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:

– Supervisor

Base Description:

– Supervises direct reports, but primarily completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates appropriate knowledge to perform own work; spends majority of time on tasks related to own job responsibilities. Demonstrates baseline planning, organizing, directing, and facilitating skills. Reviews completed work of others to verify accuracy and quality. Follows recommended approaches to assigned work. Supervises assigned staff and coordinates routine work activities. Monitors employee interactions and facilitates a productive working environment. Communicates instructions and policies in a consistent, effective and timely manner. Identifies and addresses concerns appropriately. Makes recommendations for possible solutions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Typically oversees at least 2 full–time direct reports or equivalent team of part–time and/or student workers (for Support track, performs work at Senior Support level or higher; for Professional track, performs work at the Advanced Professional level or higher)

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– May monitor/track budgets for specific area and/or grant(s)

Problem Solving:

– Encounters generally routine problems with progressively more complex and/or varied problems
– Typically follows standard operating procedures to resolve problems
– May apply specialized knowledge and skills to resolve complex and/or varied problems
– Applies proven and tries new approaches when solving problems

Independence of Action:

– Works with minimal supervision on difficult work assignments, conferring with manager on unusual matters
– Follows precedents and procedures
– Organizes work of direct reports and may set priorities within general guidelines established by manager
– Reviews the work of others to verify accuracy, quality, and conformance to required procedures and special instructions

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Collaborates closely with team members; may interact with other staff outside of area
– Utilizes a communication style that is appropriate for a given situation
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly and accurately both verbally and in written materials

• Comp Grade – 7
• Minimum – $46,400.00
• MidPoint – $56,800.00
• Maximum – $67,300.00