Student Finance

**Student Finance & Awards Officer**:
**Primary Purpose**: To act as a liaison and to provide exceptional support to Indigenous students and campus and external stakeholders supporting Indigenous students. The role requires a strong understanding of the awards and financial aid environment and student sponsorship, as well as the financial challenges faced by Indigenous students pursuing post-secondary education. This role will take a lead role in communications and will also support other student awards programing, services, and events offered by Student Finance and Awards.

**Nature of Work**: Reporting to the Director and Associate Registrar (Student Finance and Awards) and regularly consulting with both the Student Finance Coordinator and Awards Coordinator, the position works in a fast-paced, student-centered team environment. The position involves analysis of a wide variety of student and sponsorship situations and circumstances; making decisions about courses of action; referral to other student service professionals; and follow-up if necessary. The work requires an open mind, innovative thinking, good judgment, an ability to manage stressful or sensitive situations, cross-cultural sensitivity and diversity awareness, and a strong commitment to creating an exceptional student and stakeholder experience. As a fully contributing member of a highly interdependent student finance team, the position requires resiliency, dependability and commitment to maintaining high service standards.

**Typical Duties/Accountabilities**:

- Regularly review processes relating to third-party sponsorships, and Indigenous awards, and act as a connection and support between student finance, awards, and external stakeholders.
- Developing communication strategies to enhance relationships and communication, and to improve service levels with awards recipients, third-party stakeholders, and students.
- Possess a financial background or prior knowledge (ability to understand transaction cycles and related underlying systems). Understand and support contract set-up and invoicing in Banner. Understand the financial and administrative implications of awards for students.
- Provide students with timely and accurate information and offer appropriate advice and value-added service on a wide variety of functions, policies, and deadlines, including but not limited to third party sponsorship, scholarships and awards; and informed by a full understanding of the rules and regulations governing these programs.
- Provide leadership and foster a student-centered philosophy by engaging in professional development, researching and developing best practices, and serving as a model of exemplary customer service to internal and external stakeholders.
- Consult, collaborate, and facilitate connection with Indigenous communities. Liaise with internal and external units across campus in order to provide efficient, effective, and integrated student services and to develop processes and procedures consistent with student-centered service philosophies, policies, and practices. Possess the willingness and capacity to be a knowledgeable resource for others on campus.
- Actively participate in Student Finance and Awards initiatives, including analyzing and organizing data, drawing conclusions, developing and maintaining online components, communicating effectively, implementing best customer service practices, and making recommendations to the Student Finance and Awards team that relate to business process improvements, functions, and timelines.
- Uphold the University’s fiduciary responsibility by making sound decisions and recommendations in third party sponsorships and awards through appropriate internal controls and by appropriately assessing and interpreting fees on student accounts.
- Provide leadership and foster a student-centered philosophy by making presentations to various stakeholders such as Indigenous students, third party sponsors, and other academic or administrative units.
- Have an awareness and understanding of Indigenous knowledge and contributes to a broader strategy of how to provide culturally relevant guidance and support services.
- Support activities of the Scholarships and Awards Committee of Council.
- Enact the mission, vision, and values as well as the strategic directions and plans of the unit, the University Registrar’s Office, the Teaching, Learning, and Student Experience portfolio, and the University.

**Qualifications**

**Education**: A minimum of an undergraduate degree.

**Experience**: One to two years of related experience, preferably in a student-centered university environment. Knowledge of the University’s academic and administrative structures and processes is an asset. Prior knowledge or experience with the student information system (Banner Student) is preferred. Knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures, histories, and ways of knowing. A detailed understanding of the financial and other barriers Ind