Financial Aid Counselors, Financial Aid

Application instructions are located at the bottom of the page. Please apply directly through the University of Montana's career portal UM Jobs at https://umjobs.silkroad.com/ for positions at the University of Montana – Missoula, University of Montana Western (Dillon), and Helena College. Do not apply through Indeed.com or use easy apply through Indeed.com * .

Arguably one of the most important offices at the University of Montana is that of Financial Aid . That’s because it’s the primary office where dreams become reality and people seek support to make largest investment of their life. The conversations, attitude and energy that a student encounters in UM’s Financial Aid Office informs their trajectory for a positive, informed journey at UM. At worst, encountering the financial aid process is overwhelming, challenging and intimidating. At best, it’s clear, clean and informative. At UM, we pride ourselves an experience that’s the latter.

But that doesn’t happen without dedicated, kind professionals who help the next generation navigate and understand what it means to pay for a college education.

That’s where you come in.

UM’s Financial Aid invites applications for a Financial Aid Counselor to join the Grizzly team on campus. In this job, you will:

• Help students, their parents and families understand the process of applying for financial aid.
• Help students understand what federal loans and packages are available to them (and all of the details in between).
• Support a diverse community that ranges from first-generation college students to seasoned graduate students.
• Provide excellent customer service.
• Evaluate financial files.
• Verify applicant data, including analyzing need, awarding or revising aid and using professional judgement when it comes an applicant’s data and financial reporting.

Financial Aid Counselors assist students with helping them understand the federal loan packages available to them. They review funding packages and reconcile and review discrepancies and are responsible for providing guidance to students when it comes to securing financial aid at the postsecondary level. This position will assist financial aid applicants to determine the best type(s) of aid available to them.

Financial Aid Counselors require a working knowledge of Federal and State aid regulations and UM policies and procedures; Banner, COD, NSLDS, and Microsoft Office. They must also become familiar with Cyberbear, the UM Financial Aid website, and studentaid.gov.

What You’ll Need to Be Successful:

• Strong mathematic/accounting skills and great attention to detail.
• An ability to understand and effectively communicate complex policies to a broad range of constituents.
• Strong communication skills and an ability to have consistently positive interpersonal interactions with students, families, agency representatives, faculty and staff.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality when working with proprietary information.
• Ability to adjust quickly to changing job demands; Comfortable using multiple software/database applications.
• Ability to be granted access to federal aid databases.

Will you be alone in this work? No. You’ll be surrounded by a dedicated team of professionals that will help you understand the nuances of financial aid and will support your professional journey to excellence.

About Financial Aid and UM

UM’s Finanical Aid Office supports the educational goals of students, equitably distributes financial resources to an economically diverse population within the bounds of imposed regulations, and meets the needs of our community. In this office, we place student success at the center of all we do.

We strive to build the reputation of the university by being courteous, knowledgeable and approachable to all. We endeavor to effectively use technology and continually seek to improve our communication and processes. We embrace each staff member’s strengths, creating a positive environment where all can thrive.

What’s Great About Working at UM?

• Walks on the Oval and a beautiful campus
• The state’s most-hiked trail five minutes from the Financial Aid Office
• Getting to interact with a diverse community
• Several on-campus dining facilities
• U-Dash (UM’s free transit system)
• Becoming part of a vibrant, dedicated community of Grizzlies that serves Montanan and the world

The University of Montana is a flagship research institution with approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 75,000, surrounded by mountains and three rivers converge. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere. The University of Montana offers eligible employees a generous benefits package that positively separates UM from other local employers and offers many programs and policies to support work-life balance for its employees.

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action : Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

Position Details

Position Title: Financial Aid Counselor (Financial Aid Specialist I)

Position Number: 006750

Department: Financial Aid Administration

Work Schedule: Full-time, 1.0 FTE (40 hrs week), Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 12 months/year.

Salary: $18.723/hr.

Union Affiliation: FOCUS-MFPE

Probationary Period: Six months minimum

Benefits Include : Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to the Offer of Employment In accordance with University regulations, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References: References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing: Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. Employment Eligibility: All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

How to Apply

Priority Application Date: Sunday, April 16, 2023 by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)

Complete applications received by the ‘Priority Application Date’ will be guaranteed consideration. The position will remain open until filled. Candidates are required to submit the following materials online.

A complete application Includes:

1. Letter of Interest – addressing your qualifications and experience related to the stated required skills for the position. A general letter salutation such as “Dear Search Committee” or “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable.
2. Detailed Resume – listing education and describing work experience
3. Professional References – names and contact information for three (3) professional references

Application instructions are located at the bottom of the page. Please apply directly through the University of Montana's career portal UM Jobs at https://umjobs.silkroad.com/ for positions at the University of Montana – Missoula, University of Montana Western (Dillon), and Helena College. Do not apply through Indeed.com or use easy apply through Indeed.com * .

Job Location Missoula, Montana, United States
Position Type Full-Time/Regular