Financial Solutions Advisor

Office of Financial Solutions

Full-Time, Contingent II, Exempt, Pay Grade 1.1

Location: Stateside Remote

University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) seeks a Financial Solutions Advisor. Within the Office of Financial Solutions, the Financial Solutions Advisor (FSA) actively partners with learners and develops long term funding plans for their education, helping to remove financial obstacles to academic success. Leveraging in-depth knowledge of federal student aid, military benefits, employer benefits and self-pay options, the FSA consultatively reviews all funding options available based on a learner's unique circumstance.  With a goal of increasing access and affordability, the FSA also surfaces financial literacy resources and approaches solutions aimed at providing learners with an educational investment aligned with their goals.  The Financial Solutions department is a high energy, fast-paced environment that relies heavily on data and technology to provide a superior learner experience. While interacting with learners and taking steps to find solutions, the FSA will regularly partner with colleagues in the Admissions, Success Coach, Financial Aid and Student Accounts departments.  The FSA engages with learners in a variety of communication channels including email, SMS (text messaging), live chat, inbound calls, and outbound calls. A successful FSA is enthusiastic to financially guide learners from the earliest stages of admission through graduation. A skilled FSA employs a curiosity-based mindset to build rapport with learners and explores solutions to move learners forward in their educational journey.

When partnering with financial aid applicants and users, accountabilities include:

• A thorough understanding of eligibility requirements and available grant and loan types available through the Title IV program
• An in-depth navigational understanding of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Partnership with learners through each step of the application process, including the provision of documentation needed to satisfy verification and C-flag requirements
• Awareness of scholarship opportunities that require FAFSA completion
• Access and use information within FAA Access to CPS and NSLDS (National Student Loan Data System)
• Conveyance of important dates and deadlines related to disbursement of aid, balance due dates and UMGC's disenrollment policy
• Actively partner with learners through decisions related to changes in enrollment that may impact financial aid eligibility
• Guide learner understanding of the R2T4 process and implications to balances owed as a result
• Partner with Success Coaches on future course scheduling as related to program applicability of courses and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• Maintain competency and professional currency of Title IV regulations and UMGC scholarship opportunities

When partnering with learners using military benefits, accountabilities include:

• Provide comprehensive counseling to learners regarding the full range of active duty and veterans educations benefits
• Guide learners through the process of receiving military tuition benefits
• Maintain knowledge of UMGC services to include hybrid classes and testing services at military and civilian sites

When partnering with learners leveraging self-pay and employer benefits options, accountabilities include:

• Providing guidance through monthly payment plan enrollment and maintenance
• Consulting with learners on ability to pay “out of pocket” along with balancing other life costs
• Administers payments over the phone while adhering to PCI compliance standards
• Offer advice to consult with employer about potential availability of tuition reimbursement
• Determine if learners are employed with official partner of UMGC that may offer tuition benefits
• Maintain understanding of partnership program and specific policies and attributes of learners affiliated with various employer partnerships
• Communicate directly with learners to resolve overdue balances before account is escalated to internal and State of Maryland Collections processes
• Maintain knowledge of state and institutional policies and regulations pertaining to payment due dates, disenrollment and the UMGC billing system

General Responsibilities Include:

• Accurately document, maintain, and track all learner interactions, information, and progression through the Customer Relations Management system.
• Meet departmentally set metrics standards monthly.
• Employees that live within 50 miles of UMGC are required to work university commencement.

• Employees are required to work some evening and weekend hours.
• Employees may be required to work certain holiday hours based on business need.
• Participate in recruitment and retention activities including attending virtual open house events, information sessions and webinars to offer funding guidance to new and returning learners.

Requirement for 100% remote role:

• Home worksite furniture and equipment shall be provided by the successful hire.
• UMGC will provide necessary office supplies, a laptop, monitor, and headset.
• Network communication to non-public UMGC online information technology services and data shall be made only using the UMGC Virtual Private Network (VPN) to ensure data is transmitted through encrypted channels and proper authentication.
• All computing equipment that is used, whether purchased by UMGC or the individual, must be connected to broadband internet through an Ethernet connection.
• All computing equipment that is used must be connected to broadband internet with upload and download speeds of at least 25MBPS. You must also hardwire your laptop to the router through an ethernet connection.
• Candidates may not perform personal business during scheduled work hours except for nonwork time, such as scheduled lunch and breaks.

Required Education and Experience:  

• An earned bachelor's degree and two to three (2-3) years of relevant work experience in an applicable role.
• Candidates must possess excellent customer service, time management, creative problem solving, interpersonal, oral and written communications skills, with strong attention to detail and accuracy. 

Preferred Education and Experience:   

• Previous experience in any of the following areas: financial aid, student accounts, student finance, higher education admissions or enrollment management, recruiting, educational or training-industry sales, consultative inside sales of a service offering, call center or high-volume, customer service environment. 
• Experience leveraging CRM or call center applications and tools, such as a dialer is also preferred.
• Bi-lingual English/Spanish

Must be able to meet and maintain access requirements for secure federal and/or state websites, such as the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).  This includes not being in default on any federal student loans.

All submissions should include a cover letter and resume.

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination. UMGC is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, ancestry, political affiliation or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Workplace Accommodations:

The University of Maryland Global Campus Global Campus (UMGC) is committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive working environment for people of all abilities. UMGC is dedicated to the principle that no qualified individual with a disability shall, based on disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of the University, or be subjected to discrimination. For information about UMGC's Reasonable Workplace Accommodation Policy or to request an accommodation, applicants/candidates can contact Employee Accommodations via email at employee-accommodations@umgc.edu. 

Benefits Package Highlights:

• Generous Time Off: Enjoy 22 days of paid vacation, 15 days of sick leave, 3 personal days, and 15 paid holidays (16 during general election years). Time off rates will be prorated based on the number of hours worked.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access to health care, medical with vision, dental, and prescription plans for both individuals and families, effective from the 1st of the month following your hire date. Contingent II employees who work on average 30 or more hours per week (130 hours per month) are eligible for subsidized state of Maryland medical and prescription benefits. Contingent II employees who work on average less than 30 hours per week but at least 20 hours per week are eligible for a stipend to assist in the purchase of a health plan.

• Insurance Options: Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, and Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance. NOTE: C2 Part-time employees working less than 0.5 FTE are not eligible for LTD.

• Retirement Stipend:  Contingent II employees receive a retirement stipend equal to 7.25 percent of their base salary and are eligible to contribute to a supplemental retirement account (SRA).

• Supplemental Retirement Plans: include 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), and various Roth options. The university does not provide subsidies or matching funds.

• Tuition Remission:  CII employees are eligible immediately for Tuition Remission at UMGC or at University of Maryland College Park.  Spouses and dependent children are eligible for undergraduate tuition remission after two years of service. NOTE: For part-time employees (at least 50 percent of the time), tuition remission benefits are prorated.

SS Contingent II_2020.pdf (umgc.edu)

Hiring Rate: