Financial Aid Counselor

Position Summary:

The Financial Aid Counselor performs a variety of processing and specialized financial aid functions to facilitate administration of financial aid programs and delivery of funds to students in support of access & student success. Activities include reviewing verification documentation, determining eligibility, awarding aid, and facilitating problem solving with students and parents. The Counselor shares responsibility for delivering service excellence to students and customers daily through interactions ranging from correspondence regarding problem solving, as well as counseling and outreach activities.

Essential Functions:

• Performs data verification of student/parent information in accordance with federal and institutional policies.
• Calculates eligibility, processes student loan and grant aid, as well as.
• Reviews Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) to request appropriate verification items.
• Exercises professional judgment in determining necessary adjustments and making the appropriate adjustments to students' financial aid package.
• Responds to inquiries by researching and resolving issues related to transactions handled by the department; serves as liaison with other university departments in the resolution of day-to-day administrative or operational issues.
• Monitors students' satisfactory academic progress in accordance with federal and institutional policies.
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, accreditation standards and professional guidelines regarding financial aid
• Other duties as assigned. 
      
  Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A
   
  Requirements:
  Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Interdisciplinary studies or related field, preferred; two (2) years’ relevant experience working with Title IV funds within a higher education setting; or, equivalent combination of education and experience; including
  • One (1) year experience in a customer service or client relations role.  
     
     
    Competencies/Technical/Functional Skills:

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of current financial aid needs analysis methodology and federal and state financial aid program guidelines.
• Knowledge of financial aid verification procedures. 
• Knowledge of federal and state financial aid programs. 
• Knowledge of financial aid regulations, practices, and resources.
• Ability to interpret, analyze, and apply financial aid and academic policies and procedures
• Working knowledge Title IV policies, procedures and practices including application within a higher education environment, preferred.   
• Ability to maintain security and confidentiality of information and records. 
• Skill to communicate effectively both in person and on the phone, to staff, faculty, students, and members of the community. 
• Ability to advise students on federal, state, institutional financial aid matters.
• Willingness to participate in cross-training activities and ability to learn quickly and retain new information.
• Basic Microsoft Office Suite Applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook and proficiency in software used for financial aid transactions including third-party vendors.
• Solid interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individual of constituencies in a diverse community.  Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Work independently and foster a cooperative spirit within a large and/or small team of diverse cultures, while working in a fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines and frequently changing priorities.
   
  Physical Demands/Environment:
  Sedentary work. Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures and viewing a computer terminal and requires color vision and depth perception. The work is performed in an office environment and outside the office as necessary.
   
  Travel: No Travel Required
   

  Position Summary:

  The Financial Aid Counselor performs a variety of processing and specialized financial aid functions to facilitate administration of financial aid programs and delivery of funds to students in support of access & student success. Activities include reviewing verification documentation, determining eligibility, awarding aid, and facilitating problem solving with students and parents. The Counselor shares responsibility for delivering service excellence to students and customers daily through interactions ranging from correspondence regarding problem solving, as well as counseling and outreach activities.

   

  Essential Functions:

• Performs data verification of student/parent information in accordance with federal and institutional policies.
• Calculates eligibility, processes student loan and grant aid, as well as.
• Reviews Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) to request appropriate verification items.
• Exercises professional judgment in determining necessary adjustments and making the appropriate adjustments to students' financial aid package.
• Responds to inquiries by researching and resolving issues related to transactions handled by the department; serves as liaison with other university departments in the resolution of day-to-day administrative or operational issues.
• Monitors students' satisfactory academic progress in accordance with federal and institutional policies.
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, accreditation standards and professional guidelines regarding financial aid
• Other duties as assigned. 
      
  Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A
   
  Requirements:
  Education & Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Interdisciplinary studies or related field, preferred; two (2) years’ relevant experience working with Title IV funds within a higher education setting; or, equivalent combination of education and experience; including
  • One (1) year experience in a customer service or client relations role.  
     
     
    Competencies/Technical/Functional Skills:
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of current financial aid needs analysis methodology and federal and state financial aid program guidelines.
• Knowledge of financial aid verification procedures. 
• Knowledge of federal and state financial aid programs. 
• Knowledge of financial aid regulations, practices, and resources.
• Ability to interpret, analyze, and apply financial aid and academic policies and procedures
• Working knowledge Title IV policies, procedures and practices including application within a higher education environment, preferred.   
• Ability to maintain security and confidentiality of information and records. 
• Skill to communicate effectively both in person and on the phone, to staff, faculty, students, and members of the community. 
• Ability to advise students on federal, state, institutional financial aid matters.
• Willingness to participate in cross-training activities and ability to learn quickly and retain new information.
• Basic Microsoft Office Suite Applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook and proficiency in software used for financial aid transactions including third-party vendors.
• Solid interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individual of constituencies in a diverse community.  Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Work independently and foster a cooperative spirit within a large and/or small team of diverse cultures, while working in a fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines and frequently changing priorities.
   
  Physical Demands/Environment:
  Sedentary work. Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures and viewing a computer terminal and requires color vision and depth perception. The work is performed in an office environment and outside the office as necessary.
   
  Travel: No Travel Required