Financial Aid Counselor

Financial Aid Counselor

The Financial Aid department at Barry University seeks a full time Financial Aid Counselor. Provide counseling and processing of all Title IV, state and institutional aid for UG, GR and Extended Learning/AP students, parents, and others seeking information and assistance with all aspects of the financial aid application, eligibility, and disbursement process, while adjusting content to the level of background of each student. In counseling, analyzing the student's circumstances in the context of financial aid eligibility and the student's interests, explaining the possible outcomes and consequences of each action or decision, and referring students to other offices or resources as warranted by the student's situation. The financial aid counselor requires a thorough understanding of federal, state, and institutional rules governing the various forms of financial aid. Beyond the technical and counseling skills required for evaluation and verification of financial aid eligibility, the counselors must use significant and professional judgment in the awarding of available financial aid.

This is a Hybrid position.

Counsels and advises students about financial aid eligibility, application procedures for all aid programs, costs, indebtedness, money management and financial planning, individualizes information to the particular needs and situation of the student.

• Collects and/or analyzes financial data on students to determine aid eligibility and make awards within federal, state and institutional guidelines. Evaluates documentation or information provided by the student.
• Exercises judgment by making adjustment or revisions to costs, contribution, need, or dependency status as exceptions to the prescribed process.
• Answers questions, inquiries, or requests from students, parents, or guardians in person, on the phone or in writing regarding financial aid programs and eligibility.

Bridging the gap between the expectations of students and parents and the reality of what financial aid will provide can be stressful.

• Counselors deal continuously with the conflict between a family's perceived need and the help available to the student. In this position, they may be the "bearer of bad news" sometimes accused of telling students they "cannot" attend the University.
• Counselors must be able to deal effectively with the dejection that some students feel when confronted with limited resources to make their educational dreams come true as well as parents and students who may become adversarial in attempts to improve their treatment.
• To resolve these situations without assistance, counselors are knowledgeable and authoritative while remaining supportive, calm and professional even under highly charged circumstances

Federal law is reauthorized every 5 to 6 years with regulatory changes and new legislation inserted within those spans. State aid can change annually with each session of the legislature. Institutional costs and processes may change even more often.

• Every counselor will track these changes and the effects on student awards at the University.
• The counselor must successfully keep abreast of technical applications of regulatory and institutional changes to meet their job requirements

Financial Aid Counselors must also work reports to maintain quality control and ensure student financial aid is awarded within federal, state and institutional regulations and policies.

• Comparing new data to previously recorded data, analyzing data for reasonableness and consistency with other information, contacting outside parties or students when necessary for clarification, making determinations as to how this affects student eligibility, adjusting the aid package and notifying students of changes.

Work with students to resolve any discrepancies in their financial aid file including conflicting information and subsequent ISIR's. Provide guidance and perform ISIR file verifications based on Title IV regulations.

• Review in depth what the verification process is with students and parents and discuss in detail what documents are required in order to complete process.
• Review the verification documents provided to ensure paperwork is completed accurately and that we have all the appropriate paperwork to meet federal guidelines.
• Coordinate proper EFC calculation and re-transmission via Colleague.
• Review, process and correct any INS, Selective Service and loan default records

Screening of loan applications to determine eligibility, and identifying and or resolving errors, discrepancies and atypical situations.

• Performs loan certification in Colleague and transmits electronic loan certifications to COD.
• Resolve any loan conflicts via COD on approvals, disbursements, rejects or pending items.

Utilize professional judgment to accommodate and counsel students regarding special circumstances.

• Review special circumstances presented by the student in-person or by means of written requests.
• Make appropriate revisions to student eligibility, cost of attendance or financial aid to accommodate the circumstances that are within the law and institutional policy and funding guidelines and defensible.
• Verify or correct application information, track through automated correction process or enter data directly through CPS On-line. Document professional judgments and corrections, justifying actions that will withstand review by audit.

Work with other University administrative units such as Admissions, CBO, Student Services, Housing and Registrar to troubleshoot and resolve student aid issues.

• A dedication to excellent customer service and desire to help students succeed. The ability to communicate in an effective and professional manner with detailed and sensitive information.
• A high degree of accountability and attention to detail ensure that outreach to other administrative offices will help provide students with the level of service they expect.

Present financial aid information as part of community outreach at workshops, recruitment events, webinars, Financial Aid Nights, in a variety of settings, including on and off campus, day, evening, and weekend venues.

• Coordinate presentations with sponsoring groups and other presenters.
• Provide financial literacy intended to educate students regarding their overall finances, debt management, and credit management. This includes scheduling of sessions annually based on the needs of the students we serve.
• This information will be presented to students in a variety of ways including group presentations, online materials, webinars and emails. Responsible for the creation and maintenance of a website specific to the literacy program.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• A High school diploma is required. A Bachelor's degree is preferred
• 1-3 years of relevant experience
• Must have the ability to analyze complex processing flows to find solutions with skills in researching regulatory information and resolving complex financial questions. Must have skills in computing complex mathematical formulas.
• Must be able to track all details of assigned projects to completion, with the ability to prioritize & manage a significant caseload
• Able to effectively communicate, in oral and written form, with colleagues and customers, with the ability to defuse difficult, angry, or emotional situations with students and/or parents. Have the ability to interpret and explain regulatory information related to the financial aid process.

Benefits: Barry University offers a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees that includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, tuition assistance, paid time off and work/life balance initiatives such as wellness programs, spirituality in the workplace, and training and development.

Barry University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment.