Financial Aid Counselor

Description: This position works closely with the Office of Admission to facilitate outstanding services to prospective Main Campus undergraduate students and their families to meet institutional recruiting and retention goals.  This includes the awarding of financial aid to incoming Main Campus students.  In addition, this position is responsible for the management and reconciliation of all state aid programs.   

Job Class: Exempt 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Determine financial aid eligibility, reviews supporting documentation, and awards federal, state, and institutional aid funds to prospective Main Campus undergraduate students in accordance with federal, state, and institutional policies.
• Perform federal verification of student aid application data and resolves C-code flags and conflicting information discrepancies in accordance with federal, state, and institutional policies. 
• Provide financial aid counseling primarily to prospective students.
• Monitor financial aid offers for compliance and adjust aid offers as necessary to prevent over awards.
• Update financial aid codes to allow financial aid funds to post to the student account.
• Assist with running Anticipated Aid and Billing Batch Export on non-loan financial aid funds that need disbursed.
• Generate financial aid offer notifications, College Financing Plans, information request notifications, and FAFSA application reminders to prospective students.
• Manage all state aid programs which include verification of eligibility, monthly submission of payment requests, problem solving errors and other delays with reporting, monthly reconciliation of funds between Jenzabar JFA, state agencies and the Business Office, and year end return of funds.
• Assist with testing the accuracy of the annual Net Price Calculator program for prospective students.
• Assist with linking financial aid electronic media, publications, instructions, documents, and forms to the financial aid webpage and WCportal.
• Assist with annual audit preparations.
• Evaluate, establish, implement and documents policies and procedures that reflect institutional or regulatory changes related to areas of responsibility.
• Produce reports as needed.
• Develop and conduct Financial Aid presentations, represent Financial Aid at Open Houses and other general information sessions as requested.
• Provide back-up services to the frontline staff as needed. 
• Attend annual conferences and/or webinars to stay current with the rules and regulations of financial aid.
• Other duties as assigned.

  Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent. 
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.
• At least 3-5 years of experience working in fast-paced office performing customer service, data entry, and working with confidential information.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 
• Ability to multi-task, meet tight deadlines, and successfully function within a fast-paced, high-volume dynamic environment in a variety of situations, while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to solve technical issues, discover and resolve software errors and implement solutions. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, detail-oriented, highly organized, able to balance priorities, takes initiative, reliable and resourceful.
• Understand FERPA and the highly confidential nature and scope of this position

Preferred Qualifications:

• Related bachelor’s degree, plus at least two years of related experience in financial ai
• Experience with higher education financial aid programs.
• Knowledge of Federal and State Financial Aid regulations
• Experience with Jenzabar JFA and J1 software platforms.