Student Financial Services Counselor

Gonzaga University, United States

Updated: about 1 year ago
Location: Spokane, WASHINGTON
Deadline: ;

First Section


Who We Are
At Gonzaga we don’t just state our mission. We live it every day as a Catholic, Jesuit, and humanistic University. It is the reason we exist and the foundation for our purpose: educating students for lives of leadership and service. From students to faculty and staff members, everyone here knows what we stand for – and they know how valuable our mission is to the success of our institution.
Our diverse selection of benefits is part of Gonzaga’s commitment to care for and meet the needs of our employees and their families. The University provides full-time employees in their first year: a PPO Medical plan administered by Premera Blue Cross, employer-paid dental programs through Delta Dental, vision coverage through VSP, employer-paid Life Insurance, and optional employee-paid Life Insurance through Lincoln Financial, TIAA 403(b) Retirement plan including free onsite financial planning and advising, Employee Assistance Program through Supportlinc, Zagfit Wellness program with access to GU’s onsite fitness center and Spokane Transit Authority (STA) bus passes. Additionally, full-time (40 hours per week) staff employees accrue 4 hours of sick time per pay period (pro-rated for less than 40 hours/week), vacation time starting at 5 hours per pay period (pro-rated for less than 40 hours/week) and 17 paid holidays. Additional benefits such as Long Term Disability and Tuition Waivers are available after the first year of employment.
For more information, click here .
Position Title Student Financial Services Counselor
Posting Number S1928P
Department Student Accounts
Work Schedule
Standard office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00AM – 5:00PM. Incumbent may work non-standard hours as needed.
Employment Status Regular
Temporary or Fixed-Term Assignment End Date
Hours per Week 40
Months per Year 12
Job Purpose
The Student Financial Services Counselor’s primary responsibility is to provide financial aid and student accounts counseling support to current and prospective students as well as assist in answering general questions about the financial aid process and the billing and payment processes. Additionally this position will manage a financial aid program(s).
Target Salary
Minimum Salary $20.17
Salary Midpoint $23.72
Maximum Salary $27.28


Essential Functions


Essential Function Category Title Customer Service
% of time for section 50%
Function Details
  • Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude while providing financial aid information to students.
  • Respond promptly to inquiries, provide service through a variety of mediums including walk-in, phone, email, and text.
  • Stay apprised of the various financial aid programs, their basic eligibility requirements, and application procedures available to students.
  • Provide general financial aid and student account information to prospective and enrolled students and parents and the general public.
  • Work collaboratively with SFS partners to promote inclusion and support a diverse group of prospective, undergraduate, graduate students and their families, recognizing each person’s unique needs.
  • Demonstrates familiarity with the technology used to assist with processing financial aid, especially the administrative computing and documenting imaging systems.
Essential Function Category Title Student Accounts Billing and Operations Support
% of time for section 5%
Function Details
  • Work collaboratively with SFS partners to provide registration and withdrawal deadline support to students in relation to their financial aid and student account.
  • Oversight and maintenance of student accounts to ensure consistent and timely billing to support payment deadlines.
  • Counsel students and parents/authorized payers on available financial aid and best payment options.
  • Performs collections and due diligence procedures on outstanding accounts receivables following federal, state, and institutional regulations.
  • Remains current on regulations that govern the treatment of students and related financial activity in higher education including Title IV Financial Aid Regulations, FERPA, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.
Essential Function Category Title Financial Aid Application and Operations Support
% of time for section 20%
Function Details
Student Financial Services Operations Support
  • Counsel students and parents/authorized payers on available financial aid and best payment options.
  • Manage outreach and communication plans to students who may be struggling to pay
  • Process financial aid applications, appeals, verification and other paperwork to assist students with moving through the financial aid process.
  • Demonstrates proficiency with the technology used to assist with processing financial aid, especially the administrative computing and documenting imaging systems.
Essential Function Category Title Program Management
% of time for section 20%
Function Details
Financial Aid Program Management
  • Ensures financial aid functions are executed appropriately.
  • Responsible for monitoring and communicating changes in financial aid eligibility as a result of a change in enrollment
  • Is familiar with program requirements and regulations to ensure compliance.
  • Counsels students and authorized payers to determine best payment options.
  • Corresponds with students when changes in enrolment affect financial aid eligibility.


