Financial Aid Counselor, Scholarships

University of New Orleans; United States; On-site; USD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of New Orleans is seeking a Financial Aid Counselor to provide expert guidance on federal, state, institutional, and private aid programs. The role involves counseling students, parents, and staff on policy, procedures, and documentation, and assisting with eligibility, disbursement, and reconciliation.

You will work with the Centralized Scholarships Coordinator on awarding scholarships, coordinate with bursar and college offices, monitor budgets, and present information on debt

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience working within a higher education institution, demonstrating familiarity with academic processes.
• Candidate must have strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills; good computer skills and able to demonstrate working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, i.e. Excel, Word; excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks with a high level of accuracy in an environment with frequent interruptions; and, ability to handle information in a confidential and professional manner.
• The candidate must also be able to work independently, be goal oriented and function as part of a team.
• The candidate must be able to work some late nights and weekends for university functions and off-campus financial aid workshops and college fairs.

Responsibilities

• Advises and counsels students, parents, and staff on all aspects of financial aid programs (federal, state, institutional, private).
• Understands and informs students, parents, and staff of financial aid policies, procedures, practices, office services, and document completion.
• Assists with student aid eligibility assessment, funds disbursement, and aid reconciliation procedures.
• Assists the Centralized Scholarships Coordinator with the administration of the awarding and delivery of scholarships and cash awards including institutional, state grant programs and private programs.
• Serves as liaison with the Centralized Scholarships Coordinator to the scholarship committees, bursar, college offices, Student Financial Aid Counselors, Finance and Administration, Advancement and other appropriate personnel for the administration of all scholarships including budget projections.
• Assist with the reconciling and monitoring for budgets for each scholarship program.
• Monitor continuing eligibility of all recipients.
• Conduct presentations regarding scholarships as needed.
• Assist Admissions with scholarship initiatives.
• Assist in the development of process and procedure for scholarships.
• Meet with auditors as requested.
• Assist with the processing of FISAP Report.
• Interacts in a congenial, helpful manner answering telephone calls and emails from parents, students, and the UNO community.
• Provides information and guidance to help counsel students concerning student loan debt, specifically how to manage debt, repayment of loans, and the obligations associated with student debt.
• Participates in activities aimed at professional development and customer service.
• Actively assists with events promoting enrollment and recruitment services.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Financial aid counseling

Budgeting

Customer service

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Department Student Financial Aid Counseling

Job Summary

The Financial Aid Counselor/Scholarships position requires a broad knowledge of federal and state aid programs, federal and state regulations, as well as regulations related to private educational loans.

Job Duties

• Advises and counsels students, parents, and staff on all aspects of financial aid programs (federal, state, institutional, private).
• Understands and informs students, parents, and staff of financial aid policies, procedures, practices, office services, and document completion.
• Assists with student aid eligibility assessment, funds disbursement, and aid reconciliation procedures.
• Assists the Centralized Scholarships Coordinator with the administration of the awarding and delivery of scholarships and cash awards including institutional, state grant programs and private programs.
• Serves as liaison with the Centralized Scholarships Coordinator to the scholarship committees, bursar, college offices, Student Financial Aid Counselors, Finance and Administration, Advancement and other appropriate personnel for the administration of all scholarships including budget projections.
• Assist with the reconciling and monitoring for budgets for each scholarship program.
• Monitor continuing eligibility of all recipients.
• Conduct presentations regarding scholarships as needed.
• Assist Admissions with scholarship initiatives.
• Assist in the development of process and procedure for scholarships.
• Meet with auditors as requested.
• Assist with the processing of FISAP Report.
• Interacts in a congenial, helpful manner answering telephone calls and emails from parents, students, and the UNO community.
• Provides information and guidance to help counsel students concerning student loan debt, specifically how to manage debt, repayment of loans, and the obligations associated with student debt.
• Participates in activities aimed at professional development and customer service.
• Actively assists with events promoting enrollment and recruitment services.
• Other duties as assigned.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work duties to be performed by the individual holding the position of Financial Aid Counselor, Scholarships. The items above are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required of this position.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience working within a higher education institution, demonstrating familiarity with academic processes.
• Candidate must have strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills; good computer skills and able to demonstrate working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, i.e. Excel, Word; excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks with a high level of accuracy in an environment with frequent interruptions; and, ability to handle information in a confidential and professional manner.
• The candidate must also be able to work independently, be goal oriented and function as part of a team.
• The candidate must be able to work some late nights and weekends for university functions and off-campus financial aid workshops and college fairs.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree.
• Experience working in financial aid or related higher education financial aid setting.
• Technical experience working with Workday and EDE Express.

