Financial Aid Advisor

Reports To: Director of Financial Aid Job Status: Exempt Position Summary The Financial Aid Advisor under the direction of the Director of Financial Aid provides exceptional financial aid counseling and support to prospective, current, and returning students. The Financial Aid Advisor administers federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and university policies. This position serves as a primary point of contact for students and families, assisting them throughout the financial aid lifecycle—from FAFSA completion and eligibility determination through awarding, counseling, disbursement, and ongoing financial wellness support. The successful candidate will combine regulatory knowledge, technology proficiency, and outstanding customer service to promote student success and retention. Primary Responsibilities Serve as a primary financial aid counselor for prospective, continuing, graduate, and professional students. Provide individualized counseling regarding financial aid eligibility, FAFSA completion, verification, scholarships, grants, loans, work‑study, satisfactory academic progress (SAP), and financial literacy. Respond to student, parent, faculty, and staff inquiries through in‑person, phone, email, chat, and virtual advising platforms. Assist students in understanding financing options and responsible borrowing strategies. Review and process financial aid applications and supporting documentation. Determine and package financial aid awards in accordance with federal, state, institutional, and donor requirements. Certify federal loan eligibility and monitor annual and aggregate loan limits. Resolve conflicting information, over awards, eligibility discrepancies, and enrollment‑related issues. Review and process professional judgment requests, satisfactory academic appeals, dependency overrides, unusual circumstance determinations, and special circumstance appeals in accordance with federal regulations. Assist with scholarship administration, including departmental, endowed, and institutional scholarship awarding. Perform other duties as assigned. Review verification documentation and ensure timely resolution of outstanding requirements. Monitor student eligibility under federal, state, and institutional regulations. Assist with implementation and maintenance of financial aid policies and procedures. Maintain accurate records in accordance with FERPA, Title IV regulations, and university standards. Support internal audits, compliance reviews, and program reconciliations. Proactively identify students with incomplete files or barriers to aid eligibility. Conduct outreach campaigns to support enrollment, persistence, and retention initiatives. Partner with Enrollment Management, Admissions, Registrar, Student Accounts, Athletics, Graduate Programs, and Academic Affairs to support student success. Assist students experiencing financial hardship by identifying available resources and funding opportunities. Represent Student Financial Services during orientation, open houses, FAFSA workshops, financial literacy events, and recruitment activities. Conduct presentations for students, parents, faculty, staff, and community partners. Promote financial wellness through debt management, budgeting, and loan repayment education. Utilize Banner SaaS, CRM platforms, federal systems, and other technologies to support efficient service delivery. Maintain accurate electronic records and case notes. Assist with testing, implementation, and optimization of financial aid technologies and process improvements. Support data integrity initiatives and operational reporting. Participate in office automation and continuous improvement projects to enhance the student experience. Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Minimum of 2–5 years of financial aid, higher education, enrollment management, student services, or related experience. Knowledge of federal Title IV financial aid regulations. Strong communication, analytical, organizational, and customer service skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment. Demonstrated commitment to accuracy, compliance, and student service. Ability to meet deadlines and maintain a high level of accuracy, professionalism and a customer service orientation. Requires some evenings and week‑end work throughout the academic year. Adherence to and support of the Houston Christian University statement of belief as required by the Preamble of the By‑Laws of the university. Ability to relate well with a diverse student population. Ability to work well under pressure. Preferred Experience administering federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. Experience with Ellucian Banner or Banner SaaS. Experience with FAFSA Simplification implementation and modern Title IV regulations. Experience conducting financial literacy, outreach, or student success programming. Knowledge of Texas state financial aid programs including TEG, Texas College Work‑Study, and TEXAS Grant. Additional Information Houston Christian University is an independent, private Christian liberal arts institution with a diverse student body. It has access to all the cultural advantages of one of the largest metropolitan centers in the country. For more information about the University, visit hc.edu. The University has implemented its Ten Pillars vision (hc.edu/vision) and anticipates significant growth in student enrollment and university programs. The successful candidate will also be able to articulate a vision for the role of their discipline at HCU that is supportive of the Ten Pillars vision statement. Disclaimer Background checks are performed on every new hire. If your application is selected to continue with the interview process you will be required to submit a Background Check form. If you decline, your application may be denied. By proceeding with the online application you understand and accept this process. #J-18808-Ljbffr