Financial Aid Counselor

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: 

• Corresponds with prospective, new, and continuing students, and parents, as well as other department personnel about financial aid, via telephone, texting, email or in person 

• Provides direct financial aid counseling and instruction to current and prospective students and parents about all aspects of financial aid processes 

• Processes verification paperwork on students in caseload, but on others as needed, which includes reviewing verification documentation received to ensure that it meets Federal Aid and IRS requirements, obtaining additional documentation if conflicting information is identified, obtaining information to satisfy verification items, adjusting budgets and aid as needed  

• Assists students/families with professional judgment appeal forms and assists with the collection of professional judgment documentation 

• Keeps current with U.S. Department of Education regulations in order to improve aid applications and methods of processing. 

• Scans and indexes all processed paperwork, as well as maintain organized records  

• Maintains desk procedural manuals, specifically related to job duties 

• Assists with on and off campus financial aid events, as needed 

• Represents themselves, the office, and the college in a positive and professional manner to all students, families, and personnel on and off campus    

• Attends in-person and/or on-line professional development opportunities as requested by Director 

• Maintains a broad working knowledge of all financial aid procedures in order to serve as backup processor to essential functions as needed. 

• Processes all private scholarship awards and adjusting student’s aid, as needed 

• Confers with private scholarship donors regarding need for returning scholarship funds, as needed, and initiating check requests when the return is necessary 

• Reconciles private scholarship funds monthly with accounting office 

• Updates paper financial aid forms as necessary for each aid year 

• Processes incoming and returned mail  

• Reviews National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) discrepancy report on a weekly basis  

• Assist with ensuring that information on the office website, forms, and printed publications, are accurate and updated and that federal regulations are being met. 

• Manages Slate ticket software by routing tickets to appropriate counselor 

• Processes summer financial aid requests which require calculating summer aid, producing and mailing summer award letters, and modifying awards as needed 

• Conduct transfer monitoring processes weekly  

• Manages virtual fax machine and routes/scans faxes to appropriate counselor 

• Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success, as well as working with broadly diverse communities 

• Maintains knowledge and awareness of digital accessibility including the American with Disabilities Act and Section 508. 

• Produces and remediates digitally accessible materials in accordance with FLC standards. 

• Perform other duties as assigned 

Required Education, Specialized Skills and Experience: 

Experience 

• High school diploma

• Four or more years of experience providing customer service to students and/or families, four years of data processing or four years of experience in higher education.  

• Interacting with a culturally and ethnically diverse population of students and/or families  

Abilities 

• Problem-solving   

• Conflict resolution 

• Multi-tasking 

• Analysis and interpretation of federal, state, and institutional regulations 

• Operate various computer systems 

Skills 

• Customer service    

• Advising/counseling  

• Written and interpersonal communication, and public speaking  

• Organized, detailed oriented 

• Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word 

• Must not be in default on a Federal Direct Loan or owe an overpayment on federal grant funds with the U.S. Department of Education 

Preferred Education, Specialized Skills and Experience: 

• Experience working in Higher Education, preferably in departments within Enrollment Management or Financial Aid  

• Experience with Workday and/or higher education software programs (i.e. Workday, AcademicWorks, Perceptive, Slate)  

• Knowledge of IRS tax regulations regarding individual federal tax returns  

• Experience working with scholarship programs and outside scholarship agencies 

• Advising students 

Reports To / Supervisory Responsibility: 

This position reports to the Financial Aid Assistant Director. This employee has no direct reports. 

Work Environment: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that an employee can expect while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

• Moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phone, and printers). Walls do not go all the way to ceiling, so offices are not private and noise from other offices can be heard.  

• Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period of time. 

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard reach, stoop kneel to install computer equipment 

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work 

• Light to moderate lifting is required 

Travel: 

Professional development is very important in this position. There are typically one to two trainings a year that will require travel. 

FLSA Status/ Position Type/Expected Hours of Work/ and Salary Range: 

• Non-Exempt  

• Full Time  

• 4 Year Temporary position  

• Full Year  

• Typical work hours are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Some nights and weekends will be required