Financial Aid Counselor

California State University; Oceanside (CA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

CSU Monterey Bay seeks a Financial Aid Counselor to support a diverse student body with advising and financial aid processing. The role provides counseling to prospective, current and alumni students and families via email, phone, and in person.

Under supervision, the counselor evaluates eligibility, informs students about the award cycle, and ensures completeness and timeliness of operations. Occasional evenings/weekends may be required.

Qualifications

• Education: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in one of the behavioral sciences, public or business administration or a job-related field.
• Master's degree may substitute for one year of professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate information to determine eligibility for financial aid.
• Explain the financial aid award process to students and families.
• Provide financial aid counseling individually and in groups.
• Develop and conduct financial aid presentations.

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master's degree may substitute for 1 year of experience

Job description

Classification: Student Services Professional II
Hours: Full-time / 40 hours per week
FLSA: Exempt

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $5,083* mo.
CSU Salary Schedule
*CSUMB provides pay scales representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for this position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, and CSU systemwide pay for comparable jobs.

Priority Screening Date: November 3, 2026
Recruitment Status: Open Until Filled - Position will start in early January

Employment with the California State University System

ABOUT CSUMB

California State University, Monterey Bay is a mid-sized university in California’s Central Coast that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees. Powered by an inspiring Founding Vision Statement, CSUMB is part of the nation’s largest four-year public university system, California State University, which educates nearly 460,000 students every year.

With a vibrant, diverse student body of over 7,000 students, CSU Monterey Bay is both a Minority Serving Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution. Our staff and faculty transform students’ lives with a focus on student success and engagement through experiential learning, service learning, and a strong emphasis on multicultural and global perspectives. CSUMB’s sustainability goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030.

The university’s Strategic Plan prioritizes inclusive excellence through recruiting and investing in developing a diverse body of faculty, staff and administrators. Many appreciate living and working close to the shores of beautiful Monterey Bay, with easy access to recreational areas from Big Sur to Santa Cruz. Nearby opportunities for collaborative research include working in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Silicon Valley, and with colleagues at local research universities, including UC Santa Cruz and Stanford University.

As one of the 22 campuses in the CSU system, CSUMB offers excellent benefits, including access to below-market-rate rental housing on East Campus, and competitive salaries for faculty and staff. With proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose, opportunities for faculty, staff and students are as endless as the shores of the nearby Pacific Ocean.

PURPOSE:

Under the general direction of the Director of Financial Aid and the daily supervision of the Associate Director of Financial Aid, the Financial Aid (FA) Counselor performs a variety of basic and complex Student Services Work characterized by advising, technical and administrative duties in support of the students applying Financial Aid.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following

• Using appropriate Federal, State, and Institutional standards, evaluates information provided by financial aid applicants to determine eligibility for specific types of assistance. Explains the financial aid award cycle, answers questions related to the financial aid award process, and communicates to students and parents. Ensures completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of all operational functions. Recommends and implements guidelines to support the functions of the overall Financial Aid Office.
• Provides support to other counselors and the Lead Counselor as needed by determining the importance of each task and completes functions according to established deadlines and changing priorities.
• Independently provides financial aid counseling to prospective, current, and alumni students and families through email, telephone, and in-person appointments. Maintains a positive, effective working environment between the Financial Aid office and other on-campus departments. Plans, counsels, and uses professional judgment and effective decision-making to ensure that the student population is processed efficiently and effectively. Provides telephone and front counter reception.
• Independently develops and conducts financial aid presentations in individual and group settings to on-campus and off-campus constituents throughout the year, including weekends.

Other Functions:

Performs other job-related duties and special projects as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Working knowledge of the principles of individual and group behavior; procedures and activities of the program to which assigned; general knowledge of the methods and problems of organizational and program management. General knowledge of research and interview techniques; and of the principles of individual and group behavior.

Ability to interpret and apply program rules and regulations; use initiative and resourcefulness in planning work assignments and in implementing long-range program improvements; obtain factual and interpretative information through interviews; reason logically; collect, compile, analyze and evaluate data and make verbal or written presentations based on these data; advise students individually and in groups on routine matters where required; recognize multicultural, multi-sexed and multi-aged value systems and work accordingly; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with faculty, CSU administrators, student organizations, private and public agencies and others in committee work, and student advising and community contacts; and, rapidly acquire a general knowledge of the overall operation, functions and programs of the campus to which assigned. Demonstrated ability to make decisions and carry through actions having implications with regard to other program or service areas.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in one of the behavioral sciences, public or business administration or a job‑ related field. Additional specialized experience during which the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Experience: Possession of these knowledge and abilities is typically demonstrated through the equivalent of two years of professional experience in one of the student services program areas or in a related field; experience should give evidence of competence and indicate the potential for further growth. A master’s degree in a job related field may be substituted for one year of the professional experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience with electronic transfer of data, and other automated systems involved in a financial aid office. Experience in advising students individually and in groups, and in analysis and resolution of complex student services problems. Experience in a Financial Aid Office in a comparable four-year institution. Second language proficiency.

Technical fluency with Oracle/PeopleSoft, CSU Common Management System or equivalent information system; Microsoft Office Professional; Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Drive, Calendar, Forms, etc.); 25Live; intranet drives; and internet browsers.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT & POSITION DESIGNATIONS:

• All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check (including a criminal records check).
• The person holding this position will have a duty to report to the Campus Title IX Officer information pertaining to discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order EO 1095, EO 1096, and EO 1097 as a condition of employment.
• This position has been designated as a sensitive position with access to and responsibility for detailed personally identifiable Level 1 confidential information about students, faculty, staff or alumni that is protected, personal or sensitive as defined in the CSU Information Security Data Classification Standards.
• This position is required to comply with confidentiality requirements outlined in the Department of Education’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy and California’s Educational Code Chapter 13 regarding sensitive student issues.
• This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). The position is required to participate in training at the direction of the Clery Director and must also promptly report allegations of reportable crimes according to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, its accompanying regulations; the California State Education Code, Chapter 15.5, of the Donahoe Higher Education Act, Section 67380; and the California State University system-wide policy, Code EO 1107.
• This position has been designated as a sensitive position with
  • responsibility for the care, safety and security of people (including children and minors), animals and CSU property
  • access to and responsibility for detailed personally identifiable Level 1 confidential information about students, faculty, staff or alumni that is protected, personal or sensitive as defined in the CSU Information Security Data Classification Standards
• May require occasional evenings and/or weekend work.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:

Office environment with standard equipment and tasks. The position requires working at a computer and desk for extended periods of time. May require travel between campus offices and off-campus locations.

The health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff remain our highest priority. While on campus, students, faculty, staff, and the community will be expected to follow all campus safety mandates.

BENEFITS/PERKS:

CSUMB offers a premium benefit package that includes outstanding vacation, health, dental and vision plans; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS); and 15 paid holidays a year. For