Financial Aid Advisor II

Iowa State University • Ames, IA

9d

About The Position

Are you passionate about helping students access life-changing educational opportunities? The Office of Student Financial Aid is seeking a Financial Aid Advisor II to join our Scholarships team. This position plays a pivotal role in guiding students and families through the financial aid process, ensuring equitable access to resources, and stewarding scholarship programs that support student success. This is not just a processing role—it’s a chance to combine advising expertise, regulatory knowledge, and program administration to make a direct impact on the lives of students.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of related experience

Nice To Haves

• Experience administering scholarships, including award decisions and applicant management.
• Experience utilizing a scholarship management system (such as Blackbaud Award Management or NextGen Scholarship Manager)
• Experience providing student services in a higher education setting.
• Experience managing and maintaining databases.
• Experience with analytics and data reporting.
• Knowledge of and experience with financial aid processes.

Responsibilities

• Determine financial aid eligibility, make comprehensive adjustments to aid packages, and exercise professional judgment on complex cases and merit award appeals.
• Administer strategic recruitment scholarships, including first-year merit, National Merit, transfer merit, and Phi Theta Kappa programs.
• Review emergency aid applications, award emergency or completion assistance, and collaborate with college scholarship coordinators to maintain a cohesive campus-wide emergency aid strategy.
• Process Veterinary Medicine summer grant aid in partnership with Enrollment Research and Analytics and the OSFA data team.
• Oversee large, high-touch external scholarship programs
• Provide support for university long-term loan programs, including Health Professions and Loans for Disadvantaged Students.
• Update and utilize multiple financial aid systems, review daily reports, correct discrepancies, and reconcile aid and scholarship data.
• Analyze data and compile reports to support scholarship processes, audits, and decision-making.
• Provide guidance to students and families regarding financial aid eligibility, application steps, appeals, policies, and financial wellness in a variety of formats.
• Represent the scholarship unit and respond to scholarship presentation requests from campus stakeholders.

Benefits

• Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program
• Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level