LIFT Academy - Student Financial Services Specialist

POSITION PURPOSE

Under the supervision of the Manager of Student Financial Services, assists with processing GI Bill benefits, student billing and collections, tuition assistance, student loans, state grants, customer service and student records at LIFT Academy.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Assist Student Financial Services Manager with New Student Onboarding and Enrollment tasks:

• Meet with new students to discuss tuition, sponsorships, funding options prior to start date. 
• Work with Admissions team to adjust student start dates as needed due to student financial readiness. 
• Certify student loans through LIFT Academy’s lending partners.
• Monitor student loan progress prior to start date and act as needed to ensure deadlines are met.
• Enter student data in multiple locations including student CRM, Flight Schedule Pro, and spreadsheets. Update as needed.
• Send student Enrollment Agreements and other signature documents to new students. Monitor and follow up as needed to ensure deadlines are met. Archive signed documents in student records.
• Set up new students as customers in Workday.

Assist Student Financial Services Manager with Student Billing tasks:

• Create customer contracts and invoices in Workday and send to students.
• Conduct monthly audits on student billing records to ensure that all students have been billed appropriately.
• Apply Customer payments to Customer Accounts in Workday.

Assist Student Financial Services Manager with Collections tasks:

• Run weekly past due invoices report in Workday, execute the internal collections process, and work with third party collections as necessary.

Assist Student Financial Services Manager with Data Entry tasks:

• Enter student data in multiple locations including student CRM, Flight Schedule Pro, and spreadsheets. Update as needed as student status changes from new student, to CFI, to graduate or separated student. Ensure all data sources match and all fields are up to date.

Assist Student Financial Services Manager with Student Separations tasks:

• Calculate Final Tuition based upon student Enrollment Agreement, including final invoice amount or refund.
• Process Refunds in Workday.
• Notify lending partner of student separation and refund amount. 
• Create final invoice or refund in Workday and cancel contract.
• Update multiple data sources with new status.
• Collect student separation documents and add them to student records.

Assist Student Financial Services Manager with Student Graduation tasks:

• Verify that student has paid in full according to terms of Enrollment Agreement.
• Update multiple data sources with new status.
• Notify the lender of graduation date so student enters grace period and then repayment.

Assist Student Financial Services Manager with Quarterly Grant Payment Requests

• Gather student milestone data and enter on quarterly reports.
• Archive evidence for grant request and past grant submission.

Assist Student Financial Services Manager with Monthly Tuition Reimbursement Payments

• Determine student eligibility for tuition reimbursement and work with Accounts Payable, Payroll, and lending partners to process payments.

Assist Student Financial Services Manager with Quarterly Reports to Lending Partners:

• Complete quarterly reports for lending partners with updated anticipated graduate date, student status, and loan status. 
• Review month end reports from lending partners to ensure that students haven’t entered repayment status prior to graduation and that loan status matches student training status.

Assist Student Financial Services Manager with student Customer Service requests from current, prospective, graduated, and separated students.

Assist Student Financial Services Manager with VA Educational Benefits/ GI Bill processes:

• Enter COE and monthly flight training data into VA Once.
• Maintain student records per VA requirements.
• Ensure compliance with all VA eligibility requirements and rules.

Assist Student Financial Services Manager with ACCSC Accreditation process

When LIFT Academy becomes eligible in the future to participate in Title IV Federal Financial Aid programs the Student Financial Services Specialist will also assist the Student Financial Services Manager with the federal financial aid process.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary to perform this job.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of an Associate degree is required, preferably in Business or Accounting.
• A minimum of one year customer service experience required. Experience with a Student Information System, CRM, ERP or Accounting/Financial Software a plus.

PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Additional years of experience in customer service in student financial services, education or billing.  Additional experience with a Student Information System, CRM, ERP or Accounting/Financial Software. Knowledge of Federal Financial Aid processes and VA Educational Benefits, such as GI Bill.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical procedures and regulations. Ability to compose effective communications and emails to students, vendors and other employees of the organization. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations and to respond to questions from students, families, and other employees of the organization. Ability to create  

REASONING/PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY

Must be willing to work in a time-sensitive environment and effectively handle stress that is associated with meeting deadlines and changing requirements/regulations. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to problem solve and identify areas for process improvement/ efficiency. 

DECISION MAKING

Makes limited decisions and determines best methods to solve problems by referring to established precedents and policies.  Impact of decisions is moderately low.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Able to move about the work environment. 
• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear.
• Lift up to 50 pounds as often as up to 30 of the time.
• Able to focus with clear vision at 20 inches or less (computer screen).

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Office environment

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

No travel

SCHEDULE

This is a full time, 40 hours per week position that is eligible for a hybrid work schedule of both remote and in office work. 

Additional Job Description

• Management Level: Individual Contributor
• Job Family: LIFT
• Job Classifications: 2 – Professionals & 5-Administrative Support Workers (EEO-1 Job Categories-United States of America). Non-DOT - Non-DOT Position (DOT Job Categories-United States of America)