Financial Aid Counselor

Apply now Job no:536760
Work type:Staff
Location:Channel Islands
Categories:Unit 4 - APC - Academic Professionals of California, Probationary, Full Time, Student Services, On-site (work in-person at business location)

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Student Services Professional II

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

Promotes an environment of collaboration and service excellence by providing a broad range of student and family-facing financial aid services including counseling and outreach activities. Counsels and assists prospective, continuing, and reentering students on all aspects of financial aid, including the availability of various financial aid programs, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards, and with the application processes including establishing, maintaining, and regaining aid eligibility. Recommends courses of action and resources as appropriate. Provides consumer information regarding financial aid programs via workshops, community presentations, and individual student appointments and as needed to external agencies and community organizations. Counsel’s applicants on financial aid eligibility, special circumstances, satisfactory academic progress requirements, and financial aid policies and procedures. Discusses repayment with students determined ineligible for funds or withdrawing from school. Uses a high degree of judgment and professional skill to counsel students regarding complex personal, academic, and financial issues that affect academic success and continuing eligibility for funds. Makes referrals to appropriate departments to provide in-depth support on these issues and coordinates any action on behalf of the student within student services departments. Reviews and analyzes complex financial aid documents including IRS tax return transcripts to verify and assess applicant's resources. Identifies unusual and complex circumstances to establish financial aid policies to ensure and maintain equity in awarding. Interprets and applies broad knowledge of federal, state and institutional financial aid administration policies to package and administer aid to eligible applicants. Makes decisions to change or adjust financial aid awards to applicants with needs or circumstances and conducts student financial aid information workshops for University and community outreach.

Administers one or more major financial aid programs and reviews and interprets federal, state, or institutional regulations that pertain to the program(s). In collaboration with the Financial Aid Compliance and Training Officer develops, implements, and maintains written office policies and procedures to comply with federal regulations. Attends trainings and webinars to stay current with federal policies and procedures. Identifies specific, individualized program needs and develops and implements strategies to address these needs; adjusting techniques as necessary to account for rapidly changing student circumstances and federal legislation. Determines eligibility, award, and authorize disbursement for special programs. Works closely with, and provides guidance to, administrative and academic offices who work with specialized populations of students. Works with financial aid leadership to ensure sufficient internal controls and secondary review procedures and makes recommendations to improve communication and delivery systems that will better serve students and minimize risks to the University.

Performs additional related duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS OF POSITION:

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university and a minimum of two years of professional experience working in financial aid office. A master’s degree in a job-related field may be substituted for one year of the professional experience.

Ability to perform accurately in a detailed-oriented environment, manage multiple priorities, and organize and plan work projects. Strong oral and written communication skills and ability to compose and appropriately format correspondence and reports. Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of financial aid and the ability to apply knowledge to situations where precedents do not exist or are ambiguous. Ability to create solutions to student problems that integrate the full range of University resources. Ability to independently perform a variety of moderately complex professional tasks in the Financial Aid and Scholarships office where a wide variety of situations require use of professional judgement in circumstances that warrant a case-by-case review. These tasks include a significant amount of student and parent contact and the consistent application of federal, state, and university policies and procedures to ensure program compliance, integrity, and sound fiscal procedure. Must be sensitive to the needs of individuals while maintaining the legal and fiscal integrity of federal, state, and university aid programs. Ability to analyze complex situations and determine appropriate courses of action while engaged with students in personal interactions of a sensitive nature. Ability to work and communicate effectively with a diverse population of students, staff, faculty, the community and the ability to function as a member of the financial aid team. Ability to use standard office software including but not limited to the Microsoft Suite and student aid systems such as Oracle PeopleSoft, Common Origination and Disbursement (COD), WebGrants, NSLDS, FAA Access, Campus Logic, etc.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

The person holding this position is 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 Revised July 21, 2017 as a condition of employment.

** Review of applications will begin March 20, 2024 **

Hiring Salary:  $4,610 per month 

Advertised:March 05, 2024 (9:00 AM) Pacific Standard Time
Applications close:Open Until Filled