Position Title:
Financial Aid Systems Analyst
Institution:
Linn-Benton Community College
Position Contact Name:
Karen Ash
Position Contact Phone:
541.917.4854
Deadline or Close Date:
11/12/2024
Job Location - City, State:
Albany, OR
Position Description:
Administers and analyzes all aspects of the financial aid technical process. Works in collaboration with key services areas to administer and analyze the functionality and operational efficiency of the campus-integrated database, web-based, and desktop systems that support departmental and strategic institutional service goals. Reviews, tests and assists with documentation and training of relevant components of the Ellucian Higher Education Banner integrated management database. Responsible for internal management and coordination of financial aid data and related systems. Serve as the primary resource for generating the research and statistics necessary for financial aid and veterans assessment projects. Updates and maintains Banner for yearly processing, loads Institutional Student Information Records and initial process of student records, creates and maintains communication processes.
Required Qualifications: Applications are reviewed for minimum qualifications. In order to be considered, your application must clearly show you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.
Education and Experience:
- Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in information technology, accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field, plus experience equivalent to two years full-time showing progressive responsibility in financial aid (Title IV Programs), accounting, or auditing, which includes working with federal programs and reporting requirements.
- Experience working in governmental accounting, coordinating and overseeing complex financial projects and audits, working with computer systems, hardware, and supporting software applications, and with computerized general ledgers and accounting systems, is required.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Requires knowledge of desktop applications.
- Requires college-level writing skills and strong communication skills.
- Must have the ability to train end-users in new software or procedures.
- Requires sufficient analytical skills to assess problems or unusual situations and develop solutions.
- Must be skilled in reading technical manuals and translating information into meaningful information and applicability for non-technical staff.
- Requires knowledge of integrated database systems; preferably a working knowledge of Banner, PL/SQL, HTML, and CSS.
Abilities:
- Must be able to independently perform the duties of the position efficiently and effectively.
- Requires ability to work in a group environment.
- Must be able to prioritize and plan work in order to perform in a frequently fast paced environment.
- Must be able to effectively communicate with a wide range of staff in a professional manner using tact and diplomacy.
- Must be able to work respectfully with individuals of all cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and abilities.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prefer Banner experience with databases, web service development, and/or extracting data using PL/SQL queries.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Work is performed primarily in an office setting with minimal exposure to health or safety hazards. Work pressures, frequent interruptions, and disturbances of work flow, are expected and occur on a regular basis. Incumbent is required to manage a variety of projects simultaneously. Technological changes require occasional skill level upgrades. Considerable time is spent working on the computer. There is infrequent (less than 10 percent of the time) lifting of medium to lightweight objects (less than 50 pounds) while moving boxes of materials or hardware. Must be able to use a computer and communicate effectively with a wide variety of individuals.
Essential Duties:
- Supports the maximized utilization of the Banner system in the areas of financial aid, veterans’ services, and related student services. Reviews Banner documentation to recommend new features and process enhancements for users, and resolve functionality issues. Researches Banner defects, enhancements, and requests for product enhancements. Collaborates with Information Services for system upgrade testing protocols. Responsible for setting up new year processes in Banner for the processing of federal, state, and institutional funds (grants, loans, and scholarships) totaling up to $20 million. Responsible for establishing tracking, packaging, awarding, and disbursement rules and procedures.
- Provides technical leadership to the Financial Aid and Veterans Office. Assists in advising, troubleshooting, problem-solving, and support to the Financial Aid department including creating reports, data extracts and data analysis. As it pertains to financial aid and veterans, provide expertise, support and training on technical and functional issues for campus faculty and staff, including development of appropriate technical or process documentation.
- Collaborates with Applications and Systems Programming Manager and Applications Analysts to develop ad hoc reports via Banner. Coordinates installation of financial aid Banner software. Maintains financial aid validation tables, tests system for accuracy and quality control. Oversees the installation of Department of Education software and necessary programs to interface with Banner. Problem solves/troubleshoots for all financial aid staff with their assigned processes.
- Collaborates with the Web team to update and maintain Financial Aid and Veterans web pages.
- Review existing policies and procedures. Reads regulation changes and attends financial aid training to learn of new federal and state regulations. Assists the director in incorporating changes into office procedures. Adjusts computer systems to match office policy and procedures (when setting up new year’s versions of Banner).Assists Director with fund management. Runs ad hoc and standard Banner fund reports to monitor term and year expenditures. Inputs fund balances into Banner (per Director beginning balances) to determine yearly awarding. Inputs awarding and disbursement rules into Banner to match office policy. Creates and maintains yearly audit reports.
- Designs and produces ad-hoc reports and extracts data to support the College’s goals and initiatives. Collaborates with Institutional Research and Information Services in the creation and maintenance of such reports. Translates complex financial aid information and technical language into clear and concise documents from which management can make sound decisions.
- Coordinates testing Banner and other digital systems and services. Develops testing protocols for each system and staff member. Verifies testing completion and status.Identifies, researches, and evaluates new products related to the needs of Financial Aid and Veterans, including but not limited to software and services from the Dept. of Education, direct loan processing, OSAC portals for state aid, ArmyIgnitED, Enrollment Manager, DoD, and web services. Collaborates with Information Services to create institution-specific functionality. Works with staff to create and implement in-house web-based services.
- Maintains accurate and current documentation of Banner coding structures, modifications, testing protocols, and training protocols.
- Collaborates with staff to facilitate the analysis, evaluation, maintenance of business practices, data entry, and coding standards, and workflows. Reviews and corrects staff work as needed.
- Serves as the backup and support for processing and configuring system parameters for the successful performance of student financial aid awarding, disbursement, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Return to Title IV calculations, and student eligibility.
- Serves on the Administrative Systems Steering Committee, and other related project teams.
- Performs other duties or special projects as assigned.
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