Financial Aid Counselor

Who's On the Move; Spartanburg (SC); On-site; USD 41,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, SC seeks a Financial Aid Counselor to manage Direct Federal Loans (Direct, PLUS, Perkins) and oversee ED processes, ELM, COD, and NSLDS data. The role involves counseling students, parents, and staff, reviewing loan applications, and ensuring accurate award processing.

Responsibilities include loan certification, monitoring approvals/denials, and coordinating with SC Teacher Loan programs. Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job-related field and 1+ years of job-related experience; a successful background check is required.
• Master’s degree preferred; experience with financial aid software systems is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Operates Direct Federal Loans (Direct, PLUS, Perkins) via ED website and manages loan funds for lender platforms.
• Counsels prospects, parents, students, faculty, and staff in financial aid.
• Reviews files, performs verification, and ensures ED compliance and NSLDS integrity.
• Awards Direct and Private loans and monitors loan certifications and disbursements.
• Represents the FA office at recruitment events and supports SC Teacher Loan Program processing.

Education

Bachelor's degree in a job-related field

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Financial Aid Counselor
University of South Carolina Upstate
STA00776PO26
Spartanburg, SC

Responsible for the daily operation of Direct Federal Loans (Direct, PLUS, and Perkins) via the Department of Education (ED) website, the SC Teacher Loan Programs and private loan programs on all lender platforms and monitor via the Electronic Loan Management (ELM) and (COD) Common Origination and Disbursement systems. Performs FA counseling to prospects, parents, students, faculty and staff. Performs file review, required follow up and verification of data as required by the ED. Responsible for the oversight of student processing within NSLDS. Awards SC Teaching Fellows.

• Representing the Financial Aid office at high school and college recruiting events on campus and some travel to events in the Upstate area.
• Counsels all students prospective and current as well as parents, faculty and staff.
• Monitors loan approvals, rejects, and denials. Responsible for adjustments to loans and other sources of aid. Awards loans both Direct and Private loans and ensures proper integrity of the Financial Aid (FA) system. Responsible for the setup and processing of all loan funds for all lender platforms and monitor via the ELM and COD systems which will ensure the integrity for certification, reallocation, and receipt of funds.
• Review and process all loan applications including loan certification.
• Responsible for completing aggregate loan calculations, reviewing daily loan reports, and serve as liaison regarding private loan issues.
• Review student files for SC Teacher Loan Program. Monitors and awards SC Teacher Loan working with SC Student Loan Corporation to ensure awards are correct; and awards are correctly added to the Financial Aid System.
• Responsible for set up of all students within the NSLDS system to ensure the transfer, monitor, and alert system is compliant with the ED
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Minimum Required Education and Experience:

Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job-related field and 1 or more years of job-related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job-related certification, training, education, and/or experience. A successful background check is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree preferred. Prefer financial aid experience and familiarity with financial aid related software systems and aid modules. Prefer experience with student integrated systems, FA system, and various personal computer software.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

Must be prepared to integrate new processing system and software. Must show ability to manage multiple responsibilities with minimal error. Show strong ability to troubleshoot problems and make sound decisions. Harmonious working relationship with colleagues, all students, and families a must. Ability to process and monitor $35+million in educational loans. Ability to ensure that all midyear students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are correctly coded as FA recipients in accordance with institutional policy. Possess the ability to make sound independent judgments with a highly regulated field.

Salary Hiring Range:

$41,073 – $44,815; Salary commensurate with education and experience.

USC Upstate offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

The University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Institution.