Financial Aid Counselor (Student Services Professional II) - Office of Student Financial Aid

Apply now Job no:535389
Work type:Staff
Location:San Francisco
Categories:Unit 4 - APC - Academic Professionals of California, Probationary, Full Time, Counselor (Non-instructional Faculty), Telecommute eligible (work onsite as scheduled and/or as requested and telecommute as scheduled)

Working Title

Financial Aid Counselor

SF State University

San Francisco State is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, National origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status.  Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting the Senior Human Resources Manager.

Applicants may visit titleix.sfsu.edu for more information on SF State's policy prohibiting discrimination, and how to file an online report using the procedures under Executive Order 1096 Revised. Inquiries can be directed to the campus Title IX Coordinator and Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Administrator by calling (415) 338-2032 or emailing [email protected].

San Francisco State is a 100% Smoke/Vapor-Free Campus.  Smoking or Vaping of any tobacco/plant-based substance is not permitted on any University properties.

The person holding this position may be considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect  Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

This position may be a "designated position" in the California State University's Conflict of Interest Code.  The successful candidate accepting this position may be required to file Conflict of Interest forms subject to the regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Department

Office of Student Financial Aid

Appointment Type

This is a one-year probationary position.

Time Base

Full-Time (1.0 FTE)

Work Schedule

Monday -Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Anticipated Hiring Range

$4,935.00 Per Month ($59,220.00 Annually)

Salary is commensurate with experience.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA), the Financial Aid Counselor counsels students and parents on federal, State and University financial aid policies and procedures, reviews student/parent documents with financial aid application to determine eligibility and award financial aid to qualified students; assumes responsibility for one or more specialized programs; reviews student/parent appeals and administers professional judgment on a case-by-case basis; and conducts financial aid workshops both on and off campus. Will serve as the primary contact for inquires related to College of Professional and Global Education (CPaGE)

Position Information

Determine Eligibility and Award Financial Aid

• Work with financial aid computer system to determine eligibility and award financial aid to qualified students based on current awarding guidelines and the availability of funds.
• Apply the US Department of Education verification procedures.
• Review student files prior to awarding; follow-up for clarification or additional information; review financial aid forms, federal income tax forms, and supporting documents, and re-compute family contribution as required.
• Perform mandatory revisions and make packaging changes as individual student circumstances change.
• Evaluate appeals and make professional judgment determinations on a case-by-case basis.
• Ensure sufficient documentation and controls for decisions made.
• Make recommendations on SF State financial aid policies/procedures affecting all above areas.
• Participate in all training and staff development programs.
• Help determine and award financial aid for students in CPaGE programs.

Maintain Knowledge in Financial Aid Regulation and Procedures

• Serve as the expert for one or more program responsibilities. 
• Stay current with regulations and procedures associated with the program and ensure appropriate communication directly and on website. 
• Act as the primary point of contact for staff and students. 
• Complete all activities; work with supervisor to ensure sufficient controls and secondary review of procedures. 
• Maintain contact with other campus offices and/or off-campus agencies involved with aspects of program. 
• Make recommendations to improve communication and delivery systems that will better serve our students and will minimize risks to the University.

Provide In-Person Assistance in the One Stop, via Phone/Email & at Campus-Wide Events and Activities

• Provide student and parent in-person contact at the One Stop Student Services Center, answering telephone calls, and responding to email inquiries. 
• Problem solve to ensure that students are being accurately awarded and receiving their financial aid funds in a timely manner. 
• Be available during evenings and weekends, as requested, to represent financial aid at campus recruitment, retention and outreach events and programs.

Other duties as assigned.

At All Times
•Demonstrate behaviors that are in line with the User Friendly Principles (P530C) and Principles of Conduct for a Multi-Cultural University (P30D)
•Demonstrate safe work practices for oneself, others and the office environment.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in one of the behavioral sciences, public or business administration or a job-related field. Additional specialized experience during which the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Knowledge and Abilities: Working knowledge of the practices, procedures and activities of the program to which assigned; general knowledge of the methods and problems of organizational and program management. General knowledge of research and interview techniques; and of the principles of individual and group behavior.

