Financial Aid Counselor

your Jared; Chester (Delaware County); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Widener University in Chester, PA seeks a Financial Aid Counselor within Student Financial Services to award and process undergraduate aid, and counsel students and families on options, policies, and procedures. The role includes packaging specialized cohorts and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional guidelines.

The counselor will prepare offers, verify eligibility, and advise on payment plans, loans, and financing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Education, Public Administration or related field.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow oral and written instructions.
• Proficient in composing routine business correspondence with clarity and professionalism.
• Capable of performing basic mathematical computations accurately.

Responsibilities

• Prepare financial aid offers for undergraduates and resolve eligibility issues.
• Counsel students, parents, and administrators about financial aid options and payment plans.
• Present information about financial aid to groups and individuals.
• Package aid using Ellucian/Colleague and access federal/state systems as needed.
• Review documentation to determine institutional, state, and federal aid eligibility.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional guidelines.

Skills

Counseling skills

Financial aid knowledge

Verbal communication

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree (Finance/Accounting/Education/Public Admin or related)

Tools

Ellucian/Colleague

FAA access

NSLDS

Job description

Widener University is currently seeking a Financial Aid Counselor in the Student Financial Services department. Reporting to the Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid Services, the Financial Aid Counselor is responsible for awarding and processing undergraduate student financial aid; counsel students and families about financial aid options, policies and procedures; and package specialized population cohorts as assigned.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to):

Essential Duties:

• Prepare financial aid offers for undergraduate students, resolve eligibility discrepancies; perform tax verification, process loans.
• Counsel students, parents, and administrators regarding financial aid, payment plans, bills, and financing alternatives.
• Make presentations to the general public about financial aid.
• Utilize Ellucian/Colleague for packaging and access to other online federal/state agencies for loan certification and precertification.
• Utilize FAA access, COD and the NSLDS to review and update student information.
• Review documentation for integrity and determine institutional, state, and federal aid eligibility.
• Implement, understand, and interpret federal, state, and institutional guidelines, and procedures to assist students in obtaining financial aid.
• Act as liaison to Specific Programs at the University and externally.

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Recognize that decisions typically may influence multiple functions across the University but they do not carry long-term strategic implications.
• Tasks which are moderately complex and varied require sound analytical skills. Routine decisions are expected, with limited alternative actions available. Supervisory support is accessible for non-standard issues.
• Regularly handles sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Fully accountable for your own work. May assist in onboarding new employees or respond to inquiries directly related to the role.
• Requires general awareness of upcoming projects and responsibilities, involving moderate levels of planning and coordination.
• Maintain regular contact outside the department and University, primarily for routine information exchange.
• Operates in a busy office setting with frequent walk-in traffic and a high level of interpersonal interaction, both in person and via phone or electronic communication.
• Must be able to move freely between workstations, campus buildings, and various locations within the building.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned or directed to support departmental needs and align with the mission, values and goals of Student Financial Services and Widener University.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education/training and experience required):

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Education, Public Administration or a related area. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow both oral and written instructions.
• Proficient in composing routine business correspondence with clarity and professionalism.
• Capable of performing basic mathematical computations accurately.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR UNUSUAL HOURS:

• May require working occasional evenings and scheduled weekends to meet operational needs.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Widener University is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.

Some positions may be eligible for a hybrid or remote work arrangement that may include a partially or fully remote work location, consistent with Widener's Flexible Work policy.

Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience. Located in Chester, PA, Widener's main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington. For more information about the university, please visit our website at

www.widener.edu

.

EOE M/F/V/D