Senior Financial Aid Advisor

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a part of the CU Anschutz Financial Aid & Scholarships team, the Senior Financial Aid Advisor provides high-level guidance to health professions students and families on all aspects of educational funding. This position independently delivers comprehensive advising through in-person, virtual, phone, and email interactions, helping students navigate application processes, meet documentation requirements, understand complex financial aid regulations, and make informed decisions about financing their education. In addition to advising, the position contributes to recruitment, retention, and outreach efforts and manages key work study program operations, acting as the liaison to the CU Denver campus for reconciliation issues and supports students and campus supervisors with trainings and materials. The Senior Financial Aid Advisor also partners with assigned professional programs, offering regulatory guidance, responding to complex inquiries, and ensuring consistent application of financial aid policies and processes. This role requires strong communication, analytical skills, and the ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced, student-focused environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
A combination of education and related technical/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor’s degree on a year-for-year basis.
Two years of professional level experience in financial aid, admissions, advising and/or scholarships office or related field that focuses on customer services in a financial context (ex. Banking, Advisory, Wealth Management, Insurance, University/College, TRIO/Upward Bound etc.).
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with graduate and professional students, especially those in health-related programs.
Experience working with Oracle PeopleSoft Campus Solutions.
Experience working with Federal and State aid regulations.
Knowledge and experience counseling student debt.

Responsibilities

Conduct in-person, virtual, phone, and email advising sessions.
Provide guidance on FAFSA, verification, SAP, cost of attendance, loans, and aid options.
Respond to student inquiries within service-level expectations.
Maintain clear, empathetic, accurate communication using team-approved messaging.
Review verification documents, resolve conflicting information.
Process appeals (SAP, budget increases, dependency overrides).
Track and follow up on incomplete files.
Process general requests (housing letters, NHSC, needs analysis).
Assist with processing related projects as needed.
Deliver presentations or outreach activities to internal and external audiences (e.g., students, community partners, or campus stakeholders) in alignment with departmental goals.
Coordinate logistics for outreach events or presentations (scheduling, materials, audience needs, follow up communication).
Adapt presentation content and delivery style based on audience needs, feedback, and setting (in person, virtual, small group, large group).
Report outreach activity (e.g., events completed, audiences reached, outcomes or follow up actions) as requested.
Participate in ongoing training to stay current with financial aid regulations, systems, and best practices.
Attend professional conferences, webinars, and workshops to enhance knowledge and skills.
Engage in cross-training opportunities to support office flexibility and coverage.
Maintain certifications and credentials relevant to financial aid advising.
Oversee the Anschutz work-study processes, including managing a new CU Anschutz Student Employment inbox, triaging inquiries, and providing timely responses to students and supervisors.
Serve as the primary liaison to CU Denver Student Employment for resolving issues.
Serve as the Anschutz campus primary trainer to provide guidance to students and supervisors on work-study policies, hiring processes, and system navigation.
In collaboration with the Associate Director, develop and maintain Anschutz work-study resources, including guides, handbooks, training materials, and documentation to support consistent understanding and application of work-study policies and processes
Support accurate student payment processing by assisting with reconciliation, monitoring discrepancies, and troubleshooting payroll related issues.
Serve as the designated administrative contact for assigned professional programs (e.g. Pharmacy, Dental) to provide guidance on financial aid regulations and respond to complex questions and issues.
Act as a liaison between Financial Aid and professional program leadership, facilitating clear communication regarding timelines, policy updates, escalated student situations, and operational risk.
Participate in and contribute to program-level meetings as a financial aid consultant, identifying regulatory considerations, recommending process improvements, and ensuring follow-through on action items.
Translate program-specific updates into operational guidance for internal staff, ensuring consistent application of policies and maintaining accountability for accuracy.