Financial Aid Counselor

Fort Lewis College•Durango, CO

1d•$20•Onsite

About The Position

The Financial Aid Counselor position reports to the Assistant Director of Financial Aid and serves as part of a team of Financial Aid Counselors that provide instruction and counseling to parents and students regarding student financial aid policies and procedures. Financial aid counseling covers federal, state, institutional and private regulations and guidelines that govern the administration of financial aid. The regulations are complex and constantly changing; therefore, there is substantial ambiguity that requires the counselor to utilize a broad application of reference and resource information to ensure accurate and in-depth information. In order to provide quality counseling & advising this position requires an understanding of a wide variety of information from multiple sources and offices.

Requirements

High school diploma
Four or more years of experience providing customer service to students and/or families, four years of data processing or four years of experience in higher education.
Interacting with a culturally and ethnically diverse population of students and/or families
Problem-solving
Conflict resolution
Multi-tasking
Analysis and interpretation of federal, state, and institutional regulations
Operate various computer systems
Customer service
Advising/counseling
Written and interpersonal communication, and public speaking
Organized, detailed oriented
Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word
Must not be in default on a Federal Direct Loan or owe an overpayment on federal grant funds with the U.S. Department of Education

Nice To Haves

Experience working in Higher Education, preferably in departments within Enrollment Management or Financial Aid
Experience with Workday and/or higher education software programs (i.e. Workday, AcademicWorks, Perceptive, Slate)
Knowledge of IRS tax regulations regarding individual federal tax returns
Experience working with scholarship programs and outside scholarship agencies
Advising students

Responsibilities

Corresponds with prospective, new, and continuing students, and parents, as well as other department personnel about financial aid, via telephone, texting, email or in person
Provides direct financial aid counseling and instruction to current and prospective students and parents about all aspects of financial aid processes
Processes verification paperwork on students in caseload, but on others as needed, which includes reviewing verification documentation received to ensure that it meets Federal Aid and IRS requirements, obtaining additional documentation if conflicting information is identified, obtaining information to satisfy verification items, adjusting budgets and aid as needed
Assists students/families with professional judgment appeal forms and assists with the collection of professional judgment documentation
Keeps current with U.S. Department of Education regulations in order to improve aid applications and methods of processing.
Scans and indexes all processed paperwork, as well as maintain organized records
Maintains desk procedural manuals, specifically related to job duties
Assists with on and off campus financial aid events, as needed
Represents themselves, the office, and the college in a positive and professional manner to all students, families, and personnel on and off campus
Attends in-person and/or on-line professional development opportunities as requested by Director
Maintains a broad working knowledge of all financial aid procedures in order to serve as backup processor to essential functions as needed.
Processes all private scholarship awards and adjusting student’s aid, as needed
Confers with private scholarship donors regarding need for returning scholarship funds, as needed, and initiating check requests when the return is necessary
Reconciles private scholarship funds monthly with accounting office
Updates paper financial aid forms as necessary for each aid year
Processes incoming and returned mail
Reviews National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) discrepancy report on a weekly basis
Assist with ensuring that information on the office website, forms, and printed publications, are accurate and updated and that federal regulations are being met.
Manages Slate ticket software by routing tickets to appropriate counselor
Processes summer financial aid requests which require calculating summer aid, producing and mailing summer award letters, and modifying awards as needed
Conduct transfer monitoring processes weekly
Manages virtual fax machine and routes/scans faxes to appropriate counselor
Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success, as well as working with broadly diverse communities
Maintains knowledge and awareness of digital accessibility including the American with Disabilities Act and Section 508.
Produces and remediates digitally accessible materials in accordance with FLC standards.
Perform other duties as assigned