Financial Aid Counselor

SUMMARY

Financial Aid Advising

• Provides expert counseling and guidance to students and families on financial aid programs, application procedures, and eligibility criteria.
• Conducts one-on-one advising sessions to address individual financial circumstances and assist in developing comprehensive financial plan for student account management.
• Serves as a central liaison with undergraduate and graduate admissions offices for the administration of recruitment, housing and residential life, scholarships, student employment, payment plans and other financial matters.
• Applies high levels of discretion and discernment when capturing student details and issuing alerts through Navigate360.
• Communicates directly with academic units regarding registration issues for students requesting financial aid. 
• Conducts financial aid presentations and workshops for prospective and current students. Workshops may be held locally, virtually, or off-campus evenings and weekends.
• Cultivates financial literacy by enhancing students' understanding of budgeting, loan management, and financial responsibility.
• Responds promptly to inquiries from students, parents, and colleagues regarding financial aid matters.
• Manages telephone, in-person walk-in appointments, and email workflow.
• Fosters a positive and supportive environment by actively listening to concerns and providing clear and empathetic communication.

Awards Administration

• Determines financial aid eligibility and applies aid as directed in accordance with university policies and federal regulations.
• Facilitates FYE Presentation alongside Financial Aid Director.
• Tracks financial aid documents for processing.
• Manages Federal Work Study form approvals.
• Coordinates daily dissemination of award letters and disbursement notifications.
• Serves as Tuition Exchange Liaison.
• Manages supplies orders.
• Accesses federal, state and/or private platforms to review and report student information.
• Attains, stays informed, and continuously demonstrates knowledge of financial aid regulations and compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations and policies.
• Exercises professional judgment in accordance with established policies, regulations, and financial aid best practices.

Collaboration

• Coordinates and collaborates with university departments, including Admissions, Student Accounts, and the Registrar's office, Student Success, Graduate and Online Enrollment, etc. to ensure a seamless student experience.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, mathematics education, or related field required; a minor in communications or education preferred. 
• 1+ years of experience in finance, customer service, or related field required. Aptitude for learning financial aid procedures, regulations, and practices required.

Essential Competencies

• Customer Service Orientation – Keeps internal and/or external key stakeholder(s), students, parents, faculty, staff, and community partners in mind at all times.
• Professionalism – Displays a high level of professionalism, e.g., timeliness, reliability, communication, and work ethic.
• Christ-first Faith – Provides spiritual support to community members, including students, on their Christian faith journey.
• Adaptable/Flexibility – Ability to change or adjust to change.
• Analytical Thinking & Decision Making – Identifies and understands trends and/or issues, connects data points through analysis and logical conclusions/actionable strategies.
• Attention to Detail – Ability to efficiently and accurately focus on a specific task or number of tasks. Reviews details with a critical eye.
• Business & Financial/Budget Acumen – Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of financial concepts, accounting, marketing, and organizational functions.
• Confidentiality – Maintains the necessary confidentiality and discretion required for the position.
• Conflict Management – Functions professionally and wisely during difficult conversations, while under stress, and while managing challenging situations.
• Effective Communication – Expresses ideas and information in a clear and concise manner both verbally and in writing to convey clear, well-articulated messaging across a wide variety of audiences.
• Establishes Trust – Gains the confidence of others by actions and words that promote being honest, forthcoming, and vulnerable.
• Problem-solving – Anticipates, evaluates, diagnoses, and resolves problems in a systematic and fact-based manner.
• Project and Time Management – Effective planning and priority setting. Ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously while working under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Teamwork & Collaboration – Creates a climate that fosters commitment to a common vision and shared values that promote cooperation and working together through trust and support of others both departmentally and cross-functionally.
• Technology – Strong aptitude to learn new technologies as department processes evolve.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work non-routine hours during certain times of the year.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time.