Senior Financial Aid Counselor

Senior Financial Aid Counselor
University of Puget Sound
Job ID: 5709
Location: Student Financial Services
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular


The University of Puget Sound seeks applications for a Senior Financial Aid Counselor to join the Student Financial Services team!

The University of Puget Sound is an independent, residential, and predominantly undergraduate liberal arts college, with graduate programs in education and health sciences.

Puget Sound staff enjoy competitive benefits and resources to help them carry out Puget Sound's mission and values and advance the university's strategic plan.

The Senior Financial Aid Counselor provides financial aid and student finance counseling to prospective undergraduate and graduate students, enrolled undergraduate and graduate students and parents. This includes determining need-based financial aid awards, employing professional judgment as appropriate for university, federal and state financial aid programs when there are special circumstances not accounted for in the student financial aid application, providing one-on-one counseling to students and families regarding financial aid awards, eligibility, educational loan opportunities and assisting in financial planning efforts that enable the student and family to meet their financial obligations for enrollment. Updates student aid eligibility as additional information is reported. Reviews documentation submitted as part of the federal verification process. Communicates with financial aid applicants and parents/spouses to resolve incomplete or inaccurate financial aid information. Responds to in-person, telephone and e-mail inquiries from parents and students about university financial policies and student account status. Partners with the SFS Specialists in managing student inquiries, scheduled appointments and walk-in visitors, especially during peak periods of activity. Partners and cross trains with Admission Counselor staff to communicate complex financial aid information and policies to recruited students and families and confidently engage in sensitive financial planning conversations throughout the student recruitment cycle. Participates in admission and student orientation activities. Teams with the broader Enrollment Division staff to ensure exceptional student service for prospective and current students and their families.

Successful candidates will have the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent related experience.
  
• Minimum of three years related experience in university student services.
  
• Minimum of 2 years' experience in the use of Federal Methodology (FM) needs analysis and a strong knowledge of Federal financial aid regulations is required.
  
• Financial counseling experience required. Student caseload management experience highly desirable.
  
• Familiarity and proficiency with technologies to include integrated student information systems, MS Office, Google Docs required. Experience with PeopleSoft Campus highly desirable.
  
• At least two years of increasingly responsible data management experience.
  
• Experience with Department of Education software programs and work with automated financial aid systems required.
  
• Experience with Federal Direct Loan programs preferred.
  
• Accounting background would prove helpful in this position, but not required.
  
• A commitment to liberal arts education and cultural diversity required.
  
• Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community
  
  Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package. For more information, visit: http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/offices-services/human-resources/overview-of-university-benefit/.
  
  How to Apply: To review the full job description, including requirements, and apply, please visit https://www2.pugetsound.jobs/psp/HR92PRD/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=2&JobOpeningId=5709&PostingSeq=1.
  
  Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified.
  
  Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/diversity-at-puget-sound/
  
  The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.
  
  How to Apply
  For complete job description and application instructions, visit: www.pugetsound.edu/employment
  
  About Puget Sound
  Puget Sound is a selective national liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington, drawing 2,600 students from 48 states and 20 countries. Puget Sound graduates include Rhodes and Fulbright scholars, notables in the arts and culture, entrepreneurs and elected officials, and leaders in business and finance locally and throughout the world. A low student-faculty ratio provides Puget Sound students with personal attention from faculty who have a strong commitment to teaching and offer 1,200 courses each year in more than 40 traditional and interdisciplinary fields, including graduate programs in occupational and physical therapy and in education. Puget Sound is the only nationally ranked independent undergraduate liberal arts college in Western Washington, and one of just five independent colleges in the Pacific Northwest granted a charter by Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious academic honorary society. Visit "About Puget Sound" (http://www.pugetsound.edu/about) to learn more about the college.
  
  As a strategic goal and through our core values, University of Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. EOE/AA
  
  
  
  
  
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