Financial Aid Advisor

The Community Solution Education System; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 75,274,819 - 80,833,435; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

Retirement plan with employer contrib.

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

The Community Solution Education System in Chicago seeks a Financial Aid Advisor to guide students through financing education, verify eligibility, and prepare financial aid awards. You will advise and support students across all financing options while ensuring accuracy and compliance.

This role requires on-site presence with remote days available for processing, compliance, and student support, reporting to the Associate Director of Financial Aid.

Qualifications

• Minimum High School Diploma.
• 1–2 years of experience in financial aid or related student services.
• Familiarity with CRM tools and student information systems.
• Knowledge of Title IV regulations and financial aid compliance.

Responsibilities

• Advise incoming and current students on financial aid resources and options.
• Collect and review documentation to verify eligibility.
• Package and revise financial aid awards for new and continuing students.
• Track and maintain financial aid documents in the student information system.
• Prepare and distribute financial aid award letters.
• Serve as a primary contact for student financial aid questions.
• Present financial aid information at events and workshops.
• Stay current on regulations by trainings and workshops.

Skills

Title IV knowledge

Communication skills

Customer service

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Education

High School Diploma

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

CampusVue

Student information systems

CRM tools

Financial aid software

Job description

The Community Solution Education System is seeking a Financial Aid Advisor for the Financial Aid department.

The Financial Aid Advisor is responsible for advising and assisting students with all aspects of financing their education, including establishing financial aid eligibility, clarifying policies, and providing accurate information on all financing options. This position requires regular on-campus presence, particularly during peak periods, student-facing events, and scheduled days each week. Remote days can be arranged to work on processing, compliance, and student support. The role ensures accurate and compliant delivery of financial aid in alignment with federal, state, and institutional regulations. This role reports to the Associate Director of Financial Aid.

Position responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Advise incoming and current students on financial aid resources, eligibility, and options
• Collect and review documentation required to verify financial aid eligibility
• Package and revise financial aid awards for new and continuing students
• Track, process, and maintain financial aid documents in the student information system
• Prepare and distribute financial aid award letters
• Serve as a primary point of contact for students with financial aid questions
• Present financial aid information at student events, workshops, and financial literacy sessions
• Support financial aid–related campus events during peak periods
• Stay current on financial aid regulations by attending trainings and workshops
• Collaborate with The Community Solution Education System Financial Aid Director and staff
• Provide exceptional customer service and timely responses to student inquiries
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of Title IV regulations, Direct Loan programs, and financial aid compliance
• Familiarity with CampusVue or similar student information systems
• Strong communication, customer service, and problem-solving skills
• High accuracy, attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Proficiency with standard office software and web-based platforms
• Ability to work effectively with diverse student populations

Education

• Minimum High School Diploma
• Bachelor’s degree preferred, but not required

Experience

• 1–2 years of experience in financial aid or a related student services area
• 1- 2 years of experience with student information systems, CRM tools, or financial aid software preferred

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements

• Full-time on-site presence (5 days/week) with hybrid work flexibility.
• Ability to perform sedentary work and operate office equipment (computer, printer, phone)
• Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends based on peak periods or events

Compensation & Benefits

This opportunity is budgeted at $26.27 - 28.21 base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below.

https://www.tcsedsystem.edu/careers/

The Community Solution is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Application Process

Please note the screening, recruitment, and selection process is managed by recruiting staff and hiring managers with the aid of artificial intelligence to evaluate candidates against job requirements. The artificial intelligence tool is a resource only and all employment decisions are made by staff members.

When you apply, it is recommended you utilize the option to parse your resume into the application. To ensure your experience is accurately reflected, please review and complete all application fields—even if you auto-fill from your resume.

For the best results, tailor your resume to the job description, highlight key qualifications and skills, and use clear, consistent formatting. This helps our AI tools read and assess your application more effectively. We are committed to regularly monitoring the process for fairness and remove personally identifiable information during evaluation.