Financial Aid and Enrollment Specialist

Position Summary:

Avila University Arizona is seeking a dedicated and qualified Financial Aid and Enrollment Specialist in Goodyear to support students at its Goodyear, Arizona location. This position is responsible for providing student-focused support throughout the financial aid and enrollment process, with a primary focus on assisting domestic U.S. students with federal financial aid. The Specialist will guide students and families through FAFSA completion, financial aid requirements, eligibility documentation, and available funding options.

The role will also support students after they have applied to Avila University by helping them complete admissions and enrollment requirements and coordinating next steps through enrollment.

The ideal candidate has direct experience administering Federal Title IV financial aid programs, strong knowledge of Title IV regulations, and the ability to explain complex requirements to students and families in a clear and supportive manner.

Please note this position will be employed by Avila University.

Responsibilities:

• Guide students and families through the FAFSA application and financial aid process.

• Assist students with FAFSA completion, required documentation, corrections, and resolution of outstanding financial aid requirements.

• Review FAFSA and student financial aid information to identify missing documentation, discrepancies, or eligibility issues.

• Counsel students and families regarding federal financial aid programs, grants, loans, scholarships, and other financing options.

• Process financial aid applications and support the determination and awarding of financial aid in accordance with federal regulations and University policies.

• Support verification, loan processing, Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, and other financial aid processes.

• Review and update student financial aid records and maintain accurate documentation.

• Utilize applicable federal financial aid systems, including COD, NSLDS, FAFSA Partner Portal, and other institutional systems.

• Monitor student financial aid files and proactively follow up with students regarding outstanding requirements.

• Explain the potential financial aid impact of enrollment changes, withdrawals, or changes in academic status.

• Maintain current knowledge of federal Title IV regulations, financial aid policies, and applicable institutional procedures.

• Support financial aid reporting, reconciliation, audits, and compliance activities as required.

• Support students after an application for admission has been submitted.

• Assist applicants with completing outstanding admissions and enrollment requirements.

• Review student files for completeness and follow up regarding missing documentation.

• Provide students with clear information regarding admissions requirements, enrollment steps, deadlines, and next steps.

• Coordinate with Admissions, Registrar, Student Accounts, Academic Operations, and other departments to support a smooth student enrollment experience.

• Assist students in resolving administrative issues that may delay their enrollment.

• Support new student orientations, financial aid workshops, enrollment events, and other student-facing activities.

• Communicate with students through phone, email, in-person appointments, and other approved communication channels.

• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience required.

• Three or more years of direct financial aid experience, including financial aid packaging, federal loans, SAP, and professional judgment processes preferred.

• Minimum two years of experience required administering Federal Title IV financial aid programs, encompassing FAFSA completion, eligibility determination, verification, and a strong working knowledge of federal regulations.

• Experience with enterprise higher education platforms (such as Banner, Ellucian, Colleague, Campus Solutions, or Oracle Student Financial Planning) and previous experience supporting broader student services like admissions or student accounts preferred.

• Proficiency utilizing federal financial aid systems (including COD, NSLDS, FAFSA Partner Portal) and general student information systems or databases.

• Strong student-focused customer service and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial aid information clearly and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with strict attention to detail and accuracy when handling confidential financial information.

• Professional judgment and discretion, demonstrating the ability to interpret policies, apply regulatory requirements, and work collaboratively across departments.

• Ability to contribute to a climate that supports a diverse student body, serves first-generation college students and multilingual learners, and contributes to equity and social justice through their work.

Terms of Employment: Full Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Communication: Maintains communication with various Faculty, staff, and external constituents in the performance of role. Must be professional in all communications as a representative of the senior administrative team. Utilizes existing technology effectively in the performance of duties.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Language Skills: This position requires the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in English. Functions of the job include: pertinent laws, codes, policies, and/or regulations; personnel processes; curriculum adoption process; program planning and development; and learning styles and curriculum models. Ability is required to schedule a number of activities, meetings, and/or events; often gather, collate, and/or classify data; and use job-related equipment. Flexibility is required to independently work with others in a wide variety of circumstances; analyze data utilizing defined but different processes; and operate equipment using standardized methods. Ability is also required to work with a significant diversity of individuals and/or groups; work with data of widely varied types and/or purposes; and utilize a variety of job-related equipment. Independent problem solving is required to analyze issues and create action plans. Problem solving with data frequently requires independent interpretation of guidelines; and problem solving with equipment is moderate to significant.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, be mobile in an office environment, stand, read, use a keyboard, and communicate audibly in person and by telephone and video technology. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and is a standard acceptable level for this environment.

Other Skills/Abilities: Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with university employees, community members, external parties, Board members, and senior administrators; ability to speak clear and concisely in written or oral communication and ability to maintain professional decorum.

Evaluation: Performance of this position will be evaluated in accordance with Avila University policy.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. The individual currently holding this position performs additional duties and additional duties may be assigned.

Avila University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, tenure, disability or any other factors that cannot be lawfully considered in its programs and activities as required by all applicable laws and regulations.

Avila University reserves the right at any time, with or without notice, to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job positions or assign additional responsibilities.