Senior Financial Aid Specialist

Date Posted: 05/15/2024

Req ID: 37348

Faculty/Division: Vice-Provost, Students

Department: University Registrar’s Office

Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Position Number: 00056477

Description:

About us:

The Financial Aid Office in the University Registrar’s Office at the University of Toronto is responsible for the University’s administration of financial aid programs, including U.S. student aid programs and government student aid programs from jurisdictions within Canada, along with other financial supports (e.g., loans to students in professional programs), and internal U of T specific financial aid programs.

Your opportunity:

Under general direction, the incumbent is primarily responsible for the administration and reporting specific to U.S. student aid programs such as the U.S. Direct Loans Programs, Sallie Mae, Earnest loans; government student aid programs from jurisdictions within Canada (other than Ontario); and, other financial support programs (e.g., loans for students in professional programs, sponsorship programs). This includes supporting divisions/faculties with these programs, co-ordinating and supervising workflow, training and providing information to staff and the academic divisions to ensure that clients’ needs are expeditiously and accurately met. In consultation with the Associate Director, Financial Aid, the incumbent assists with the development and implementation of policies, practices and procedures for these programs.

Serves as a resource person to other specialists, including staff in the University Registrar’s Office and academic divisions around the University, on matters related to U.S. student aid programs, government student aid programs from jurisdictions within Canada, other financial support programs (e.g., loans for students in professional programs, sponsorship programs), and internal U of T specific financial aid programs. Provides leadership, training, and guidance, on the respective program policies and procedures to University Registrar’s Office staff and other departments in the University. Works with IT staff in the University Registrar’s Office to develop, operationalize, streamline, modernize, online applications and reports which are critical to the programs above. Presents at workshops and conferences at the University and at provincial and national levels.

To be successful in this role, the incumbent will have a strong working knowledge of U.S. and Canadian government student aid policies and reporting requirements / mechanisms.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Advising students on financial matters by providing options and consequences incorporating personal circumstances impacting academic success and an understanding of an individual’s background
• Advising students on financial aid matters, bursaries, budgeting and personal financial management by probing and providing a range of options and possible outcomes
• Facilitating educational workshops and seminars
• Analyzing complex statistical reports and/or financial information for management decision-making
• Providing formal job-related training for staff
• Fostering cooperative working relationships with a wide variety of internal and external contacts and liaising between departments and with contacts to ensure consistent administration procedures are followed
• Following rules and procedural processes related to Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA)
• Resolving service complaints and checking that work performed meets expected standards

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience
• Minimum five years related financial aid experience
• Extensive service and financial counselling experience
• Knowledge of government financial aid programs, including U.S. student aid, government student aid programs from jurisdictions within Canada, and University of Toronto and other educational systems
• Proven experience leading, developing and delivering training sessions to staff
• Excellent computer experience; good keyboarding skills
• Superior oral and written communication skills
• Effective interpersonal, organizational, customer-service, problem-solving, leadership,and analytical skills
• Ability to work both independently and within a team environment
• Ability to exercise tact, judgement, discretion, accuracy and attention to detail
• Advising staff and counselling clients demands a high degree of tact, sensitivity, and discretion
• Proven ability to analyze, interpret and apply complex guidelines and procedures
• Ability to prioritize workload to meet deadlines; demonstrated ability to work well under pressure
• Proven abilityto process new ideas, procedures and systems quickly and accurately; ability to work to deadlines in a fast-paced environment, and ensure all priorities are met
• The incumbent must be adept at resolving difficulties and problems that arise in counselling situations, and must ensure that quality service to clients is not compromised
• Possesses extensive knowledge of University of Toronto policies and admissions policies

Assets (Nonessential):

• Experience with developing and implementing guidelines and documentation of procedures

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Adaptable
• Communicator
• Efficient
• Organized
• Problem solver
• Resourceful
• Team player

Closing Date: 05/24/2024, 11:59PM ET

Employee Group: USW 

Appointment Type: Budget – Term; This is a 1 year term position.

Schedule: Full-Time

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:

USW Pay Band 14 — $88,290 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $112,911. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol. 

Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

Recruiter: Fiona Chan

Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

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