Financial Aid Counselor

Key notes from the HM: Experience using Banner is required.

This position supports the Financial Aid Advising team, which serves as our front-facing customer service unit. The primary responsibilities include handling inbound and outbound calls with students, providing financial aid guidance, answering questions, and assisting students throughout the financial aid process. Because of the significant amount of direct student interaction, we are looking for candidates with strong verbal communication skills, excellent customer service abilities, and the confidence to engage with students professionally and empathetically over the phone.

Position Overview

Under limited supervision, the Financial Aid Advisor is responsible for assisting senior advisors, coordinators, and management with calculating eligibility, communicating effectively with students, pulling files and documents, and scanning.

Ensures accuracy in financial aid data for state and federal reporting.

• Other duties may include assisting students at the counter at the campus locations.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Education

Associates Degree.

An equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered where applicable.

Minimum Experience/Training

Three years of relevant experience. Experience within field or closely related field.

Essential Functions

• Daily - 10%: Provides financial aid advice and counsels students on financial aid programs, eligibility requirements, and application processes while maintaining a level for individualized counseling to provide students with the most equitable financial aid award package.
• Daily - 30%: Processes financial aid by verifying data and certifying grants, loans and scholarship awards for students through income and budget analysis. Reviews and processes financial aid applications to determine basic eligibility and obtain additional documentation when necessary.
• Daily - 25%: Analyzes technical data records, which include accessing data included in federal systems, including but not limited to the National Student Loan Data System, the Federal Common Origination and Disbursement System, and the Federal Central Processing System.
• Other, as Needed - 5%: Assists in the construction and reconciliation of financial aid files for state and federal reporting.
• Daily - 10%: Resolves discrepancies and manually reconciles files from various reports when system limitations prevent automation.
• Daily - 10%: Responds to inquiries by researching and resolving problematic transactions; serves as a liaison with other departments in the resolution of day-to-day processing issues; crisis intervention referrals as needed.
• Daily - 10%: Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to conduct reconciliation by analyzing complex data collaboratively with colleagues concerning the processes and procedures for the delivery of aid.
• General understanding of the College's structure, policies, procedures, and practices as it pertains to the immediate area and the college as a whole.
• General knowledge of the practices, policies, and procedures governing the higher education student financial aid process.
• Ability to contribute in multiple related areas within the function.
• Understanding of and ability to coordinate interdependencies of work within the area and of resources from outside the area.
• Ability to exchange information with individuals and collaborate with colleagues within the College.
• Requires intermediate to advanced knowledge of computer systems, i.e. Microsoft Office Products as well as specialized computer systems.
• Ability to interact and effectively communicate with employee and student populations.