Graduate Financial Aid Counselor

Chapman University; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Chapman University in Orange, CA is seeking a Financial Aid Counselor to manage daily aid operations and advise students, parents, and staff. The role supports federal, state, and institutional programs, prioritizes workflow, and ensures compliance with applicable laws and policies.

On-campus collaboration with peers and offices is essential for student success. The position emphasizes counseling, eligibility determinations, and timely award payments, with focus on accurate reporting and expert

Qualifications

• Two years of counseling experience in financial aid.
• Solid understanding of need analysis, student budgets, and federal packaging rules.
• Ability to explain complex procedures to students and families.
• Knowledge of applicable federal/state/university laws and policies.
• Ability to work as part of a team and communicate clearly.
• Experience with PeopleSoft is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Administer daily financial aid workflow and provide guidance to students and families.
• Assist with loan applications and determine eligibility under laws and policies.
• Exercise judgment to apply policies and consider special circumstances.
• Authorize payment of awards and monitor compliance with regulations.
• Maintain ongoing communication about laws, policies, and procedures.
• Represent the Financial Aid Office in university functions and update procedures.

Skills

Financial aid counseling

Need analysis

Student budgets

Regulations knowledge

PeopleSoft

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

PeopleSoft

NSLDS

Windows NT

MS Office 2000

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

At Chapman University, we believe collaboration thrives through in-person engagement. This position is fully on campus, and employees work alongside colleagues, faculty, students, and staff each day to support our vibrant university community.

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

Applicants for Staff and Administrator positions must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion and outcomes of a criminal background screening and returning to the Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate

Position Information

Position Title

Position Type

Position Type Regular

Job Number

Job Number SA98924

Full or Part Time

Full or Part Time full-time 40 hours weekly

Fair Labor Standard Act Classification Exempt

Anticipated Pay Range

Anticipated Pay Range $72,400-$74,400

Pay Range Information

Chapman University is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this position. This range takes into account a variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Salary offers are determined based on the final candidate’s qualifications and experience, as well as internal equity and other internal factors. The anticipated pay range is not a promise of a particular wage.

Position Summary Information

Job Description Summary

Serve as financial aid counselor at the Orange and Irvine (Rinker) Campus. Administer and prioritize daily workflow of financial aid activities and provide financial aid guidance to students, parents, faculty, staff and public in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Represent Financial Aid Office in various functions that are approved by the Associate Director. Perform other duties as needed to support student services

Responsibilities

• Administer and prioritize the daily workflow of financial aid activities.
• Provide financial aid guidance, including loan applications, to students, parents, faculty, staff and the public in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
• Utilizing computer applications to determine student eligibility for federal, state, university, and donor provided assistance.
• Exercise appropriate independent judgment in interpreting and applying policies and procedure to ensure consideration of each applicant’s special circumstances.
• Authorize payment of awards to students.
• Make the Director aware of any issues that may compromise compliance with laws, regulations and policies. Should such issue remain unresolved, inform the Vice President and Dean of Enrollment Management.
• Closely monitor information and documentation in applicants’ file to ensure policies, procedures, and government regulations are observed.
• Participate in the development and update of policies and procedures to achieve enrollment goals, enhance effectiveness and efficiency, and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
• Conduct loan entrance and exit interviews and educational debt counseling.
• Utilize software from the US Department of Education and Title IV lenders to obtain loan applicant information, report payments, correct applicant data, and acquire information from the department.
• Inform faculty, staff, financial aid office colleagues, and all other interested parties of laws, policies, and procedures relative to financial aid.
• Package assistance in accordance with Chapman University’s enrollment and revenue management system.
• Protect the assets of Chapman University Represent the Financial Aid Office and Chapman University in a positive manner and take ownership of any concerns by resolving them in a favorable manner and improving work.
• Maintain professional currency through active participation and leadership in associations and committees both internal and external to the university.

Represent Financial Aid Office in various functions that are approved by the Director

• Coordinate the design and delivery of programs and services with other university offices. Establish and maintain ongoing communications with university counterparts to ensure integrated efforts.
• Conduct financial aid presentations.
• Serve on Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee.
• Act as an ambassador of the university both on and off campus.
• Proactively evaluate internal practices, procedures and policies and recommend changes or enhancements based on current and proposed regulations as they relate to all forms of financial aid.
• Work with the management team to create and implement quality assurance reporting mechanism.
• Work with the management team to update and maintain the policy and procedure manual.
• Provide guidance on regulatory matters.
• Remain current with respect to federal, state and institutional regulations by attending conferences and utilizing web resources such as IFAP , NASFAA webinars, etc.

Required Qualifications

• At least two years of counseling experience in the Financial Aid field
• Thorough understanding of need analysis, student budgets, and Federal financial aid packaging and regulations.
• Ability to accurately explain complex procedures and eligibility rules to Chapman community.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and university laws, regulations, policies, and procedures, and ability to utilize said knowledge into effective, efficient, and compliant financial aid awards to students.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Demonstrate ability to learn and utilize computer software system PeopleSoft.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, concise, and professional correspondence.
• Ability to interpret complex and changing regulations, policies, and procedures and incorporate them into daily work.
• Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to communicate rules and policies with empathy while remaining objective.
• Ability to organize tasks and prioritize duties when faced with interruptions, distractions, and fluctuating workload.
• Ability to use standard office equipment: telephone, copier, fax, PC, computer printers, etc..
• Ability to analyze effectiveness of university financial aid policy and procedure and make recommendations for improvement.
• Ability to maintain composure in stressful situations.
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive student and financial information.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment and take initiative.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Knowledge of university policy and procedures as they relate to effective performance of this position.
• Knowledge of EDE , EDCONNECT , PeopleSoft Campus Solutions, NSLDS , Windows NT, and Microsoft Office 2000.

Special Instructions to Applicants

At Chapman University, we believe collaboration thrives through in-person engagement. This position is fully on campus, and employees work alongside colleagues, faculty, students, and staff each day to support our vibrant university community.

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

Applicants for Staff and Administrator positions must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion and outcomes of a criminal background screening and returning to the Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate

Minimum Number of References

Maximum Number of References

Pre-screening Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*)

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• 3 References Listed on One Page

Optional Documents

• Letter of Recommendation 1

MAIN CAMPUS
One University Drive
Orange, CA 92866
[phone]
RINKER HEALTH SCIENCE CAMPUS
9401 Jeronimo Road
Irvine, CA 92618
© 2019 CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY

The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion and outcomes of a criminal background screening, and returning to the Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate.