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Financial Aid Counselor

Employer
Fort Lewis College
Location
Colorado, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
Jun 28, 2022
Position Summary

The Financial Aid Counselor position reports to the 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.  The salary for this position is $41,000, plus a comprehensive benefits package .

Minimum Qualifications
  • Degree 
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university 
  • Experience 
  • Advising students 
  • Providing customer service to students and/or families  
  • Interacting with a culturally and ethnically diverse population of students and/or families  
  • Abilities 
  • Problem-solving   
  • Conflict resolution 
  • Multi-tasking 
  • Analysis and interpretation of federal, state, and institutional regulations 
  • Operate various computer systems 
  • Skills 
  • Customer service    
  • Advising/counseling  
  • Written and interpersonal communication, and public speaking  
  • Organized, detailed oriented 
  • Advanced 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 
  • A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success, as well as working with broadly diverse communities  
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience working in Higher Education, preferably in departments within Enrollment Management or Financial Aid  
  • Banner and/or higher education software programs (i.e. ARGOS, AcademicWorks, Perceptive, Navigate) 
  • Knowledge of IRS tax regulations regarding individual federal tax returns 
  • Working with scholarship programs and outside scholarship agencies 
Major 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 maintains 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 online 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. 
  • Completes financial need analysis forms and budget forecast forms for all off-campus agencies 
  • Coordinate with all off campus private scholarship agencies regarding private scholarship payments     
  • Monitors students participating in programs under the International Programs Office to ensure that students are coded correctly, monitors transcripts, and adjusts aid package when necessary  
  • Updates paper financial aid forms as necessary for each aid year 
  • Processes skip tracing reports for loan servicers 
  • Processes incoming and returned mail  
  • 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 
  • Provide backup support for summer processing 
  • 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  
Work Conditions

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that an employee can expect while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 


  • Moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phone, and printers). Walls do not go all the way to ceiling, so offices are not private and noise from other offices can be heard. 
  • Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period of time. 
Compensation

The salary for this position is $41,000, plus a comprehensive benefits package .


Application Process
A complete application packet includes:
  • Cover letter addressing interest and qualifications for position
    • Include details regarding how your personal and professional experiences allow you to encourage a learning environment grounded in equity and inclusion. “How do you envision contributing to Fort Lewis College’s commitment to equity and inclusion?”
  • Resume
  • Names and contact information for three current, professional references
Submit materials as one PDF file via email to:

FAC-Search@fortlewis.edu

Application materials received by July 17, 2022, will receive full consideration. The position will remain open until filled.

The successful candidate will be required to submit original, official college transcripts, and pass a background check.

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