Student Financial Aid Counselor II-2

Agency

Department

The financial counselor is a part of the Care team and is responsible for providing outreach literacy and counseling students and parents about financial aid programs eligibility requirements financing options billing questions student accounting payment options and policies and procedures at the University. The financial counselor provides information and advice about all financial aid programs. The counselor reviews and analyzes financial aid and student accounting applications forms and records. The counselor resolves conflicting information investigates unusual situations and works with appropriate university officials on implementing the appropriate outcome. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated and innovative professional with outstanding interpersonal skills a commitment to the principles of providing the best customer service and student support to our students and families.

The salary is determined in accordance with the Universitys compensation structure and will be commensurate with the candidates education and experience within the assigned salary range for this position.

Responsibilities:

• Provides day-to-day case management advisement and counseling to students and parents about financial aid programs. Provide holistic approach to counseling and case management for students (and parents) which includes: affordability costs of education financial awareness campus resources and payment options. Provides clear accurate and personalized support to help students and families navigate the complex financial aid application processes. Coordinate application follow-up activities for new students including FAFSA completion application document completion and verification completion with the intent to assist student with early as possible completion of their financial aid application.

• Have direct contact with students and parents on an appointment walk-in basis and over the phone and other communication platforms. Performs outreach (phone calls e-mails text messaging campaigns events etc.) to current and prospective students who need assistance navigating their bills financial aid renewal refunds etc.

• Conducts events and outreach/retention programming to engage with students and to help ensure the on-time renewal of financial aid. Work closely with the leaders of the other areas of the CARE team members and CARE leadership (Academic Advising and Career Services) to ensure that programming and outreach conducted is uniform cohesive integrated personalized to target audiences and aligned with institutional with academic advisor to suggest various academic strategies to help a student meet the financial aid satisfactory academic progress requirements for the retention of aid.

Required Education & Experience:

• Bachelors degree.

• One year of related experience working in higher education including exposure to admissions and financial aid or case management in a related field.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications.

• Knowledge of financial aid counseling verification rules and regulations

• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

• Ability to work individually or as a team.

• Ability to organize and make decisions.

• Knowledge of the customer service and outreach processes as they pertain to the financial aid department in a higher education environment and of the related trends issues and accepted practices.

• Ability to write precise well-organized emails and letters while using appropriate vocabulary and grammar. Ability to deal effectively with a wide variety of individuals and situations requiring diplomacy friendliness poise and firmness.

• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines.

• Ability to apply thorough knowledge of policies to a variety of individual situations. Recommends procedures to ensure compliance.

• Ability to work with people. Utilizes excellent constituent service skills with all interactions. Work accurately with high volume and instill similar standard with the counseling unit.

• Skill in effectively analyzing and interpreting policies practices and guidelines with strict attention to detail in all areas of work.

• Thorough knowledge of policies regulations and practices with student records services.

• Strong problem identification critical thinking and problem solving skills; judgment and decision-making ability.

• Ability to assess processes and implement improvements. Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Active listening skills. Customer service orientation. Interpersonal skills.

• Thorough knowledge of particular Financial Aid core functions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Thorough knowledge of common University-specific computer application programs.

• Thorough knowledge of advising and counseling techniques.

• Thorough knowledge of University policies processes and procedures and of Federal and State laws pertaining to the privacy rights of students and access to student information.

• Thorough knowledge of BANNER software and its components.

• Thorough knowledge of third-party software (NSLDS. COD CPS Awards Management/Blackbaud etc.).

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation and employment is contingent upon the institutions verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institutions procedures including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.