Student Financial Services - Financial Aid Counselor

D'Youville University • Buffalo, NY

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Financial Aid Counselor at D'Youville University serves in a mission-critical role that directly supports student enrollment, retention, persistence, and financial continuity. As a key member of Student Financial Services, this position ensures the efficient movement of financial aid and student account processes that enable students to remain enrolled, financially cleared, and academically focused. This position on the SFS team provides high-touch, student-centered guidance to undergraduate and graduate students navigating federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs while balancing operational precision, regulatory compliance, and service excellence. The Financial Aid Counselor is essential in maintaining the integrity and timeliness of aid processing, resolving barriers that may delay registration or account clearance, and supporting the university’s broader enrollment and revenue objectives. This specific Financial Aid Counselor position requires a strong technical aptitude and ability to learn evolving systems and regulatory requirements. The employee must have ability to interpret and apply complex federal, state, and institutional regulations. Responsibilities include counseling prospective and continuing students and families on eligibility, FAFSA and TAP completion, verification, professional judgment, satisfactory academic progress, award packaging, loan counseling, and repayment options. The employee will spend approximately 75% of work time on technical assignments and 25% student facing. The counselor plays a vital operational role in ensuring aid is processed accurately and efficiently, student accounts move forward without unnecessary delays, and compliance standards are consistently maintained. This position collaborates closely with admissions, student accounts, registrar, academic departments, and enrollment management teams to support a seamless student experience from recruitment through graduation. This position is an on-site role and requires a regular physical presence on campus.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Strong commitment to student service and the ability to support students through complex financial and administrative processes with empathy and professionalism.
• Excellent interpersonal, counseling, and customer-service skills with the ability to communicate effectively across diverse populations.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state financial aid programs, FAFSA processing, NYS TAP, and Title IV regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage high-volume processing responsibilities while maintaining accuracy, efficiency, and compliance.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize competing responsibilities while ensuring critical operational timelines are met.
• Proficiency with student information systems, Microsoft Office applications, and financial aid processing systems.
• Strong technical aptitude and ability to learn evolving systems and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to react calmly and effectively in high-pressure or sensitive situations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining professionalism and accuracy.
• Thorough knowledge of student information systems and related technologies.
• Extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, stair climbing, and operating office equipment.
• Frequent keyboard and computer use.
• Demonstrated commitment to a student-centered philosophy and collaborative service environment.

Nice To Haves

• Hands-on experience conducting verification reviews and evaluating special or unusual circumstance appeals.
• Experience packaging federal, state, institutional, and scholarship aid across undergraduate and graduate populations.
• Familiarity with Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculations and institutional refund or repayment processes.
• Experience administering federal loan programs, including loan origination, counseling, and repayment support workflows.
• Experience working in a high-volume student financial services or enrollment management environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a frontline student support and operational resource, helping students overcome financial barriers that may impact enrollment, retention, registration, or account resolution.
• Advise students and families individually and in group settings on financial aid eligibility, application procedures, award offers, disbursement timelines, account impacts, and repayment responsibilities.
• Review, evaluate, and process financial aid applications, verification documentation, and eligibility requirements with accuracy and efficiency to support timely awarding and account clearance.
• Package and revise financial aid awards (federal, state, institutional, scholarships, and loans) in accordance with regulatory requirements and university policies.
• Conduct entrance and exit loan counseling while educating students on responsible borrowing, loan management, and repayment strategies.
• Interpret and communicate complex federal and state regulations, including Title IV and NYS TAP requirements, in a clear and student-friendly manner.
• Maintain accurate student records within the student information system and assist with reporting, reconciliation, compliance tracking, and operational data management.
• Support critical office workflows and processing cycles that ensure the timely delivery of aid and uninterrupted movement of student financial accounts.
• Identify and resolve discrepancies, eligibility concerns, and processing issues that could delay aid disbursement or student account activity.
• Participate in financial literacy initiatives, orientation programming, outreach activities, and recruitment events that promote student success and informed financial decision-making.
• Collaborate proactively with admissions, registrar, student accounts, academic departments, and enrollment teams to resolve enrollment, billing, and eligibility issues impacting students.
• Contribute to a collaborative, solutions-focused office culture centered on operational excellence, responsiveness, and student success.
• Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required in support of recruitment, orientation, and student service initiatives.

Benefits

• The salary range reflects our good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible compensation at the time of posting, the role and associated responsibilities, and the experience, education, and training of the selected candidate.

What This Job Offers

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