Financial Aid Counselor

Requisition ID: 1823 | Full-time, 12-month hourly position in Enrollment Management, Springfield, MO.

About the role

Provide quality customer service and financial aid counseling to prospective and incoming students. Develop customer service practices that support excellence in providing financial aid counseling, information, and problem resolution for families and students. Present financial aid information to prospective students, both individually and for group campus visits. Responsible for complete knowledge of Title IV Federal Regulations and updates pertaining to the Federal Student Aid programs. Assist with maintenance of job-related sections of the Policy and Procedures Manual required by the Department of Education. Other duties include processing of Financial Aid to assist in the transmission of files to allow the request of aid to be disbursed.

Responsibilities

• Campus Visits: Conduct individual meetings or group presentations with prospective students and families visiting campus. Provide a warm, vibrant welcome that engages visitors and presents Evangel University and the Student Financial Services (SFS) department. Answer questions and assist visitors in accessing needed information.
• Financial Aid Counseling:
  • Advise and counsel students, parents, agencies, and University staff on all aspects of financial aid programs (federal, state, university, private).
  • Maintain knowledge of all federal regulations and changes in federal grant and loan programs, as well as institutional aid and outside sources available to students.
  • Provide counseling to students and parents regarding their financial aid.
  • Serve as the point of contact for new incoming students regarding their financial aid and any requirements needed to process their aid and prepare them for financial registration.
  • Monitor award notifications and problem-solve for aid applicants.
  • Assist with developing the financial aid counselor role into a single point-of-contact service structure, providing students with an assigned financial aid counselor from admission onward.
• Financial Aid Processing: Perform data entry within multiple software systems to facilitate processing between several entities.
• Customer Service:
  • Provide peer leadership to other financial aid counselors and all financial aid customer service staff.
  • Serve as the customer service complaint resolution contact for all students.
  • Mentor and train new financial aid counselors and other team members.
  • Coordinate assistance to the enrollment management team, specifically admission counselors, regarding financial aid questions or concerns from applicants and new students.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills, with a positive attitude.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and aptitude for other computer software and related technologies.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply federal and university policies related to financial aid.
• Self-starter capable of working independently.
• Strong commitment to teamwork and loyalty to the University.
• Ability to thrive in a complex, fast-paced office environment that demands flexibility, adaptability, and interaction with students, parents, staff, and administrators.
• Ability to understand priorities and meet deadlines.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in business (or accounting) or equivalent work experience is desired.