Identification

• Financial aid assistants work under financial aid managers, who run the financial aid offices at universities and colleges. They assist by performing administrative tasks that vary among workplaces.
  
  

Maintaining Files

• Within the financial aid office, assistants are tasked with filing paperwork and keeping those files organized to allow for easy access. They are also responsible for data entry, which is a form of electronic filing of paperwork.
  
  

Working with Students

• Financial aid assistants are also required to work directly with students, typically over the phone. They are required to maintain all inbound and outbound calls, answering questions about financial aid and informing students about what they will or will not receive and other information pertaining to financial aid funds.
  
  

Education Requirements

• Financial aid assistants are generally required to have a High School diploma or a GED. One to two years of experience in a clerical position is often preferred, if not required, as is an Associate's degree in some cases.
  
  

Other Requirements

• Financial aid assistant positions can be either part time or full time and require good communication skills, knowledge of computer software like Microsoft Word and Excel, and in some areas or workplaces prefer if a candidate is fluent in a foreign language.