Financial Assistance Counselor

Classification: Hourly position
Division: Financial Affairs
Department: Financial Assistance – The mission of Financial Assistance is to guide and assist students and parents in completing the procedures necessary for obtaining financial assistance (federal, state and institutional) in a Christian manner while guarding the institution’s ability to receive and award financial assistance.
Reports To: Director of Financial Aid

Primary Function: Assist in overseeing financial assistance functions to help prospective students, students and their parents to complete the procedures necessary for obtaining financial assistance while guarding the institution’s ability to receive and award financial assistance

Major Duties:

Financial Assistance Counselor will:

• Counsel parents, students and prospective students
• Provide courteous customer service and resolution of problems to customers who visit, telephone, or email the Financial Assistance office
• Award federal, state, and institutional financial assistance
• Review, verify, and monitor compliance with government verification paperwork
• Maintain current knowledge of latest federal and state requirements
• Receive phone inquiries from customers, answer questions, and provide information to help customers successfully complete the financial assistance process
• Maintain strict confidentiality and privacy concerning student records
• Review degree plan to verify enrolled courses are required for degree
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills Required:

Financial Assistance Customer Relations Specialist must:

• Possess excellent customer service skills
• Possess good verbal and written communication skills
• Possess good organizational skills
• Ability to help students, faculty, and staff in a professional manner
• Have excellent computer skills in word processing, spreadsheet building and maintenance, database management, and email management
• Be a team player who proactively looks for ways to continuously improve the effectiveness and student perception of the Financial Assistance Office
• Accomplish the mission through proactive constructive teamwork
• Strong ability to multitask and problem-solve
• Ability to adapt to changes in the work environment
• Not divulging or discussing information about possible university plans, goals, or funding levels unless authorized by the Director of Financial Assistance
• Maintain strict confidentiality and privacy concerning student records
• Work closely with university personnel to recruit and retain students

Accountability:

Financial Assistance Customer Relations Specialist is supervised by the Director of Financial Assistance and works closely with university personnel to recruit and retain students

Education and Experience:

Graduation from high school or equivalent, bachelor’s degree preferred. Financial aid experience preferred

Physical Requirements:

While performing the essential duties, the employee will be required to

• Be ambulatory around campus and in buildings
• Required to regularly sit and stand
• Frequently use wrist, hands and/or fingers to make small repetitive movements such as typing, distributing mail and picking up small objects
• Ability to talk frequently to convey detailed and/or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly or quickly
• Be able to hear average or normal conversations and receive verbal information
• Required to lift packages and/or move heavy objects, 25 lbs.

NOTE: All LCU employees are required to complete Title IX & Information Security (FERPA) training and Data Security Training at the time of new hire and on an annual basis thereafter. Some positions/departments may require additional training for security or data needs.

Disclaimer:

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform other reasonably related job responsibilities as assigned by immediate supervisor and/or other management as required. LCU reserves the right to revise or change job duties, required skills or qualifications as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.