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Financial Aid Counselor

Job Info

Position Title: 

Financial Aid Counselor

Job Type

Full Time

Department

Financial Aid

North Central University Mission Statement:

North Central University is a dynamic Christian learning community educating students for lives of service throughout society, the marketplace, and the church. In keeping with its Pentecostal heritage and mission, NCU models and expects excellence in both academic practice and Christian faith.

Position Purpose:

The Financial Aid Counselor specializes in providing excellent customer service as one of the first points of contact for students in their financial experience. This position conducts financial aid awarding, FAFSA verification, and processing scholarships in tandem with another counselor. This position manages federal and state work-study programs and provides Veteran Affairs benefit support. In addition knowledge and tasks, this role is expected to have an understanding of the entire student financial services process to assist students in getting the help they need.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

(45%) Manage the financial aid process for their portion of the student body
  • In tandem with another counselor, review ISIRS and perform FAFSA Verification
  • Request and review missing documents to make corrections and prepare student

    files for awarding

  • Provide follow-up communication to complete verification
  • Award students and perform recalculations throughout the financial aid year
  • Review appeals with the Director for implementation and response
  • Assist with system updates in our student information system, Colleague by

    Ellucian

  • Oversee quality reports for accurate awarding
  • Partner with One Stop and Admissions on financial data needed to help

    matriculate and/or retain students

  • Create financial aid estimates as needed
  • Support questions and student reviews to support VA Certification
  • File corrections for enrollment changes including cancellations

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(20%) Provide excellent customer service to students, parents and fellow staff.
  • Counsel and assist students and/or parents in the financial aid process, understanding their award letters, and federal, state and institutional aid
  • Help provide direction on understanding the student bill and account
  • Assist students to create a plan to pay for school and be financially prepared
  • Answer student aid questions including (but not limited to) missing documents,

    viewing and accepting awards, applying for loans, Satisfactory Academic

    Progress, appeals, and the financial aid timeline.

  • Understand the process to support students towards financial preparedness.

    This includes (but not limited to) viewing their bill online, payment plans, making

    payments online, other financial resources, and the student accounts timeline.

  • Collaborate with the One Stop team to provide excellent customer service
(15%) Manage scholarship awarding and process for designated portion of the student body.
  • Award outside scholarships from churches, organizations and individuals
  • Partner with advancement to facilitate the donor scholarship program
  • Work cross-departmentally to award institutional scholarships
  • Ensure scholarship funds are properly cashiered into the general ledger
(10%) Manage the Federal and State Work Study Programs
  • Manage work student funding allocations for the selected student employees
  • Work with accounting department and human resources department for work

    study reporting on a monthly and annual basis

  • Serve as the SFS point person for student employment questions
(10%) Work on miscellaneous student financial services projects
  • Work with Director and the One Stop on various projects, including (but not limited to) website review, various reporting needs, and file close process
  • Assist in management of student workers

    Job Qualifications:

    Minimum Education and Experience

page2image16092624Bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 2 years office related experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Have excellent customer service skills
  • Be able to multi-task through interruptions and distractions
  • Be flexible as things change in financial aid on a regular basis
  • Have the ability to de-escalate parents and students
  • Work in a team-oriented setting
  • Strong administrative skills with attention to detail
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Willingness to learn higher education financial aid requirements and apply them
  • Must be proficient in Microsoft Office
  • Skill in math and accounting procedures to reconcile student and financial aid fund

    accounts.

    Working Conditions and Frequency:

    Equipment and Tools

    Use of a PC and telephone, photocopier and facsimile machine approximately 95% of the workday

    Environmental Conditions

    Exposure to repetitive motion of the fingers, hands and wrists on a daily basis Work is performed in a Christ-centered urban environment

    The aforementioned statements are not intended to encompass all functions and qualifications of the position; rather, they are intended to provide a general framework of the qualifications of the position. Job incumbents may be required to perform functions not specifically addressed in this job description.

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North Central University employs qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national

origin, sex, disability, age, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, familial

status, and status with regard to public assistance. Individuals must be able to perform

the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.