Shanik Pressley
Tampa,USA
Summary
Dynamic professional a with strong background in financial aid administration, adept at analyzing financial data and guiding students through complex processes. Skilled in compliance, documentation, and providing clear communication. Known for collaboration and achieving results in team settings, while adapting to changing needs. Reliable and resourceful, with focus on delivering impactful solutions.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Financial Aid Specialist
Sonoran Desert Institute
Remote
01.2025 - 11.2025
- Package students within federal guidelines and send notification to students.
- Process all steps of document review, originating, disbursing, notifying disbursements for federal funding
- Work closely with clients to identify and address areas of improvement.
- Research complex regulatory issues and provide responses.
- Ensure appropriate documents are being requested based on regularly guidelines and ISIR reviews
- Provide guidance for on compliant Policies and Procedures.
- File, transmit, and prepare annual Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP).
- Assist with system set up, implementation and testing.
- Work with comptroller/Business Office to ensure accurate and timely exchange of information between operating systems.
- Oversee reconciliation process.
- Ensure Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is being tracked and applied accurately at client school.
- Monitor processors to ensure timely and accurate results.
- Complete Verification, ISIR corrections, Professional Judgement and C-Code reviews
- Calculate Return to Title IV calculations
- Document and send required communications for award offers, disbursements, PWD, Exits
- Communicate with clients and co-workers in written and verbal format
- Maintain compliance in all areas of responsibility
- Other Duties as assigned
Senior Financial Aid Processor
South University
Tampa, FL
09.2022 - 06.2023
- Perform Return of Title IV Calculation (R2T4).
- Assist in processing federal Direct Loans, Federal Graduate PLUS Loans, Federal Parent PLUS Loans, Private Student Loans, Short-Term Loans, Institutional Loans, and Emergency Loans.
- Run SAP, review and correct errors and process appeals.
- Process and award scholarships, assist financial aid in the scholarship appeal requests.
- Work cohesively with the Admission Representative to facilitate outstanding service to prospective students and their parents.
- Efficiently and accurately package assigned students, including includes new, continuing, re-entry, and transfer students.
- Guide students on the financial aid process, including required forms, documents, and processes.
- Create financial plans for assigned students in compliance with institutional policies and Federal regulations, communicate the plan to students and parents, and effectively explain the rights and responsibilities of each aid source.
- Assist students and parents with an alternative means of financing any remaining balance after awarding eligible federal, state, or institutional aid.
- Ensure student files are complete and accurate and that aid is paid to students’ accounts in a timely manner.
- Review ISIRs, request outstanding documents, and perform all levels of verification and C Code reviews.
- Utilize reports to review students, analyze work needed, ability to prioritize daily workload, and independently prioritize workload.
- Strong Customer Service, ability to calm students and parents, accurately articulates the status of a student’s aid and account.
- Complete the appropriate training modules within 30 days of the new or revised module becoming available.
- Assist with or perform special projects as assigned. Other duties as assigned.
Process Operations Specialist
Modus Title & Escrow
St. Petersburg, FL
01.2021 - 06.2022
- Ensure that closing tasks are completed on time, and that nothing is missed.
- Proactively identify potential hiccups in the home closing process and escalate to the appropriate parties for resolution.
- Administratively support the home closing process by doing things like filing paperwork, pulling reports and documents, and assigning appropriate follow-up tasks.
- Cross-collaborate with closing teams, realtor concierge teams, and sales teams to ensure seamless closing processes and high levels of client satisfaction.
- Iterate on current processes to continuously improve our internal operations and create even more impactful customer interactions.
- Served as liaison between certain departments to implement new improvement plans and changes.
- Help manage ticket queues and troubleshoot reported issues.
- Investigating unexpected technical issues and determine cause.
Student Finance Processor Team Lead
Florida Career College
Tampa, FL
05.2016 - 08.2018
- Run SAP.
- Calculate R2T4.
- Process Refunds.
- Complete the necessary FAFSA documents prior to the award year, including the processing of verification “C” codes resolutions Responsible for identifying re-pack population.
- Ensure continuing students are packaged by the beginning of the new academic year Ensure cash packaged percentage is met.
- Provide overviews and workshops that review the application process and offer information regarding available funding.
- Determine financial aid eligibility and develop financing plans and review them with students and their families.
- Review applications and other paperwork for completeness, obtain missing documents.
- Provide student follow up; resolve issues with students, parents and lenders to ensure a timely process of the loan paperwork.
Student Finance/Re-Entry Planner
IADT Online
Tampa, FL
03.2009 - 04.2016
- Run Sap.
- Calculate R2T4.
- Provide overviews and workshops that review the application process and offer information regarding available funding.
- Determine financial aid eligibility and develop financing plans and review them with students and their families.
- Review applications and other paperwork for completeness, obtain missing documents.
- Provide student follow up; resolve issues with students, parents and lenders to ensure a timely process of the loan paperwork.
- Ensure that all current students are properly and timely packaged according to program regulations and guidelines.
- Monitor student accounts and progression in their program of study; appropriately adjust student's award as needed.
- Monitor RBS report to ensure students are packaged to zero.
Student Finance Planner
Everest University Online
Tampa, FL
12.2005 - 08.2008
- Under general supervision, this position is responsible for student financial interviews, financial options counseling, intake processing, and customer service to ensure complete and accurate financing of student educational expenses.
- Perform needs analysis, provide financing documents, and generate tentative award letter for all new students enrolling into the institution's program.
- Process all forms in accordance with State Federal regulations and Company policies and procedures.
- This position serves as a liaison between Admissions and Student Finance.
- Conduct preliminary financing interview with new students, closing the deal for the admission representative by selling the prospective students on the university.
- Provide new students with accurate information regarding application process, loan counseling and their eligibility for State Federal financial assistance, alternative financing, contracts and or institutional payment plans.
Education
High School Diploma -
King High School
Tampa, FLSkills
- Zendesk
- Global Connect
- Campus Vue
- COD
- Live Ticketing Managing
- Banner
- Transcripts
- Investigating Technical Issues
- Fast-Pace Environment
- Payments Processing
- Billing and Invoicing
- Freedom/FinAid
- Campus Ivy
- Enrollment management
- Loan processing
- Grant administration
- Financial software expertise
- Funding maintenance
- Eligibility verification
- Repayment procedures
Timeline
Financial Aid Specialist
Sonoran Desert Institute
01.2025 - 11.2025
Senior Financial Aid Processor
South University
09.2022 - 06.2023
Process Operations Specialist
Modus Title & Escrow
01.2021 - 06.2022
Student Finance Processor Team Lead
Florida Career College
05.2016 - 08.2018
Student Finance/Re-Entry Planner
IADT Online
03.2009 - 04.2016
Student Finance Planner
Everest University Online
12.2005 - 08.2008
High School Diploma -
King High School