Other Functions


Other Functions
  • Remain fluent in federal and state regulations that govern student financial aid and collection activities.
  • Works on assignments in support of Gonzaga’s Mission.
  • Conducts oneself professionally, recognizing the inherent dignity of all individuals; promotes professionalism with colleagues.


University Competencies


University Work Values
Promoting Excellence in Academic Endeavors and Professional Practice
• Fostering intellectual depth, competence, reflection, and creativity in pursuing exemplary, rather than satisfactory, outcomes
Sharing Responsibility for Mission Identity and Leadership
• Making a personal commitment to learn about Gonzaga’s mission, discovering ways to contribute individually and collaboratively to our distinctive learning and research community
Affirming a Commitment to Human Dignity
• Engaging one another with profound respect, professionalism, and cura personalis while supporting one another’s continued learning, development, and maximizing of potential
Advancing a Culture of Inclusiveness
• Developing cultural fluencies and global awarenesses, and practicing habits that enable us to value, recruit, and support community members from historically underrepresented backgrounds
Caring for Our Common Home and Integral Ecology
• Growing ecological awareness of and respect for the interconnectedness of human and non-human life, and the need to develop and practice habits that are mutually beneficial to all life
Cultivating Individual and Community Accountability
• Demonstrating mutual commitment to our shared project by holding ourselves and others responsible for actions, expecting appropriate behavior, and aligning activities with ethical and professional standards


Qualifications/Knowledge Required/Years Experience Required


Degree Required Bachelor's Degree
Certifications and/or Licensures required
N/A
Knowledge Required Early career, knowledge may be from education and/or some experience
Years Experience Required 1-2.99 years
Minimum Qualifications
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate intricate payment processes to students and families.
  • Microsoft Excel skills to include the ability to create spreadsheets (e.g. formulas such as V-lookup, graphs, pivot tables).
  • Ability to identify issues, compare data, investigate and resolve discrepancies.
  • Working experience in higher education is preferred, specifically using and integrated administrative computing system in a higher education setting.
  • Microsoft Word skills to include the ability to create reports, containing graphs and other intermediate functions (e.g. perform mail merge, insert table of contents, etc.).
Desired Qualifications
  • Work experience in a higher education environment.
  • Work experience with a higher education enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
Physical / Environmental Qualifications
  • Remain in a stationary position 80% of the time
  • Ability to prep for and attend meetings and events across campus in various weather conditions
  • Wrist and hand movement related to computer work.
  • Bend, Stoop, Kneel, stretch, and reach
  • Pick-up carry and move items up to 25 lbs.


Posting Detail Information


Open Date 01/31/2023
Close Date
Open Until Filled Yes
Application Review Begins On 02/14/2023
Special Instructions to Applicants
EEO Statement
Gonzaga University is a Jesuit, Catholic, humanistic institution, and is therefore interested in candidates who will contribute to its distinctive mission. Gonzaga University is a committed EEO/AA employer and diversity candidates are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their disability status and/or protected veteran status. Applicants with disabilities needing reasonable accommodations to complete the application or hiring process should contact Human Resources (509) 313-5996.
Clery Statement
Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics
The safety of all members of the campus community is of vital concern to Gonzaga University. Information regarding crime prevention advice, the law enforcement authority of Campus Security, policies concerning the reporting of any crimes which occurred on the campus (and other specified locations), other security and safety-related policies, as well as the crime statistics for the most recent 3-year period may be found in the Campus Safety and Security Guide and Annual Fire Safety Report. The Gonzaga-In-Florence Safety & Security Guide is also available.
A copy of the report can be found online at www.Gonzaga.edu/Clery . A paper copy of the Campus Safety & Security Guide and Annual Fire Safety Report or the Gonzaga-In-Florence Safety & Security Guide may be obtained by contacting the Student Development Office on main campus, College Hall 120. The Florence Guide may also be obtained on the Florence campus in room 105.

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