Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Specialist provides personal and financial aid application counseling to students and parents; assists in the administration of the financial aid program; makes decisions to award funds to students eligible for scholarships, grants, and college work-study; responsible for auditing and reconciling financial aid accounts and packaging financial aid awards; responsible for the dissemination of information for student financial assistance through face to face, email, and phone counseling.

• Advise and counsel students and parents regarding the financial aid process
• Provide in-take services, taking student/parent phone calls, responding to email, assisting visitors within the office
• Analyze and evaluates student financial needs, and advises on availability of financial assistance
• Monitor and coordinate the processing of verification and certification changes needed due to eligibility changes resulting from FAFSA data changes
• Develop and maintain strong working knowledge of all federal, state, and University student aid regulations, policies, and procedures
• Responsible for awarding, monitoring, and oversight of federal, state and university student aid
• Work with the Office of Student Aid's Application and Eligibility Services staff to monitor both eligibility and review aid processes
• Collaborate with other campus aid representatives, University personnel and outside agencies in the administration of aid applicants' verification and certification eligibility reviews programs
• May serve as the School Certifying Official, the primary point of contact for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits; process and maintain VA certification operations in compliance with federal and university policies

Level:

– Intermediate Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates ability to perform intermediate tasks in defined skill areas. Demonstrates intermediate knowledge of internal procedures. Works under general supervision, performing assignments that may be varied and sometimes difficult. Supports team decisions and follows through with team responsibilities. Interprets and communicates information clearly and accurately. Demonstrates intermediate problem–solving skills.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers or volunteers

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices

Problem Solving:

– Encounters generally routine problems; occasionally faces more complex and/or varied problems
– Typically follows recommended course of action and procedures to resolve problems
– Applies knowledge of larger unit goals, priorities, and related procedures in determining course of action

Independence of Action:

– Work is generally monitored by supervisor
– Detailed instructions and procedures are generally provided
– Uses available guidelines to make appropriate adaptations to routine situations and refers other situations to supervisor

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and/or the University
– May communicate with external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly and accurately both verbally and in written materials intended for distribution

• Comp Grade – 6
• Minimum – $42,100.00
• MidPoint – $51,600.00
• Maximum – $61,000.00