Financial Assistance Advisor Jobs

Status: Full Time

Hours: Monday – Friday, 35 hours/week

Home Campus: Fennell

Payband: G

Rate of Pay: $30.87

Posting Date: August 22nd, 2023

Closing Date: August 28th, 2023 at 7:00 pm EST

Please be advised that according to Full Time Support Staff Collective Agreement, Article 17.1, preference will be given to qualified employees within the Full Time Support Staff bargaining unit, Appendix D (in the role for 6 consecutive months) and RPT employees who have passed probation at Mohawk College. Should a suitable candidate not be found, external candidates will be considered.

We support and encourage the contributions of our diverse employees. We are committed to nurturing an equitable, diverse and inclusive (EDI) environment for everyone who learns and works at Mohawk College. We believe the rich diversity among our students and the communities we serve should be reflected within our workforce. As educators we believe it is important to act and show leadership in advancing the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in our community.

Mohawk College is currently recruiting for our next

Financial Assistance Advisor

Reporting to the Manager, Financial Assistance, the incumbent is responsible for administering financial assistance programs, promoting financial literacy and all associated client services while delivering quality customer service to support student success.

The incumbent assesses financial assistance applications for eligibility, accuracy, completeness and entitlement in accordance with the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development Policies and Procedures, for several major government financial assistance programs including but not limited to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD), Part Time – OSAP.The incumbent is charged with the responsibility of following Ministry OSAP and bursary policies; developing, and implementing related guidelines within the College; following College policies; and, documenting and reporting to the Ministry as required.

The Financial Assistance Advisor is expected to deliver sound advice by understanding student priorities, providing tailored service, recommending appropriate actions and referring to the most appropriate partners (Mo’Money, SSA, MSA, Accounts, International, Indigenous, Awards, Financial Assistance, etc.) to create a positive experience at every student interaction.

Responsibilities

The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

Skills

Works within the Accountability Framework and Performance Guidelines for the administration of OSAP and related Financial Assistance Programs set by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development by

• Verifying all OSAP applications for eligibility, accuracy, completeness and entitlement.
• Processing all documents and aspects of the financial assistance programs in compliance with the federal and provincial regulations ensuring compliance during internal and external audits.
• Preparing, investigating and advising students on documentation required for Ministry OSAP appeals and ensures all necessary documentation is submitted to the Ministry or actioned as outlined in the OSAP processing manual.
• Confirming full-time enrolment for the Ministry to commence the release of funds to students.
• Assessing, approving, and releasing emergency loans to students, based on OSAP eligibility and as circumstances warrant.
• Interviewing students and analyzing, researching and approving OSAP reviews that are within financial assistance authority.

Works within the Accountability Framework and Performance Guidelines for the administration of Institutional and Government Bursary by:

• Updating procedures and manuals to ensure processes and record keeping meet the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD) and Mohawk’s policies and procedures.
• Completing Accounts Receivable requests for submission to Accounting either through vouchers or Banner Student Aid (BSA); recording award details on the ministry Bursary Recording System and the Financial Assistance database.
• Operating within budget allocation for both Institutional and OSAP related bursary programs and advising Manager/Director when additional funding requests are needed.
• Administering the Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) and the Tuition Set Aside funds for students with disabilities.
• Recommending and supporting business processes that meet Ministry guidelines and auditor’s recommendations to verify OSAP applications for completeness, eligibility and entitlement; ensuring appropriate documentation is collected and on file; and ensuring integrity and confidentiality (FOI) of data on Financial Assistance System is maintained.
• Informing students who did not receive any form of funding and providing feedback and information on other sources of income options to consider.
• Gathering necessary information and preparing the annual OSAP Cost Codes for Ministry approval and use for assessing OSAP funding for students. Ensuring that all eligible academic college programs, by location and term, are approved for OSAP eligibility and the Cost Codes are updated throughout the year, as required.
• Maintaining procedures to ensure processes and record keeping meet the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD) and Mohawk’s policies and procedures.
• Reviewing applications and student budgets, conducting personal interviews with candidates, determining financial need and awarding appropriate funding, according to Ministry and College Policies.
• Analyzing, researching and submitting OSAP appeals based on various circumstances, i.e. academic restrictions, credit checks, family breakdowns, step parent refusal to contribute, etc.

Provides quality customer service to students to support student success by:

• Providing existing financial options and facilitating the application process of various Institutional and Government-funded programs.
• Supporting the Mo’ Money Resource Centre initiatives by creating activities and collaborating with internal and external partners to provide special events for students .
• Downloading and maintaining Ministry year-to-date files on OSAP applicants and proactively using the information to target messaging to students, i.e. missing documents, full-time/part-time status changes, Ministry restrictions, etc.
• Coordinating and delivering detailed sessions for Manager/Director and staff in Student Services outlining Ministry changes to policies and procedures.
• Coordinating and organizing OSAP and Award Workshops at strategic periods throughout the year.

Other Duties, But Not Limited To

• Ensure customer problems are handled appropriately, escalating issues when necessary
• Provides subject matter expertise and guidance to the Student Services Coaches and Mo’Money Resource teams.
• Working as a team member supporting Finance Assistance staff with processing paperwork and providing back-up support to the Awards Officer; attending workshops and Open House events when required.
• Actively participate in regular meetings and coaching sessions

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have:

• Demonstrated commitment and understanding of human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion with the ability to communicate and work effectively with diverse groups of students, employees and the community.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a related role.
• Working in an office environment with demonstrated problem solving skills.
• Working in a role with diverse responsibilities and knowledge base.
• Working in a time sensitive deadline driven environment with an elevated attention to detail.
• A minimum of two-year post-secondary education in General Business, Business Accounting, Office Administration or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Working with databases and student information systems, preferably with Banner, or any relational database in a post-secondary education
• Working independently and in a team environment.
• Project management experience is preferable.

Mohawk College prioritizes recruiting and retaining diverse employees. With this in mind, the College is committed to fostering inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection processes.

Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (905) 575 - 2047.

Mohawk College is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons, women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

For more information concerning the Mohawk College strategic plan, please see: strategicplan.mohawkcollege.ca/