Financial Aid Counselor

About the role

The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships supports the campus goals to recruit, retain, and provide a first-in-class education to the most talented students, regardless of background. This role involves applying a broad understanding of student aid program practices and policies to determine appropriate allocation of financial aid awards, providing individual counseling on non-routine, sensitive aid issues, and analyzing regulations.

Responsibilities

• Determine appropriate allocation of financial aid awards
• Authorize exceptions to financial aid allocations
• Provide individual counseling on non-routine, sensitive aid issues
• Interpret policies and develop procedures to ensure compliance
• Analyze regulation and participate in the development of UCI Financial Aid Office policy and procedure
• Administer all types of financial assistance for eligible students demonstrating financial need, academic merit, and/or other merit factors

Requirements

• Working knowledge of policies, regulations, and practices for awarding financial aid
• Specialized knowledge of particular programs
• Working knowledge of University policies, processes, and procedures
• Working knowledge of advising and counseling techniques
• Ability to interpret policies and develop procedures to ensure compliance
• Problem identification, critical thinking, and problem solving skills; judgment and decision-making ability
• Ability to calculate financial aid with attention to detail and accuracy
• Organizational skills and ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Active listening skills
• Possesses strong customer service orientation skills
• Strong ability to assess processes and implement improvements
• Strong proficiency with standard office software as well as internet and email applications
• Experience using complex databases
• Ability to define specifications for database programming
• Strong presentation skills across multiple delivery methods for a diverse array of audiences and audience sizes
• Skill to communicate effectively both in person and on the phone, to staff, faculty, students, and members of the community
• Skill to compose and edit written and analytical reports to be clear, concise, and factually and grammatically correct
• Skill to coordinate and organize multiple complex projects and tasks and manage competing deadlines
• Ability to address complex issues and provide suggestions and solutions
• Able to maintain security and confidentiality of information and records

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
• 5-10 years Financial aid awarding and counseling experience

Skills

• Working knowledge of policies, regulations, and practices for awarding financial aid
• Specialized knowledge of particular programs
• Working knowledge of University policies, processes, and procedures
• Working knowledge of advising and counseling techniques
• Ability to interpret policies and develop procedures to ensure compliance
• Problem identification, critical thinking, and problem solving skills; judgment and decision-making ability
• Ability to calculate financial aid with attention to detail and accuracy
• Organizational skills and ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Active listening skills
• Possesses strong customer service orientation skills
• Strong ability to assess processes and implement improvements
• Strong proficiency with standard office software as well as internet and email applications
• Experience using complex databases
• Ability to define specifications for database programming
• Strong presentation skills across multiple delivery methods for a diverse array of audiences and audience sizes
• Skill to communicate effectively both in person and on the phone, to staff, faculty, students, and members of the community
• Skill to compose and edit written and analytical reports to be clear, concise, and factually and grammatically correct
• Skill to coordinate and organize multiple complex projects and tasks and manage competing deadlines
• Ability to address complex issues and provide suggestions and solutions
• Able to maintain security and confidentiality of information and records

Benefits

The University of California offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a variety of discounts and perks. For more information, please visit here.

Pay

The expected pay range for this recruitment is $65,700.00 - $65,700.00 (Annual).

Schedule

Occasional/seasonal nights and weekends required. Onsite availability is required. Hybrid schedule will be an option after successful completion of training.