Financial Aid & Awards Advisor

Date Posted: 05/23/2025
Req ID: 43072
Faculty/Division: School of Graduate Studies
Department: School of Graduate Studies
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00049625

Description:

Position Overview:

The Financial Aid and Awards Advisor at the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) provides expert guidance and support to students, graduate administrators, and university staff within a decentralized institutional model. This model spans multiple faculties, divisions, and central offices. The Advisor plays a key role in supporting the graduate community, ensuring that graduate administrators are well-equipped to support their students with funding, awards, and related financial assistance needs.

About the School of Graduate Studies (SGS):

The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) promotes inclusive excellence in graduate education, research, and professional training across the University of Toronto. SGS upholds high academic standards across divisions and provides comprehensive support to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Through collegial governance, consultation, and shared decanal leadership with graduate units, SGS defines and administers university-wide regulations for graduate education.

SGS offers expert guidance, reviews program design and delivery, develops performance standards, and promotes access, equitable inclusion, fairness, and ethical conduct in graduate education. It also organizes services and financial assistance for graduate students, fosters strong connections between research and graduate instruction, and represents graduate education within the University and beyond.

More information is available at: https://www.sgs.utoronto.ca

Your Opportunity:

Under the general direction of the Director, Graduate Awards and Financial Aid, and the direct supervision of the Manager, Financial Aid and Advising, you will play a pivotal role in supporting graduate student success and contributing to the development of Graduate Enrolment Management (GEM) best practices aligned with the University’s strategic goals.

As a key member of a dynamic team, you will enhance the quality of services provided to graduate students by developing, implementing, and delivering funding, awards, and financial assistance programs. You will also contribute to new initiatives that improve the graduate student experience and increase administrative efficiency by reducing processing times, improving data accessibility, and streamlining tasks. A strong aptitude for using and learning new systems and technology will be essential to these efforts.

Working both independently and collaboratively, you will support graduate units and students, ensuring the efficient delivery of financial support programs and services. You will liaise closely with graduate units and their students, offering expert guidance on the full range of SGS financial programs. Your ability to interpret financial and academic regulations will be key to providing effective support to both staff and students. Drawing on this expertise, you will equip graduate units with the tools they need to support their students, serve as a key resource, and help resolve complex, student-facing issues.

You will also design and lead workshops and training sessions to clarify best practices and regulatory requirements and explain how these policies impact student progress. Building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders and strategic partners will be critical to your success in this role.

Your responsibilities will include assessing student award and financial assistance applications; managing and disbursing award funds in accordance with established terms and conditions; monitoring and reconciling accounts; and producing complex statistical and financial reports. Your financial acumen, attention to detail, and advanced spreadsheet skills will be essential in identifying and investigating discrepancies, maintaining accurate records, performing reconciliations, and ensuring compliance with funding criteria.

Proficiency with systems such as the ROSI student information system and the Financial Information System (FIS), as well as experience managing large datasets, are strong assets.

Your responsibilties will include:

•    Providing consultation and advice on the application of university policies and procedures 
•    Liaising with agencies, collaborators, industry sponsors, faculty and other stakeholders regarding students and funding applications 
•    Keeping well-informed on funding opportunities and resources, application policies/procedures and key deadlines 
•    Providing detailed information on funding program administrative practices and procedures 
•    Probing for information to establish needs 
•    Advising academic and administrative staff on financial matters and reporting requirements
•    Troubleshooting and resolving routine issues 
•    Monitoring, recording, reconciling and/or reporting on fees and awards funding accounts 
•    Assessing the impact of changes to sponsor program rules and procedures regarding obligations and requirements for awards 
•    Checking that applicants meet the requirements outlined in the awards criteria 
•    Checking that the allocation of awards meet terms of reference of the funds 
•    Determining which applications to refer to committee for selection 
•    Providing advice to committees regarding financial awards allotments 
•    Providing information to applicants on status of application 
•    Generating reports and analyzing datasets 
 
Essential Qualifications:  

•    Bachelor's Degree or an acceptable combination of equivalent experience 
•    Four (4) years of related experience advising on financial and academic policies in a university setting 
•    Superior customer service and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with students, staff, faculty members, and other key stakeholders 
•    Ability to interpret and apply guidelines and policies to a variety of situations to ensure adherence and provide direction 
•    Knowledge of graduate award and funding practices, University and government financial aid programs, policies and procedures 
•    Demonstrated experience processing financial transactions, managing funds, reconciling accounts, and preparing reports 
•    Highly developed problem-solving and analytical skills 
•    Demonstrated numeracy skills and experience using data management systems, creating, and manipulating spreadsheets 
•    High degree of computer and internet literacy, including excellent working knowledge of MS Office Suite and advanced spreadsheet a data management skills
•    Superior oral and written communication skills; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing 
•    Good working knowledge of the University’s Student Information system (ROSI) or equivalent
•    Experience creating documentation and/or training materials and delivering presentations and workshops 
•    Demonstrated ability to work with confidential information and to ensure privacy of student information is maintained at all times  
•    Ability to work both independently and in a team environment  
•    Demonstrated ability working with high volume and tight deadlines while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail 
•    Demonstrated ability to adapt to new practices and procedures quickly and accurately 
 
 To be successful in this role you will be:  

•    Problem solver 
•    Resourceful 
•    Accountable 
•    Meticulous 
•    Organized 
•    Multi-tasker 
•    Adaptable 
•    Approachable 
•    Communicator 
•    Tactful 
•    Team player  

Closing Date: 06/02/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW 
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing 
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:  
USW Pay Band 12 -- $79,874. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $102,147. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol. 
Job Category: Student Services
Recruiter: Blythe Campbell

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.