Financial Aid and Veterans Benefits Advisor, Full Time

Financial Aid and Veterans Benefits Advisor

Under general supervision of the Director of Financial Aid, this position advises military veterans on the application process for obtaining federal and state military benefits and coordinates the packaging of said aid. In addition, this position will also advise and package financial aid for non-military applicants.

Maintain and update knowledge of federal, state, and institutional regulations that apply to veterans and financial aid policies and procedures.

Advise financial aid students and veterans of their eligibility for financial assistance under all applicable federal VA programs, Illinois State VA programs, and Title IV Financial Aid programs.

Track financial aid and veterans' applications, monitor student files for required application documents, correspond with applicants for missing documents as needed, complete file verification, and process application corrections and adjustments as needed.

Review financial aid application materials to determine eligibility for financial aid, complete file verification, construct student expense budgets, and certify student loans.

Serve as the School Certifying Official (SCO) for VA education benefits. Certify enrollment, complete annual catalog reviews, assist with compliance audits, process and reconcile VA payments, and ensure timely submission of federally mandated reports. Monitor enrollment and Standards of Academic Progress to assure continuing eligibility for benefits. Revise payment eligibility as required by each aid program.

Act as the VA Ombudsman to assist veterans in resolving issues throughout the campus.

Coordinate with Academic Counseling, the Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity, Student Success Center, and Career Services, and the Bursar's Office to ensure Service members have access to academic planning, disability accommodations, job search support, and appropriate billing for Tuition Assistance (TA) benefits.

Work with the Director to identify areas of concern for military students (and/or family members) and be an advocate for continuous improvement of services throughout the campus.

Develop and/or maintain publications and website information related to veterans, including the IVCC Veterans Educational Guidebook.

Assist the Director in monitoring, reconciling, and submitting requests for payments from Federal, State, and Veterans Programs.

Participate in scheduled college financial aid activities, including but not limited to: College Night, Financial Aid Nights, and FAFSA Completion Workshops. Develop and maintain proficiency with all computer systems and modules, including but not limited to: Colleague Student System, Student Aid Information Gateway (SAIG), National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), Illinois GAPP ACCESSS, VA Enrollment Manager, Tungsten E-Invoice Network.

Work one night per week and up to one day per week at the IVCC Ottawa Center. Limited travel to participate in professional training activities as needed Perform other duties as assigned.

Associate's Degree in related field or appropriate experience working in the Financial Aid or Veterans Affairs field is required. Demonstrated effective use of the Microsoft Office Suite and a proprietary information system is required. Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills are required. Strong organizational and time management skills are required. Proven analytical skills are required. Bachelor's Degree is preferred. Professional experience in a Financial Aid office is preferred. Demonstrated knowledge of and the ability to manage and explain the complex state and federal regulations that govern financial aid and veteran educational benefits is preferred. Previous experience working directly with Ellucian's Colleague student information system is preferred. Availability to travel to comply with training requirements or provide outreach and recruitment support is preferred. Ability to work a flexible schedule is preferred.

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Physical demands for this position include some light lifting and the ability to stand, sit, walk, reach, stoop, bend, push, pull, kneel, climb, use hands and fingers, and talk / hear for extended periods of time. The work environment for this position includes a typical office environment with no extremes in temperature, noise, and limited physical risk.