Senior Financial Aid Officer

• The Senior Financial Aid Officer serves as the primary resource for financial aid advising for prospective, incoming, and continuing students across all GW Law programs. This role requires close collaboration with both the Offices of Admissions and Financial Aid to effectively manage a high volume of in-person and virtual counseling sessions and appointments throughout the academic year.
• Provides advice and counseling about available financial aid opportunities, eligibility requirements, and the application/billing process to students and parents; analyzes and evaluates financial aid eligibility for students in person, by phone, through web/virtual meetings, and by email.
• Actively evaluates and responds to the needs of the GW Law Financial Aid Office—and the Admissions Office when appropriate—throughout the admissions cycle and beyond. Ensures both admitted and current students receive the appropriate level of support by managing and adjusting one-on-one counseling sessions, panels, and presentations, both scheduled and on an as-needed basis, to meet growing demand.
  
  

• This position requires the ability to verify and assess student eligibility for financial aid and to make evaluative judgments. Exercises professional judgment to determine if adjustments should be made; makes award adjustments and recalculations on less complex cases, as appropriate; reviews for accuracy.
• Works closely with the Financial Aid Assistant II to manage private student loan
  applications, evaluating student eligibility, tracking requirements, and awarding.
• Responsible for providing summary data regarding private student loans as required to the Director of Financial Aid.
• Responds to financial aid inquiries and research, and resolves problems.
• Financial Literacy: Provides information to students, prospective students, and families regarding student financial aid, admissions, registration process, etc., in person, by phone, through web/virtual meetings, and email. Works with the supervisor regarding appropriate financial aid information for visitors.
• Regulation Compliance: Maintain compliance with all federal and DC regulations and the internal policies and procedures of GW Law School and the university. To keep abreast of changing policies, participate in professional development opportunities and professional organizations (NASFAA, EASFAA, DEDCMDASFAA, and Access Lex).
• Financial Aid Reporting: Assists with the collection, management, and reporting of data; prepares routine and non-routine reports; may make recommendations regarding the data management systems and procedures
• Admissions: Primary liaison with the admissions team in special projects focused on reducing indebtedness. This includes providing housing cost advice, developing a roommate guide, and generally speaking with prospective students with a focus on recruiting. Works with Manager and ensures the Financial Aid team is kept abreast of admissions events including open houses, information sessions, etc.
• Scholarships: Works closely with the Manager and Associate Dean on merit scholarships, Open Doors scholarships, and endowments. Pulls data as needed for scholarships, and meets with prospective students regarding the scholarship process. Maintains outside scholarship list. Ability to work in Unite (admission database) and pull information as needed
• The ability to investigate/analyze information in order to draw conclusions, and strong interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community are other attributes required for this position.
  
  

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

• Successful candidates will have excellent knowledge of financial aid policies, procedures, and eligibility requirements, the ability to develop, plan, and implement short- and long-range goals, experience in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
• A strong candidate will contain interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Previous experience in a Financial Aid Office in higher education, with in-depth knowledge of related federal/state regulations guiding such, with preference given to those possessing graduate/professional school financial aid experience.
• A top candidate would possess demonstrated written and public speaking skills.
• Proficiency in computer skills and contemporary hardware/software, such as Excel, is desired.
• Proficiency with the CSS Profile, federal and institutional need analysis, income and asset evaluation, and professional judgment methodologies is desired.
• Experience with Department of Education systems (e.g., FAA Access, NSLDS, COD, Return to Title IV) and Ellucian Banner is preferred.
• Working knowledge of Title IV regulations related to graduate and professional student financial aid is desired.

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.