Financial Aid Advisor

Talentify; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Rock Valley College is seeking a Financial Aid Advisor to deliver excellent customer service to students applying for financial aid. You will counsel students and families on funding sources and manage the paperwork intake and file maintenance, including scanning and updating Colleague.

You will review and correct financial aid files, run award letters, adjust bookstore limits, and apply federal, state, and college policies while keeping FERPA confidentiality. Regular attendance may be required.

Qualifications

• Associate degree required; bachelor’s preferred.
• Two or more years of related experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent customer service to students, their families and the RVC community.
• Counsel students and families regarding federal and state financial aid programs.
• Assist students with FAFSA and required verification documents.
• Evaluate special circumstances and make sound recommendations.
• Lead, train and advise Financial Aid Office student employees.

Skills

Customer service

Student counseling

Excellent communication

Attention to detail

Education

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Colleague

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

CRM software

Imaging software

Job description

Position Type:
Support Staff
Date Posted:
10/1/2026
Location:
Main Campus
Position Title: Financial Aid Advisor
Department: Financial Aid (FIA)
Division: Enrollment Services (ENS)
Employee Status: Full-time
Type: Support Staff Association (SSA-Union)
Grade: 10 ($21.32 hourly)
FLSA: Non-exempt
Business Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8am - 6pm Fridays 8am-5pm (May be required to work some evenings and weekends)
Issued: July 2015
Revised: 6-15; 7-16, 3-23, 10-23, 7-24, 7-25, 10-26
Employment Notice: Rock Valley College does not offer sponsorship for employment-based visas for this position now or in the future. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.
Application Deadline: October 18th, 2026

Reporting Relationships Reports to:

Supervision is received from the Program Manager of Financial Aid.
Supervision Exercised: Functional supervision is exercised over student workers.

Job Summary:

Offer excellent customer service to students applying for financial aid. Counsel students and families on sources of educational funding; manage the paperwork intake process and student file maintenance including scanning and updating Colleague. Review and correct financial aid files when needed. Run award letters, adjust bookstore limits and maintain the developmental class rosters. Know and apply federal, state, and college procedures and policies in the processing of student applications for financial aid while maintaining the confidentiality of student information.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. 1. Provide excellent customer service to students, their families and to the RVC community
2. 2. Counsel students and families regarding the benefits and requirements of federal and state financial aid programs
3. 3. Assist students and families with FAFSA and required verification and appeal document completion.
4. 4. Evaluate special and unusual circumstances and make sound recommendations to students using good judgment within established guidelines.
5. 5. Lead, train and advise Financial Aid Office student employees as it relates to student service and service counter responsibilities.
6. 6. Collaborate with Academic Advisors as part of a support team for students.
7. 7. Prepare and maintain student's files using imaging software.
8. 8. Interpret financial statements, income tax reports, and related documents as related to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
9. 9. Review FAFSAs, applications, and required documents for accuracy and completeness.
10. 10. Complete the verification process within federal regulations. Obtain additional documents and accurately record updates and changes in Colleague.
11. 11. Monitor changes to FAFSA the students' financial aid application information and enter corrections with the federal database as needed
12. 12. Receive, review, analyze and process student applications for additional types of financial aid in accordance with state, federal, and College guidelines
13. 13. Navigate the State of Illinois GAP Access site to determine student state award eligibility
14. 14. Track student communication through current CRM software and assist with student communication improvement
15. 15. Complete cross learning with assigned Coordinator and/or Program Manager
16. 16. Assist with outreach and community events such as FAFSA workshops, Veteran's Day and Financial Aid Information sessions.
17. 17. Responsible for student correspondence and follow up including email, phone calls, and web page maintenance
18. 18. Maintain the developmental class list and student notification as necessary
19. 19. Maintain inventory and stock display racks with financial aid brochures, pamphlets and forms
20. 20. Assist in the review and update of annual internal forms and letters
21. 21. Maintain up to date knowledge of financial aid program parameters and regulations in completing forms and understanding available sources of assistance
22. 22. Maintain confidentiality of student records according to FERPA regulations
23. 23. Other related duties as assigned
24. 24. Regular attendance is expected.
25. 25. Using tact and courtesy, the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with persons contacted in the course of work.

Qualifications:

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

Minimum Qualifications:

Associate's degree required; Bachelor's degree preferred. Two or more years of experience in a related field with a proven track record of assisting a diverse population. Experience with working within guidelines, rules and regulations preferred. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, experience working with Microsoft Word and Excel.

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting.