience working with student awards or financial assistance programs and a strong understanding of secondary and post-secondary educational systems. Demonstrated analytical skills including problem solving, needs analysis and the ability to develop flexible approaches toward work procedures are essential. Must be able to travel between KPU campuses and occasional evening and weekend shifts may be required.