Financial Aid Counselor

Job Summary

This position is directly responsible for administering and awarding financial aid to students and advising students and parents regarding financial aid matters. Responsibilities include counseling students and parents/guardians on all aspects of the financial aid process, preparing financial aid packages, and managing assigned federal, institutional, private, and/or state financial aid programs.

Major Duties

• Counsel and advise applicants and/or family members on financial aid options, award packages, cost and obligations, including FAFSA completion, verification, and loan processes.
• Allocate millions of dollars of financial aid funds among qualified students within established eligibility criteria accurately and timely.
• Manage relationships with students in the assigned caseload group.
• Comply with federal, state, and institutional policies and regulations.
• Ensure communication and delivery of all award letters, missing form letters, and loan disbursement letters, etc. for students and/or parents.
• Complete all data entries for the assigned caseload.
• Complete all records of all federal, state, and/or institutional funds for assigned caseload.
• Process all drops, withdrawals, re-admits, and re-package as appropriate.
• Complete all verification, satisfactory progress and special circumstance forms timely and accurately.
• Ensure accurate reporting for all loans on the package.
• Respond to all phone calls, emails, and other correspondence timely and accurately, researching each case thoroughly. Response to calls should be within an hour, if not answered directly.
• Represent the University at all open houses, registration, FAFSA day, and other related events on or off campus.
• Award all institutional scholarships according to eligibility and so that no deadlines are missed.
• Aid the director and assistant director with certification.
• Aid in the training of new hires.
• Aid in the updating of the training manual and policy and procedures manual as assigned.
• Aid with the disbursement of funds as directed by the director and/or assistant director.
• On an occasional basis, travel to an off-campus meeting site to attend institutional workshops.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Knowledge of all regulations, policies, and procedures governing financial aid programs always ensuring institutional compliance.
• Knowledge of departmental policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of University policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of external funding criteria for each scholarship.

Minimum Qualifications

• Equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Public Administration, or a related field from an accredited college/university.
• Three (3) or more years of experience may substitute degree requirements.
• Application of Title IV funding; application of financial aid packaging; proven success in customer service and higher education; excellent written and oral communications; computer proficiency; organizational skills; experience working with a student/business information system and database.
• Professional demeanor and ability to work effectively with various constituencies including potential/incoming students and their families, current students and their families, faculty, administrators, and the public.