DEPARTMENT: STUDENT SERVICES

Position Summary: The Financial Aid Counselor provides excellent customer service and specialized financial aid guidance to students, parents, and any authorized third parties. The counselor will assist with the everyday operations of the Financial Aid Office, including, but not limited to, document intake, program administration, counseling, and financial aid processing.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Represent NGU in creating a professional, welcoming, and helpful environment by providing excellent customer service in person, on the phone, and in written communication.

· Package and process financial aid for new and returning students, including but not limited to the following:

o Prepare/send aid offer notifications

o FAFSA verification process

o Monitor, review, and send satisfactory academic progress (SAP) notifications

o Data entry in PowerFAIDS

· Provide customer service as it relates to processing and packaging issues, including answering routine questions, responding to correspondence, and counseling students as needed.

· Assist with University orientation events and open house activities, including financial aid presentations.

· In partnership with the Director, provide training to financial aid staff and other University staff as necessary to ensure optimal use of financial aid policies and procedures.

· Assist with the management of the Financial Aid email inbox and process incoming requests from students, faculty, and staff.

· Collaborate with other areas within Student Services, including NGUcentral, Student Accounts, and Academic Records, regarding student portal issues and in answering general student questions related to these areas.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Visual Abilities: read reports, create presentations, and use a computer system.
• Hearing: hear well enough to communicate with co-workers, vendors, and students.
• Dexterity, grasping, feeling, writing, typing, using the telephone, copier, and computer systems.
• Mobility: open files and operate office machines; move between departments and attend meetings across campus.
• Talking: frequently convey detailed or important instructions and ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Lifting, pulling, pushing: exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally to move objects.
• Cognitive/Emotional: ability to think critically and concentrate. Must be able to respond quickly to changes in conditions  75 to 100% of the time.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

This position is a full-time non-exempt position located at the Tigerville Campus. The Financial Aid Counselor reports to the Director of Financial Aid.

WORK SCHEDULE

Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon. Office hours are subject to change as deemed necessary. 

TRAVEL

Occasional work on Saturdays and evenings may be required.  Some travel is required for training in addition to presenting at Financial Aid Workshops in the community, as needed.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee. The employee will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties as requested by his or her supervisor.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Visual Abilities: read reports, create presentations, and use a computer system.
• Hearing: hear well enough to communicate with co-workers, vendors, and students.
• Dexterity, grasping, feeling, writing, typing, using the telephone, copier, and computer systems.
• Mobility: open files and operate office machines; move between departments and attend meetings across campus.
• Talking: frequently convey detailed or important instructions and ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Lifting, pulling, pushing: exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally to move objects.
• Cognitive/Emotional: ability to think critically and concentrate. Must be able to respond quickly to changes in conditions 75 to 100% of the time.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

This position is a full-time non-exempt position located at the Tigerville Campus. The Financial Aid Counselor reports to the Director of Financial Aid.

WORK SCHEDULE

Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon. Office hours are subject to change as deemed necessary. 

TRAVEL

Occasional work on Saturdays and evenings may be required.  Some travel is required for training in addition to presenting at Financial Aid Workshops in the community, as needed.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee. The employee will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties as requested by his or her supervisor.

· Affirm an understanding of the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 and an understanding of the University’s Statement on Human Flourishing.

· Agree to abide by the employee handbook, including community standards agreements.

· Bachelor’s degree preferred.

· At least one year of financial aid experience within a university is preferred.

· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to handle a variety of student issues and concerns.

· Ability to organize, prioritize, and problem-solve in an environment where frequent interruptions are common.

· Ability to follow through with tasks and work independently.

· Computer literacy and knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

· Understand and comply with FERPA regulations.