Technical Support Specialist

Department

Compensation

General Description / Primary Purpose:

The position reports to the Director, Student Financial Aid, and supports the functional management of federal and state financial aid systems as well Banner Financial Aid.

Job Function:

• Ensure that all financial aid processes and modules are working in the most effective and efficient manner possible and ensure data integrity.

• Participate on technology projects related to Financial Aid functions, including the planning, design and implementation of various technologies and web-based tools and services to support functions of Financial Aid.

• Act as liaison between Financial Aid and Information Technology Services.

• Testing of system upgrades are performed.

• Support Financial Aid with appropriate reports, operational improvements, maintenance and troubleshooting for Banner Financial Aid and other financial aid products. This will require meetings with leadership and functional users in appropriate areas of Enrollment Services to identify areas for operational improvements, maintenance and troubleshooting.

• Communicate Financial Aid technical needs and requests to ITS and other appropriate channels and represent Financial Aid and its interests at various meetings, as necessary.

• Serve as contact person between ITS and Financial Aid for technology projects; provide web and portal content to IT staff.

• Create and provide routine progress reports and information requests to involved parties.

• Create, implement and maintain the continued production of Financial Aid reports using Banner reports, Cognos and/or other products. This will include working with various user groups to define reporting needs and data requirements.

• Assisting the leadership of the Office of Student Financial Aid with the delivery of training related to Banner Financial Aid and financial aid software products.

• Provides supervisory support to the Director of Student Financial Aid in managing Financial Aid process work flow and awarding financial aid for state financial aid programs including but not limited to Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, Florida Student Assistance Grant, Rosewood Family Scholarship Program, Critical Teacher Shortage, Student Loan Forgiveness Program and First Generation Matching Grant Program.

• Responsible for auditing, evaluating and monitoring students' financial aid records to determine eligibility for awarding financial aid programs.

• Evaluates students' financial aid files against supporting documents, i.e. parents and student taxable income from federal tax forms, un-taxable income, family household size, number in college and assets of the family.

• Processes in-house corrections for the Federal Student Aid Report (includes monitoring problems with the correction process and communicating them to the supervisor.)

• Assists with professional judgement petitions.

• Assists with the loan programs for awarding and disbursing of funds.

• Assists with refunds and repayment calculation and process for all Title IV programs.

• Assists in training coworkers in various financial aid processes.

• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Work-place experience with student financial aid administration.
• Work-place experience with data base structures and functions, query writing, report writing.
• Work-place experience with Microsoft applications (e.g. MS Office, SharePoint), Sungard/SCT Banner, Cognos, Stellent I/PM, Luminis portal, CMS website controls.
• Experience managing and/or coordinating technology-related projects, including business process analysis, process and data requirements, and project management.
• Experience working in a higher education environment, especially in Financial Aid.
• Strong project management, interpersonal, communication (both oral and written), problem solving, organization and documentation skills are essential.
• This position requires a strong background in technology and knowledge/experience in developing/enhancing software applications, as well as data base management skills.

Statement(s) of Understanding

This position requires a background check. In conjunction with the University's policy, this position may also require a credit check.

The holder of this position is designated as a “Responsible Employee” pursuant to their role under Title IX. Therefore, the incumbent must promptly report allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual violence, and child sexual abuse by or against any student, employee, contractor, or visitor to the University’s Title IX Administrator or any divisional Title IX Coordinator

Equal Opportunity

The University of North Florida (UNF) is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who interact in our community. In building this environment, we strive to attract students, faculty and staff from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and life experiences. The University of North Florida does not commit or permit discrimination or harassment on the basis of genetic information, race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, marital status, national origin, or veteran status in any educational, employment, social, recreational program or activity that it offers. In addition, UNF will not commit or permit retaliation against an individual who reports discrimination or harassment or an individual who cooperates in an investigation of an alleged violation of university regulation.

Carnegie

UNF is a Carnegie Community Engaged Institution. This designation celebrates the University’s collaboration with community partners from the local to the global level. It reflects UNF’s mission to contribute to the public good and prepare educated, engaged citizens.