Financial Aid Specialist

Summary This position is part of the Bureau of Indian Education, Department of the Interior. As a Financial Aid Specialist you will be responsible for providing on-site support and direct services to students regarding academic financial aid. NOTE: Position is also being advertised under merit promotion announcement number BIE-12896000-26-MT MP. For Status Applicants who wish to be considered under both merit promotion and competitive procedures must submit a separate application for each announcement. Duties As a Financial Aid Specialist, GS-0301-9, your typical work assignments may include the following under supervision: Provide procedural support and direct advisement services to students regarding various financial aid programs,scholarships, and student financial aid. Collect and process documentation required for verification of a student's financial aid application in accordance withfederal regulations. Verify accuracy of documents and consistency of data from the need to analysis processor, federal tax returns, financialaid transcripts, verification documents, and student information. Conduct financial aid information presentations to special groups, high schools, new students, current students. Maintain data regarding the Financial Aid Office, prepares reports, and maintains student financial aid records. Input student financial aid data into Ed Express and Ed Connect. Document and assist with arranging for the disbursement of funds from varied Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies. Requirements Conditions of employment Be sure to read the 'How to Apply' and 'Required Documents' Sections. U.S. Citizenship is required. A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. As a condition of employment, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial or 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959, you are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act and the Defense Authorization Act of 1986, in order to be eligible for appointment to this agency. Driving Requirement (Required only at time of appointment): Incumbent may be required, as an incidental duty, to operate a government-owned or leased motor vehicle, in the performance of duties, therefore, a valid driver's license is required. Qualifications Applicants must meet the qualification requirements contained in the OPM Standards. For this position, they are listed below. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: GS-0301-09: I have 1 year of specialized experience that equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. This experience is related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include advising students on financial aid programs and scholarships, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and Department of Education guidelines; collecting and verifying financial aid documentation; analyzing data to resolve discrepancies; maintaining accurate records; and proficient in using financial aid data processing systems and coordinating fund disbursements from multiple agencies. OR Masters or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL. B or J.D., if related to this position. (You must submit a copy of your transcripts to support this response.) OR A combination of specialized experience as described in A and more than one year of graduate education as described in B when combined together meets 100% of the total requirements for the position. To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. (You must submit a copy of your transcripts to support this response.) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Education This position does not have a positive education requirement at this grade level. Therefore, no transcripts are required unless you are using education to meet the minimum qualification requirements. EDUCATION: Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, credit hours, major, and grade-point average or class ranking, degree and date awarded. All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). Applicants are responsible for providing documentation that the educational requirements have been met. To qualify based on education you must submit a legible copy of your transcripts. Official transcripts are required upon selection if you qualified based on education. Education must have been obtained from an accredited or pre-accredited institution recognized by the U.S. DOE (click here) in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the U.S. (click here). Additional information Initial appointments to the competitive or excepted service: The probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: Your performance and conduct; The needs and interests of the agency; Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Bargaining Unit Status: Position is covered by Bargaining Unit/Union - Federation of Indian Service Employees, American Federation of Teachers Local 4521. Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Documentation: The CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance (click here for more details, here for DOI's policy) to permanent Federal civilian employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming eligibility must submit a 1) copy of their most recent performance appraisal, 2) proof of eligibility, 3) most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Veterans' Preference: If you are a Veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (member 4 copy) or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15 plus the proof required by that form. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.