Ability to interpret and apply program rules and regulations; use initiative and resourcefulness in planning work assignments and in implementing long-range program improvements; obtain factual and interpretative information through interviews; reason logically’ collect, compile, analyze and evaluate data and make verbal or written presentations based on these data; advise students individually and in groups on routine matters where required; recognize multicultural, multi-sexed and multi-aged value systems and work accordingly; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with faculty, CSU administrators, student organizations, private and public agencies and others in committee work, and student advising and community contacts; and rapidly acquire a general knowledge of the overall operation, functions and programs of the campus to which assigned. Demonstrated ability to make decisions and carry through actions having implications with regard to other program or service areas Services Office.

Experience: Possession of these knowledge and abilities is typically demonstrated through the equivalent of two years of professional experience in one of the student services program areas or in a related field: experience should give evidence of competence and indicate the potential for further growth. A master’s degree in a job-related field may be

Preferred Qualifications

•Experience in higher education setting;
•Experience providing excellent customer service;

•Experience assisting and advocating for students and parents, helping them navigate through Financial Aidprocesses;
•Demonstrated experience working in student services;
•Excellent writing, oral communication, interviewing, and counseling skills;
•Detail oriented;
•Ability to learn and interpret regulations and policies;
•Ability to work in highly automated environment;
•Experience with federal loan and grant programs; and
•Familiarity with Oracle Campus Solutions (CS), United States Department of Education electronic access:
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and Common Origination & Disbursement System (COD) websites.

•Core Competencies – embody the following competencies:
•Bias toward collaboration and teamwork.
•Effective oral, written and nonverbal communication skills.
•Customer/Client Focus with an emphasis in problem solving and resolution.
•Personal effectiveness and credibility as demonstrated by interpersonal and professional confidence.

•Diversity and inclusion.

Environmental/Physical/Special

•Sustained computer use.
•Must be able to work in a customer services environment and travel off-campus to facilitate and/or attend workshops or events during work hours.
•Must be able to competently interact with a culturally and ethnically diverse population of students, faculty and staff

Pre-Employment Requirements

This position requires the successful completion of a background check.

Eligibility to Work

Applicants must be able to provide proof of US Citizenship or authorization to work in the United States, within three business days from their date of hire.

Benefits

Threaded through our Total Compensation package is a commitment to Bridging Life's Transitions.  SF State is committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive program that rewards efforts that are appreciated by your colleagues, students and the customers we serve.

We offer a competitive compensation package that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Pension, 401k, Healthcare Savings Account, Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Vacation and Sick Leave as well as State Holidays and a dynamic Fee Waiver program, all geared towards the University's commitment to attract, motivate and retain our employee.

Employment Requirement

CSU strongly encourages faculty, staff, and students who are accessing campus facilities to be immunized against COVID-19 or declare a medical or religious exemption from doing so.  Any candidates advanced in a currently open search process are encouraged to comply with this requirement. The systemwide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to [email protected] . 

CSUEU Position (For CSUEU Positions Only)

Eligible and qualified on-campus applicants, currently in bargaining units 2, 5, 7, and 9 are given hiring preference.

Additional Information

SF STATE IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (i.e. H1-B VISAS).

Thank you for your interest in employment with California State University (CSU).  CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California.  Because of this, CSU prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside of California with very limited exception.  While this position may be eligible for occasional telework, all work is expected to be performed in the state of California, and this position is assigned to on-campus operations.

The Human Resources office is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and can be reached at (415) 338-1872.

Please note that this position, position requirements, application deadline and/or any other component of this position is subject to change or cancellation at any time.

Advertised:January 26, 2024 (9:00 AM) Pacific Standard Time
Applications close:Open Until Filled