Financial Aid Counselor

Location: Antioch University Seattle
Classification: Full-time Administrative, Non-Exempt
Reports to: Associate Director, Financial Aid

Position Summary

Delivers exemplary customer service to current, prospective, and former students by managing the day-to-day processes of the financial aid office.  Provides administrative and technical support to the Financial Aid Officer and within the Financial Aid Office.    Provides the effective and accurate administration of financial funds, manages the work-study program, provides financial aid counseling, awards financial aid, and originates student aid.

Essential Functions/Accountabilities

• Provides financial aid counseling (via phone, email, walk-in appointment, orientation, and open house events) to prospective, current, and former students, providing vital support to university recruitment and retention efforts.  Counsels regarding procedures, availability, quality and access of financial aid funds in order to assure high quality student services, with the goal of assisting students in meeting their educational goals.
• Coordinate and manage Federal Work Study and State Work Study programs in conjunction with Human Resources and Central Payroll Offices, including identifying eligible students, communicating job openings, sending Web Time Entry notices, monitoring usage of awarded funds, and facilitating new hire paperwork and student employment contract creation.
• Award financial aid funds to students using discretion and independent judgment within appropriate state and federal guidelines.  Initiates, monitors, and audits these financial funds and relevant records in order to assure their accuracy according to Antioch, state and federal guidelines.
• Assures the processing of financial aid awards using automated student financial aid awarding and accounting system in order to maintain accurate student financial aid packages and records.
• Performs Verification processing and C-Match resolution, including default and over-borrowing resolution, for financial aid applicants.  Supports University retention efforts by identifying students with unusual, high-need circumstances and reviewing their eligibility for additional assistance.
• Originates student loan applications using federally mandated calculations and procedures to ensure high quality, accurate and efficient disbursement of loan funds.  Counsels and assists students through the process of applying for supplemental loans such as the PLUS Loan.  Runs tracking reports to ensure that these applications are processed on a timely basis.
• Provides student loan counseling and processes exit interviews for all students receiving financial aid prior to graduation in order to establish clear understanding of their responsibilities and to assure compliance with state and federal guidelines.
• Creates and updates forms, spreadsheets, and publications for internal and external financial aid processes.  Logs and tracks important data in shared drive and student data system.  Merges data from multiple systems on an ongoing basis as part of administering financial aid programs.  Ensures that forms on website and available for handout are updated on a timely basis.
• Oversees Consortium Agreement program at AUS, including identifying possible eligible students, orienting students on the process, coordinating required paperwork, and reviewing eligibility for continued participation.
• Coordinates the institutional scholarship process including creating applications, posting and editing scholarships on website, communicating with prospective students, applicants and accepted students.  Works with scholarship committee to score and award individual scholarships.
• Participates as an active member of campus-wide governance structure, planning, and hiring committees, as appropriate.
• Other responsibilities as assigned

Competencies

• Demonstrated knowledge of financial aid processes and regulatory requirements preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency using an automated system required.   Previous experience using an automated financial aid awarding system strongly preferred.
• Excellent organizational skills, attentiveness to detail and the ability to handle multiple priorities required
• Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills required.

Qualifications

• AA required, or the equivalent combination of education and experience. Bachelor’s preferred.
• 3 to 4 years relevant work experience required.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the faculty member is regularly required to sit, stand, use hands and fingers, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The individual must regularly lift and/or carry up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Application Process

To be considered for this position, please complete and submit the following documents to [email protected]:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Names, addresses (including email addresses) and telephone numbers of three references.  References will not be contacted without prior approval of the candidate.

For accommodations to complete the application process, and/or if selected for an interview, please contact the Human Resources Department at [email protected]. 

Applications review will start immediately. Open until filled.

Antioch University Seattle is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the University not to discriminate against and to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, and veteran status.