Senior Counselor, Student Financial Assistance

Title: Senior Counselor, Student Financial Assistance

Division: Strategic Enrollment Management

Department: Student Financial Assistance

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Range: Annual Salary

EEO Job Group: 2 E2

Position Summary

Responsible for independent student advisement and finalization of annual awards of grants, loans, and scholarships. The position analyzes financial aid applications and other confidential financial information to determine the amount and packaging of financial aid eligibility for an applicant. Maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of federal, state, institutional, athletic and/or USI Foundation aid programs, and provide program support to Financial Aid Assistant Directors, Senior Assistant Director, and/or Associate Director. Coordinate, manage and reconcile specific federal, state, institutional, athletic and/or USI Foundation aid program(s), policies, and procedures. May also participate in high school and campus presentations.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Advise and counsel students and their families about costs, financial aid policies, procedures, programs, funding, limitations, and options in a skillful, timely, and professional manner through personal interviews, written correspondence, and social media.
• Participates as a team member in the management of the Federal Professional Judgment Committee to ensure federal compliance concerning student/parent requests for special and/or unusual circumstance consideration.
• Assists students and families navigate the federal verification process.
• Serve as administrator for an area of primary responsibility. Manage all aspects of assigned program(s), including identification of award recipients, defining/interpreting program regulations, reconciling and reporting on program activity. Managing the assigned program(s) may include file exchange of official records from one or more of the federal, state, and/or private processing systems.
• Analyze and correct awards for student aid programs in a manner that is consistent with federal, state, institution, athletic and USI Foundation regulations, rules, and policies to prevent violations in the aid programs.
• Assist in the development and implementation of procedures for student financial aid application processing, verification, and awarding of funds. Recommend policy and procedural changes as needed for student financial aid programs.
• Maintain a current working knowledge of all student financial aid program rules, regulations, and policies to provide a high level of customer service.
• Ensure current changes to federal, state, institutional, and USI Foundation rules, regulations, and policies are communicated and implemented in a timely manner to students and/or staff regarding assigned area(s) of responsibility.
• Ability to maintain complex technical rules in support of business process, collaborate and work with diverse populations, and manage multiple priorities. Commitment to excellent service.
• Identify and correct errors associated with assigned program responsibility to ensure funding calculations are accurate and correspond with University records. Analyze and resolve inaccurate aid awards, including over awards and return of funds.
• May serve as liaison to various University departments and external entities, including USI Foundation scholarship and Business Office account administrators, as well as external agencies.
• May lead or assist with presentations during recruitment events and workshops.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Required Knowledge And Skills

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Three to five years of experience in student financial assistance or relevant related higher education administration required.
• Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills, refined listening and strong interpersonal skills, tact and diplomacy for effective communication with students and parents on sensitive, confidential financial matters.
• Proficiency with computers, internet, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and PowerPoint) software required.
• Technical competency for mastering appropriate software required.
• Demonstrated aptitude for numeric or data analysis, identification of inconsistencies, and initiating viable solutions which conform to federal, state, and University policies and procedures.
• Responsible for continuous education concerning state, federal and university rules and regulations in order to maintain a level of knowledge that is acceptable to convey information to students or parents concerning the student’s financial aid.
• Must maintain confidentiality without exception. Must be able to relate effectively to all levels of employees and to individuals from a wide range of cultures.
• Capacity to adapt to frequent changes in federal, state, institutional, athletic and USI Foundation rules, regulations and policies.
• Strong time management and organizational skills with the ability to set priorities and work independently while exercising initiative and strong problem resolution skills. Strong accuracy, attention to detail, and organization while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment in execution of job functions.
  
  

Preferred Knowledge And Skills

• Working knowledge of federal tax rules applicable to student financial aid processing preferred.
• Working knowledge of Ellucian’s Banner software preferred.
  
  

Regular Work Hours/Travel Requirements

• Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
• Irregular hours and extended hours as necessary to complete administrative responsibilities.
• Occasional travel to local, regional or national conferences will be required.
  
  

About USI

The University of Southern Indiana is a public higher education institution located on a beautiful 1,400-acre campus in Evansville, IN. We offer employees exceptional benefits! Benefits for this position include:

• Affordable medical, dental, vision, life and short term and long-term disability insurance plans.
• Retirement plan where the University makes the total contribution equivalent to 11% of annual salary.
• Full tuition fee waiver for employees/75% for spouses and dependent children.
• Vacation and sick time
• Holiday pay
• Free access to Recreation, Fitness & Wellness Center.
• Access to on-campus University Health Center and Dental Hygiene Clinic.
  
  

For more information about the benefits that USI offers, please visit www.usi.edu/hr/benefits.

Application Process

Click “Apply Now!” near the top right of this page to complete an application and upload application materials to the attention of the Search Committee Chair. Application materials should include:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
  
  

Search Committee Chair:

If you have questions about the open position, please contact Mrs. Catherine Nickens, search committee chair, at cnickens@usi.edu.

Best Consideration Date:

For best consideration, please submit materials by March 11, 2026.

Pre-Employment Screening

A background check will be required for employment in this position.

Authorization to Work in the United States

USI will not sponsor an employment-related visa for this position.

Interview Accommodations

Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please contact the Associate Director of Human Resources, Constance Hermann, at cjhermann1@usi.edu or (812) 461-5363. Contacting the Associate Director of Human Resources is intended for use in seeking disability-related accommodations only. For general applicant inquiries, contact Human Resources at HumanRes@usi.edu or (812) 464-1815.

EEO Statement

USI is an Equal Opportunity Employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities