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.

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 intuitional financial aid programs, and is responsible for data integrity and record maintenance.

Reporting to the Assistant Director for Application Review and Training, you will demonstrate qualitative and quantitative proficiency, as well as 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.

The University of Michigan is a premier public research university enrolling over 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 90,000 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*

• 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.
• 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. 
• 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.

Required Qualifications*

• A Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is necessary.  
• Two years of experience in financial aid or closely related field is required. Some experience in counseling and/or student services.
• Ability to make independent decisions, appropriately utilize professional judgment and to interpret federal/state/institutional regulations/policies/procedures a must.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and equal opportunity.

Desired Qualifications*

• Experience with students and colleagues from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
• Bilingual, with a preference for Spanish and English speaking skills.

Underfill Statement

This position may be underfilled at a lower classification depending upon the qualifications of the selected candidate. Applicants with less experience are encouraged to apply.

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

This position may be eligible for flexible work opportunities at the discretion of the hiring department.  Flexible work agreements are reviewed each term and subject to change dependent on the business needs throughout the course of employment.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.