Financial Aid Counselor

California-State-University,-Monterey-Bay; Seaside (CA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

California State University, Monterey Bay is seeking a Financial Aid Counselor to support students and families with federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. The role includes evaluating eligibility, explaining the aid award process, and ensuring timely, accurate operations across the Financial Aid Office.

Responsibilities include independent counseling for prospective, current, and alumni students, interacting with internal departments, and delivering presentations to groups

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.
• Two years of professional experience in one of the student services program areas or in a related field; a master’s degree may substitute for some education.
• Additional specialized experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates information from financial aid applicants to determine eligibility for specific types of assistance using Federal, State and Institutional standards.
• Explains the financial aid award cycle and communicates with students and parents; ensures completeness, accuracy and timeliness of operations.
• Provides independent financial aid counseling to prospective, current, and alumni students and families via email, phone, and in-person appointments; coordinates with campus departments.
• Develops and conducts financial aid presentations for on-campus and off-campus audiences, including weekends.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Decision making

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

• Unit 4 - APC - Academic Professionals of California 1

Job Search Category/Discipline

• Student Services 1

Time Basis

• Full Time 1

Workplace Type (Exclude Inst Fac)

• On-site (work in-person at business location) 1

Job no: 563495
Work type: Staff
Location: Monterey Bay
Categories: Unit 4 - APC - Academic Professionals of California, Probationary, Full Time, Student Services, On-site (work in-person at business location)

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 15, 2026
Recruitment Status: Open Until Filled - Position will start in early January

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 Planprioritizes 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 Cruze. 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