Financial Aid Advisor

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Saint Charles (MO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid tuition benefits

Comprehensive benefits plan

Paid holidays

Free lunch Fridays

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. is looking for a Financial Aid Advisor responsible for counseling students and providing administrative support for financial aid programs. You will process applications and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.

The ideal candidate should possess a Bachelor’s degree and at least one year of relevant experience. Opportunities for advancement and professional development are provided.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of 1 year’s experience in financial aid or student accounts.
• Experience with student financial services model preferred.

Responsibilities

• Counsels students and parents on financial aid eligibility for various programs.
• Monitors progress of FAFSA completion for assigned population.
• Initiates outreach to provide guidance on financial aid requirements.
• Provides financial aid advising through multiple communication channels.
• Maintains contact with students throughout the financial aid cycle.

Job description

Benefits of Being a Lindenwood Employee

• Upon hire, employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s (employee, spouse, and dependent) and master’s degree programs (employee and spouse only).
• Tuition discounts for doctoral programs (employee only).
• Comprehensive benefits plan: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement options.
• Paid holidays: MLK Jr. day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break (Wednesday – Friday), and winter break (Dec. 23 – Jan. 1).
• Free lunch Fridays: LU employees are eligible for a free meal on Fridays at the Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman DiningHall; Chick-fil-A and Qdoba included.
• Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy.

Job Title Summary

Job Title: Financial Aid Advisor
Division: Enrollment and Marketing
Evaluation Group: Staff
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports To: Director, Student Financial Services Operations
Positions Supervised: N/A

Job Summary

The financial aid advisor is responsible for providing effective counseling and administrative support for various federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work programs. This role serves as the primary point of contact for students and families, providing skilled advising through multiple communication channels. The financial aid advisor also processes financial aid applications, verifications, and eligibility reviews to ensure timely and accurate awarding and disbursement of funds in compliance with federal and state regulations and institutional policies.

Essential Job Functions and Performance Indicators

Job Responsibilities and Execution

• Counsels students and parents of assigned population on financial aid eligibility for grants, loans, scholarships, student employments, and payment options
• Monitors progress of FAFSA completion for assigned population
• Initiates outreach to students/parents to provide guidance on completing financial aid requirements
• Provides skilled financial aid advising via email, phone, virtual platforms, and presentations including high school recruiting events
• Maintains contact with students throughout the financial aid cycle to ensure all financial aid funds are in a ‘ready to pay’ status
• Monitors financial aid applications for assigned population to ensure students are packaged accurately and efficiently
• Performs verifications, resolves C codes, and reviews conflicting information and comment codes to determine the eligibility of financial aid applicants
• Works with students/parents to resolve rejected ISIRs
• Awards financial aid per federal, state, and institutional policies
• Resolves aid processing, certification, and disbursement issues
• Identifies and processes financial aid adjustments based on enrollment changes
• Assists in preparing for financial aid audits

Service Excellence

• Supports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence
• Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University’s values
• Participates in developing financial aid processes, policies, and procedures that improve efficiency and quality of service provided to students

Communication, Teamwork, and Collaboration

• Works collaboratively across departments to resolve student aid issues such as collaborating with Student Accounts to resolve unpaid balances
• Participates in training, workshops, and professional development opportunities

Job may require other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of 1 year’s experience in financial aid or student accounts
• Experience with student financial services model preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
• Ability to coordinate with other departments
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Highly organized with the ability to multitask
• Strong professional integrity and ability to maintain strict confidentiality
• Ability to use good judgment, think critically, and problem solve
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite

Work Environment

• General office setting
• Evening and weekend work possible
• Fully On‑Ground

Physical Abilities

• Ability to work effectively at a computer for up to eight hours daily
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function
• Adequate mobility to attend meetings and events across campus

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lindenwood University is an Equal Opportunity employer. The University complies with appropriate federal, state, and local laws and provides equal employment opportunities and access to educational programs without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status to all qualified applicants and employees. Lindenwood University is committed to a policy of non‑discrimination and dedicated to providing a positive discrimination‑free educational work environment.