Financial Aid Counselor - Southern California University

JOB TITLE: Financial Aid Counselor

DEPARTMENT: Financial Aid

LOCATION: Hybrid/Remote

EXEMPT/NON-EXEMPT: Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO: Assistant Director of Financial Aid

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

Under the general supervision of the Assistant Director of Financial Aid, this position works as part of a team and is responsible for counseling current and prospective students and families on financial aid requirements, application procedures, aid programs, financing options, and indebtedness. The Financial Aid Counselor also reviews student files and calculates eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. They must also understand federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies and regulations related to aid eligibility, awarding and disbursement. Performs special projects as directed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Core duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Serves as front-line customer service, counsel students and parents regarding application procedures, available financial aid programs, costs, and financial management strategies including loans, financing options, criteria for maintaining eligibility, and other financial aid related matters;
• Provide continuous feedback and suggestions for improvement on Office of Financial Aid procedures, services and policies;
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with other University departments including, but not limited to, Student Accounts, Admissions, and Registrar;
• Serves on applicable financial aid committees;
• Responsible for maintaining a working knowledge of frequently used software systems, especially Jenzabar JFA and J1 products, through regular trainings, review of user guides etc.;
• Represents the Office of Financial Aid at various recruitment activities (open houses, orientations, and other events);
• Responsible for maintaining current knowledge in all aspects of financial aid including changes to federal and state regulations, participating in annual trainings, professional organizations, and conferences to keep abreast of new information and program changes to be implemented;
• Responsible for area(s) of specialization for an internal or external program such as work-study, private loans, Pell grants, Cal grants or institutional scholarships etc.;
• Responsible for receiving and processing confidential financial aid documents both in paper and electronic form, ensuring accuracy and completeness;
• Determines changes in student eligibility upon receipt of additional information, including subsequent ISIRs, receipt of additional aid, and changes made through verification, professional judgement, or receipt of additional information;
• Responsible for reviewing and assessing student financial aid application data, completing federal verification using federal need-analysis methodology, and determining eligibility for appropriate federal, state, and institutional financial aid;
• Other special projects and job-related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Associates Degree plus 1 to 2 years' experience in a processing or financial aid environment or equivalent education and experience;
• Working knowledge of federal and state aid regulations and policies;
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with a strong attention to detail and ability to multi-task;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated knowledge and competency or able to gain proficiency with computerized financial aid applications: Jenzabar experience preferred;
• Experience in a highly diverse, multicultural environment;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• Prior experience working as a Financial Aid Counselor or equivalent

ATTENDANCE:

Must be punctual and timely in meeting all requirements of performance, including, but not limited to, attendance standards and work deadlines; beginning and ending assignments on time; and scheduled work breaks, where applicable.

COMPETENCIES:

Intellectual

• Design - Generates creative solutions; Uses feedback to modify designs; Demonstrates attention to detail.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations.
• Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.

Interpersonal

• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.
• External Working Relationships – Develops and maintains courteous and effective working relationships with clients, vendors and/or any other representatives of external organizations.

Organization

• Business Acumen - Aligns work with strategic goals.
• Business Necessity – The needs of the employer may be dependent on responding to and anticipating rapidly changing external and internal demands in all aspects of how business is conducted. This may include, but is not limited to, organization structure, finances, goals, personnel, work processes, technology, and customer demands. Therefore, it may become necessary to make modifications to how business is conducted and work is accomplished, with minimal or no advance notice to employees. Accordingly the employee must be capable of adapting, with minimal or no advance notice, to changes in how business is conducted and work is accomplished, with no diminishment in work performance.
• Safety and Security – All employees are responsible for observing safety and security procedures as applicable and reporting potentially unsafe conditions to management.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as code of federal regulations, Federal Student Aid Handbook, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Internet Software; Spreadsheet Software (Excel); Word Processing Software (Word); Electronic Mail Software (Outlook); Presentation software (PowerPoint), 10-key by Touch, reporting software, and Enterprise Database software system Jenzabar (J1 and JFA).

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES/ QUALIFICATIONS:

Excellent Communication Skills, Customer Service and Analytical skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and taste or smell.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

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

Employees are expected to arrange an appropriate and safe workspace at their alternate work location that ensures their productivity and the security of student information. Employees must be able to take telephone calls and participate in online video meetings, on-camera, with minimal distraction and while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.

PROFILE QUALITIES:

1. Customer service focused
2. Willing to invest in student/client success by fostering positive relations, guidance, and assistance
3. A belief that no task that improves the University is beneath us/servant leadership 4) Be an ambassador of the brand
4. Be a part of recruitment
5. Resource innovator

PROFILE-SPECIFIC QUALITIES BY CATEGORY:

1. They promote positivity and teamwork

1. They actively work to build up teams and break down silos
2. They actively work to be part of the solution
3. They actively work to empower themselves and their teammates, working together in decision making processes

2. They see how they can affect the bigger picture

1. They understand how their role helps to build the future of integrative healthcare
2. They pay attention to the details.

Expectations of SCU Employees

The SCU President’s Cabinet has identified a set of values and attributes that are bare minimums for employment, those that are core to who we are as a university, and values to which we aspire.  Further identified are qualities and attributes desirable for employees in general, and senior leadership specifically.  This is in harmony with principles found in The Advantage, by Patrick Lencioni.

SCU Core Values:

1) Integrative Health: We teach, learn, collaborate, and lead by creating an open environment for multiple disciplines and professionals to bring their shared and unique skills together for the benefit of patients and students.

2) Evidence-based Practice: We value a culture of inquiry, assessment, research, scholarship, and judicious use of current best evidence to inform our decisions and work.

3) Health Equity: We value people equally. We strive to educate graduates that are prepared to improve individual and community health.

4) Inclusivity: We welcome everyone regardless of age, race, ethnicity, class, religion, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other similar or protected status. We believe inclusivity leads to more diversity in our reasoning, better representativeness in our conclusions, more ingenuity in our problem solving, and greater equity in our care.