Graduate Financial Aid Counselor

Under the direction of the Director of Financial Aid the Graduate Financial Aid Counselor is responsible for providing financial aid support and guidance to both prospective and current graduate students as well as an assigned cohort of undergraduate students. This role ensures the effective administration of financial aid in compliance with federal state and institutional regulations while maintaining a high standard of customer service.

The counselor must provide accurate financial aid information assess eligibility analyze financial aid applications prepare award packages and counsel students and families on financing options. This role requires a collaborative detail-oriented and student-centered professional with strong analytical and interpersonal skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Advise prospective and current students and their families on financial aid eligibility application procedures available programs and financing strategies including loans and payment options.
• Deliver excellent customer service through email phone and in-person interactions ensuring clarity and compassion especially in challenging situations.
• Review and process financial aid application materials including verification documents and federal tax data; identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Make financial aid award decisions using federal state and institutional policies and professional judgment including appeals special circumstances and dependency overrides.
• Counsel students on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) including policies appeal procedures.
• Utilize student information systems and databases to enter maintain and audit accurate records; generate reports and statistical data as needed.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for graduate financial aid programs including program administration and compliance monitoring.
• Provide backup support for the Federal Work-Study Program.
• Deliver financial aid presentations to prospective students parents and community audiences (e.g. high schools college fairs).
• Participate in recruitment and retention events including evening and weekend commitments (Information Sessions Orientations Open Houses Welcome Week etc.).
• Maintain knowledge of and compliance with all federal state and institutional financial aid regulations and policies.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive student and family information including federal tax and income data.

Required Qualifications

• Associates degree required; Bachelors degree preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of financial aid or related experience in higher education or student services.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural socio-economic and educational backgrounds.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills with strong analytical problem-solving and time-management abilities and exceptional attention to detail. Ability to prioritize work-load and/or projects
• Ability to interpret and apply complex regulations and policies.
• Proficient in performing complex financial calculations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including public speaking/presenting.
• Commitment to diversity equity and inclusion in higher education.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience using PeopleSoft Financial Aid Management System EDconnect Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) and National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).

Familiarity with federal verification processes professional judgment procedures and SAP appeals.

Proficiency in using student information systems and federal databases for tracking awarding and reconciling financial aid.

Bilingual (Spanish or other languages) a plus.

About Iona University/EEO language

Founded in 1940 Iona University is a masters-granting private Catholic coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Ionas 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4000 students and an alumni base of more than 50000 around the world Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice peace and service. Iona is highly accredited offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts science and business administration as well as Master of Arts Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across theSchool of Arts & Science;LaPenta School of Business;NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; andHynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025 Iona has been named one of the nations best colleges by The Princeton Review The Wall Street Journal Forbes and others. Additionally U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top colleges for social mobility in the country while Georgetown Universitys Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on LaPenta School of Business meanwhileis also accredited by AACSB International a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide.

Iona offers a comprehensive benefits package to all full-time employees that includes medical dental and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plans; life insurance; short and long-term disability; employee assistance program (EAP); tuition remission; and generous time off. For more information on our benefits and working at Iona visit the Human Resources section of our website.

Iona University values and celebrates diversity and is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our employees and does not tolerate discrimination based on any legally protected characteristic under applicable federal state or local laws. As an equal opportunity employer Iona University encourages applications from qualified candidates who reflect the wider world in which we live.