Required Attachments

• Detailed resume listing relevant qualifications and experience
• Cover Letter indicating why you are a good fit for the position and LSU New Orleans
• Names and contact information of three references
• Applications that do not include the required uploaded documents may not be considered

Posting Close Date

This position will remain open until filled.

Note to Applicant: Applicants should fully describe their qualifications and experience with specific reference to each of the minimum and preferred qualifications in their cover letter.

The search committee will use this information during the initial review of application materials.

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

This position may require a criminal background check to be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions at LSU New Orleans may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

LSU New Orleans seeks to recruit a highly productive workforce and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.

About LSU New Orleans

LSU New Orleans is the only R2 public research university in New Orleans, Louisiana, and one of just four public colleges in Louisiana to hold that designation. R2 status opens the doors to competitive federal research grants that flow preferentially to classified research universities.

It anchors the university’s power to recruit research-active faculty, to sustain doctor programs of national standing, and to signal to businesses and investors that New Orleans possesses the intellectual infrastructure a knowledge economy demands.

Located along Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans, LSU New Orleans’ research excellence and urban relevance provide an opportunity for the institution to become a leading public research partner in one of America’s most exciting and vibrant metropolitan areas.

New Orleans has always faced challenges that call for research driven solutions including coastal land loss, educational achievement gaps, affordability, public safety, and workforce shortages.

LSU New Orleans can strengthen its research activity as a tool for public problem solving as well as economic impact by leveraging the scale, reputation, infrastructure, and global reach of the LSU enterprise while remaining deeply connected to the city it serves.

With more than 5,500 students and the support of approximately 248 faculty serving the College of Liberal Arts & Human Development, The college of Sciences, The Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering, the Henry Berstein College of Business Administration, and six distinct schools, the campus remains committed to honoring its founding vision and continuing to play a critical role in the region.

Opened in 1958 on the site of a former U.S. Naval Air Station as the region’s first fully integrated public university, LSU New Orleans was created after years of coordinated efforts from civic leaders and residents who believed that an accessible public institution of higher education was vital to the city’s future.

Located only 15 minutes away from downtown and the French Quarter, the university occupies a 195-acre campus in one of the nicest residential areas of the city.Since its first commencement exercises in 1962, the university has conferred more than 80,000 degrees creating an extensive network of Privateer Alumni that includes prominent local leaders in fields such as business, tourism, athletics, government, and academia.

The university is also an important catalyst of socio-economic mobility for the region.

Its student body includes a significant share of first-generation students, working students, adult learners, and veterans.

The institution has grown from a commuter-oriented campus into a comprehensive urban research university with undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in distinctive academic categories tied to the city and region.

Its evolution has been inseparable from the story of New Orleans; an internationally recognized city of creativity, resilience, industry, cultural influence, and global connectivity.

As one of the most strategically important cities in America, New Orleans’s economy is rooted in legacy sectors such as energy, maritime commerce, tourism, healthcare, and international trade.

Recently, the city has expanded its economic portfolio to include areas such as coastal restoration, film and media production, technology, and advanced manufacturing.

The city’s strengths are the university’s opportunities.

New Orleans needs talent, civic leadership, resilient infrastructure, healthcare innovation, artists, and entrepreneurs.

This combination of culture, commerce and connectivity gives LSU New Orleans a set of dynamic factors that allows it to serve as both an access institution and a problem-solving university as it reinvents itself beginning this summer.

LSU New Orleans Welcomes Job Applicants from Varied Backgrounds

LSU New Orleans seeks to recruit a highly productive workforce and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees.

Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.