Financial Aid Counselor 2

Augusta University • Augusta, GA

78d • $20 - $23

About The Position

This position determines eligibility for and manages the awarding of student financial aid from federal, state, institutional and other sources. The responsibilities include assisting students and families with the completion of the FAFSA, counseling and advising students and parents on the financial aid programs, reviewing documentation and maintaining accurate records, and ensuring compliance with requisite federal and state laws as well as federal, state, system, and university regulations. Ultimately, this position works to enroll and retain students who may not otherwise be able to attend or graduate without financial assistance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Three years of financial aid or related work experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Department of Education software (i.e. FAA Access, National Student Loan Data Systems (NSLDS), COD, Return to Title IV, etc.) and Ellucian Banner and CampusLogic.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive counseling to students and their families regarding financial aid eligibility, available aid programs, disbursement procedures, and requirements for aid renewal.
• Educate students on how changes in enrollment status may affect their aid eligibility, including the implications of withdrawal and failure to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.
• Advise on alternative funding options such as payment plans to assist with meeting institutional deadlines and financial obligations.
• Deliver high-quality customer service by assisting students and families with FAFSA submissions, documentation requirements, and navigating the federal verification process.
• Proactively identify and support students facing challenges that may impact their academic and financial standing.
• Communicate with students to resolve outstanding aid issues and provide outreach related to incomplete applications.
• Liaise with external agencies for fund disbursement and collaborate with internal departments including Admissions, Registrar, Academic Advising, and Student Accounts to ensure financial aid alignment with enrollment and billing activities.
• Review, reconcile, and verify financial aid data submitted via the FAFSA and supporting documentation to ensure accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
• Investigate rejected FAFSAs and employ analytical skills to determine appropriate resolutions.
• Assess cases for special or unusual circumstances that may justify professional judgment or dependency overrides.
• Make and report corrections to the Department of Education and ensure all documentation is complete and audit-ready.
• Maintain compliance with complex federal, state, and institutional regulations governing financial aid programs.
• Interpret and apply policy updates while assisting with the awarding and adjustment of financial aid packages, including state scholarships and grant programs.
• Use accounting and reconciliation skills to ensure accuracy in fund disbursement, perform Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculations, and resolve fiscal discrepancies.
• Support technical processes such as system file loads and data integrity tasks as needed.
• Engage in ongoing professional development to stay current with regulatory and institutional changes.
• Support the implementation of new departmental initiatives and contribute to process improvement projects.
• Provide training and mentorship to other staff as needed and perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan)
• Earned vacation time
• Sick leave
• 13 paid holidays
• Tuition Assistance Program for full-time employees who have been employed for more than 6 months.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees