Financial Aid Advisor III

Grayson College; Denison (TX); On-site; USD 29,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Vision insurance

Job summary

Grayson College in Denison, TX is seeking a Financial Aid Advisor III to act as the senior SME in the Office of Financial Aid, handling complex eligibility determinations, multi-source aid packaging, and regulatory compliance. You will oversee escalated walk-ins, PJ petitions, SAP/UEH reviews, and awards management for federal, state, and scholarships.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree and 2–5 years in Title IV aid administration; NASFAA credentials are preferred.

Qualifications

• Two to five years of progressive experience in higher education Title IV and state financial aid advising, verification, and packaging.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required.
• NASFAA credentials are preferred for advanced expertise.
• Strong knowledge of FAFSA, verification processes, and aid packaging workflows.

Responsibilities

• Determine student eligibility and package federal, state, and institutional aid with accuracy.
• Serve as senior advising escalation point for complex cases across in-person and virtual channels.
• Counsel students on SAP/UEH, PJ petitions, and loan requests with student-centered guidance.
• Design and maintain annual forms, disclosures, and consumer information compliance.
• Lead financial literacy seminars and outreach to prospective and continuing students.
• Stay current with Title IV and state aid regulations through ongoing training.

Skills

Counseling skills

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

SIS proficiency

Microsoft Office

Job description

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition assistance
• Vision insurance

Welcome to Grayson College. Grayson College is in the heart of Grayson County and provides a vital link for higher education. GC offers small classes for personalized instruction, affordable tuition, caring, professional faculty, and the convenience of day, evening or online classes. The college serves approximately 5,000 students annually. Grayson’s reputation is highly respected by surrounding universities and industries as an excellent source of quality graduates who bring specialized, skilled and much-needed talents to the workplace.

Financial Aid Advisor III

Role: Serves as the senior financial aid advisor and functional subject matter expert (SME) in the Grayson College Office of Financial Aid for complex advising, eligibility packaging, and regulatory compliance. Manages escalated walk-in consultations and scheduled counseling appointments, evaluates Special and Unusual Circumstance (Professional Judgment) requests and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) / Unusual Enrollment History (UEH) reviews, packages multi-source federal, state, and scholarship aid, and leads annual form design, consumer information compliance, and financial literacy programming. The salary range for this position is $21.29 to $31.93 per hour.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short & Long-term disability insurances available
• Medical premiums covered by Grayson College for FT employee only
• Vacation Accrual- 2 weeks per year
• Sick Leave Accrual- 2 weeks per year
• Personal Leave- 2 days for FT employees per year
• Holidays- Labor Day, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Spring Break, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and Independence Day
• Tuition-FT employees, their spouse & dependents are eligible for coverage of Grayson College tuition.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• 35% | Essential Multi-Source Eligibility Determination & Aid Packaging: Determines student eligibility, resolves complex verification and NSLDS/COD flags (overpayments, aggregate loan limits, default clearances, Unusual Enrollment History [UEH], and awards/revises federal (Pell Grant, SEOG, Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized/PLUS Loans), state (Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG), TASFA-based grants, waivers, exemptions), institutional scholarships, and private/alternative loans.
• 30% | Essential Escalated Walk-In & Scheduled Appointment Counseling: Serves as the senior advising escalation point for complex walk-in cases, scheduled student/parent appointments, and campus staff consultations across in-person, telephone, and virtual channels. Counsels traditional, adult, and at-risk learners on Change of Circumstance / Professional Judgment (PJ) petitions (loss of income, separation/divorce, death of parent/spouse, dependency overrides), Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeals) withdrawal impacts, and responsible loan borrowing. Mentors and provides daily functional guidance to Financial Aid Advisors I and II.d financial aid inquiries, application challenges, and loan concerns in person, in writing, by telephone, or other electronic means.
• 15% | Essential Annual Forms, Consumer Information & Regulatory Liaison: Designs and updates annual paper and electronic Grayson College financial aid forms, verification worksheets, and document sequencing workflows. Audits and updates departmental website content and mandated federal Consumer Information disclosures for regulatory compliance. Communicates with federal agencies (via FSA Partner Connect, COD, NSLDS), state agencies (THECB), and alternative loan providers regarding eligibility and reporting requirements.
• 10% | Essential Financial Literacy Seminars & Outreach Leadership: Develops presentation curricula and conducts financial aid workshops, default-prevention sessions, and financial literacy seminars for prospective, new, and continuing students as well as community partner groups.
• 5% | Essential Advanced Regulatory Training & Credentials: Attends state (TASFAA/THECB) and regional (SWASFAA) trainings, conferences, and credentialing programs to maintain expert knowledge of evolving Title IV and Texas financial aid statutes.
• 5% | Non-Essential Other Related Duties: Performs other job-related duties as assigned by the Director of Financial Aid and Veteran Services.

Performance Measurements:

1. Demonstrates Grayson College Viking Values of balance, clarity, gratitude, service, teamwork, and trust, serving as a departmental role model and subject matter expert.

2. Resolves escalated walk-in and scheduled appointment cases, Professional Judgment petitions, and SAP/UEH reviews with sound regulatory judgment, thorough documentation, and student-centered empathy aligned with CAS Financial Aid Programs Standards and CAEL Adult Learner Principles.

3. Packages and adjusts federal, state, and scholarship awards with a high level of accuracy, striving for zero audit or program review errors.

4. Ensures annual electronic/fillable forms and website Consumer Information disclosures are accurate, accessible, and compliant ahead of each aid year launch.

5. Complies strictly with FERPA, the Higher Education Act, Federal Tax Information ue081FTIue082 data security requirements, and institutional policies.

6. Strives to complete and execute job functions with 100% accuracy and limited direct supervision.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience: Two (2) to five (4) years of progressive experience in higher education Title IV and state financial aid advising, verification, and packaging required. NASFAA Professional Credentials preferred.
• Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required. (An Associate's degree plus four (4) or more years of progressive Title IV financial aid administration experience may be considered as an equivalent substitution.)
• Interpersonal Skills: Advanced counseling, conflict resolution, and coaching skills required to handle high-stakes student appeals, sensitive family/financial disclosures, and staff peer mentoring with discretion and diplomacy.
• Other Skills: Comprehensive knowledge of Title IV regulations (FAFSA Simplification, SAI, V1/V4/V5 Verification, PJ, SAP, UEH, R2T4), THECB state programs (TEOG, TASFA, exemptions/waivers), and federal systems (FSA Partner Connect, FPP, COD, NSLDS). Strong proficiency in enterprise Student Information Systems (SIS), electronic form workflows, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Physical Requirements: Standard office environment with regular student advising and occasional off-campus workshop delivery. Requires sitting, standing, carrying presentation materials (up to 25 lbs.), and occasional evening or weekend workshop coverage.
• Work Environment: Regular exposure to favorable conditions such as those found in a typical office.

This job description is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities comprising the position.

This Job Description is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities comprising the position.

This position is considered a security sensitive position and will require a criminal background check.

GRAYSON COLLEGE IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTION PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ON THE BASIS OF MERIT AND WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, GENDER, AGE, DISABILITY, OR ANY OTHER BASIS PROHIBITED BY LAW.

The employer actively supports the Americans with Disabilities Act and will consider reasonable accommodations. For more information, please contact the human resources office at 903-463-8770 or [e-mail].