Financial Aid Counselor

Westfield State University; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 43,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Westfield State University is seeking a Financial Aid Counselor to join their Financial Aid Office. This full-time role involves providing exceptional customer service to students and guiding them through the financial aid process. The successful candidate will possess a bachelor's degree, strong communication skills, and 1-2 years of experience in financial aid administration. A commitment to supporting the university's mission and values is essential.

Benefits

All-inclusive medical, dental and vision insurance

Tuition waiver for full-time employees, spouse, and dependent children

403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions

Generous paid time off including vacation and holidays

Employee assistance plan resources

Qualifications

• General knowledge of state and federal financial aid regulations required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills essential.
• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely and exceptional customer service to students and families.
• Counsel students on financial aid processes and eligibility.
• Conduct verification reviews for federal compliance.

Skills

Customer Service

Communication

Organization

Detail Oriented

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Posting Number:

S000900

Position Title:

Financial Aid Counselor

Department:

Financial Aid

Division:

Enrollment Management and Marketing

Supervisor Title:

Director of Financial Aid

Status:

Full Time Regular

Salary Range:

$43,000 - $45,000

Position Summary:

Provides processing and customer service support for the Office of Financial Aid to ensure that all students, staff, faculty, and community are well served and in a timely manner.

Description of Key Responsibilities:

All members of the financial aid team will be cross-trained to provide the following support to the office’s function. The depth and extent of time each member will individually perform each duty, will be determined based on business needs and an ongoing evaluation of workload and team functions. Among his/her duties, each team member will have a set of core functions for which they serve a primary role, but also be able to support other constituencies as needed at peak times of the cycle.

1. Offer exceptional customer service in a timely and accurate manner to current students, prospective students, parents, and guiding them through the financial aid process.
2. Serves as primary point of contact for current and prospective students
3. Counsels and advises students about financial aid eligibility, application procedures, aid programs, costs, and indebtedness
4. Conducts verification review for selected students according to federal regulations
5. Stays up to date on financial aid information by attending Financial Aid workshops.
6. Works in conjunction with the Admissions Office and other offices on student recruitment as it relates to the financial aid process. This includes participating in events on and off campus.
7. Engage in professional behavior that enables the achievement of individual work responsibilities while fully and positively supporting the dynamics and progress of the financial aid unit
8. Demonstrate and reflect an understanding of and commitment to the mission and core values of North Central College.
9. Programmatic responsibility as assigned.
10. Other job-related duties as assigned.

OTHER KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Support the College’s mission, vision and values, and contribute to the advancement of the College’s Strategic Plan.
2. Demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous quality improvement.
3. Demonstrate civil and inclusive behavior when interacting with staff, faculty, students and visitors to the College. Promote a flexible, collaborative and inclusive work and living environment and engage in educational opportunities.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

An individual in this position must possess the proficiency, wherewithal and knowledge of principles and processes for providing high-quality service to both internal and external constituents of the College.

1. General knowledge of state and federal financial aid regulations
2. Strong written and verbal communications with proven ability to maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external constituents in order to provide support for the office and the students it serves required.
3. Ability to quickly grasp knowledge of the College organization and operation, both administratively and academically, relating to financial aid.
4. Ability to deal with several tasks and work with a large number of individuals concurrently, often without direct supervision. This requires a person who is well organized, detail oriented, flexible and able to effectively prioritize tasks.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

The Financial Aid Counselor in the Office of Financial Aid must be able to interact with students, their families, and other internal and external college community members while continuously providing a high level of service and positive interaction.

Successful applicants must possess exceptional communication and customer service skills, a bachelor’s degree, 1-2 years of financial aid experience, and should understand and support the mission and core values of the College.

Education/Training:

A bachelor’s degree is required.

Experience:

1-2 years experience in student financial aid administration

Is This a Temporary Position?:

No

Employment Conditions:

An offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of the College’s background screening process.

Number of Vacancies:

1

EEO Statement:

North Central College is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce. NCC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please notify the Office of Human Resources. Determinations for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Open Until Filled:

Yes

Additional Information:

The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and training.

North Central College provides a comprehensive benefits package, which includes:

• All-inclusive medical, dental and vision group insurance
• Health and dependent care savings plans
• Employer-paid life, AD&D and disability group insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions
• Employee assistance plan resources
• Tuition waiver for full-time employees, spouse and dependent children
• Generous paid time off plans, including 3 weeks vacation to start
• 15 paid holidays per year, including 5 days during NCC Winter Break
• Free access to campus health center, fitness and athletic facilities, and library
• Employee discount program