One-Stop Financial Aid Counselor

Brunswick-Community-College; Bolivia (NC); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Brunswick Community College is seeking a One-Stop Financial Aid Counselor to support students in the One-Stop Student Service Center, helping them apply for and retain federal, state, and local grants and scholarships to pay for college.

The role includes counseling on aid applications, managing the Brunswick Guarantee Program, verifying eligibility, assisting with FAFSA data, and coordinating with Admissions, Business Office, and Advising to maintain accurate student records.

Qualifications

• At least one year of Financial Aid experience.
• Associate degree from a regionally accredited institution in Business related field; Bachelor degree preferred.
• One year of experience in an educational environment, social service agency, or in the private sector with customer service experience.
• Ability to take initiative to solve problems.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Experience using technology including e-mail, word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation software, and use of the Internet.
• Strong interpersonal and written/oral communication skills.
• Must be a “quick study” to grasp policies and procedures relating to student services.

Responsibilities

• Assist students in One-Stop Student Center with enrollment, registration, and general college business transactions.
• Manage the Brunswick Guarantee Program, including application review, eligibility verification, and student awarding.
• Counsel prospective students and families on federal and state aid applications, eligibility issues, verification process, and awarding policies.
• Counsel students on financial aid, scholarships, loans, work-study employment and financial planning.
• Counsel students on the SAP policy and help plan study progress to stay within SAP rules.
• Process verification throughout the academic year and report identity verifications to FSA.
• Assist with veterans’ educational benefits enrollment verification per VA rules and procedures.
• Perform administrative tasks: answering phones, greeting visitors, data entry in Colleague, etc.
• Communicate with campus offices on student financial aid file status.
• Participate in professional development and financial aid training; stay updated on regulations.
• Support enrollment efforts by providing financial aid information during recruitment events.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Quick study

Colleague (software)

Education

Associate degree in Business

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Colleague

Job description

The One-Stop Financial Aid Counselor is cross-trained to serve student service-related concerns in BCC’s One-Stop Student Service Center and possess additional knowledge to assist students and their families to apply, secure, and retain federal, state, and local grants and scholarships to help pay for college.

• Assist students in Student Services One-Stop Student Center to help them enroll, register, and conduct general college business transactions
• Manage the Brunswick Guarantee Program, including application review, eligibility verification, and student awarding
• Counsel prospective students and their families on federal and state aid applications, eligibility issues, verification process, related tax issues requirements for continue eligibility and awarding policies
• Counsel students one-on-one and in groups on financial aid, scholarship, loans, work study employment and financial planning
• Counsel students on the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy. Encourage students to develop a realistic plan of study to ensure they stay within rules mandated by SAP
• Responsible for processing verification throughout the academic year. This includes follow-up communication as needed and making corrections to student's FAFSA data. This also includes the monthly reporting of V4/V5 identity verification to FSA
• Assist prospective and current students who receive veterans’ educational benefits with the enrollment verification process in accordance with VA rules and procedures
• Perform administrative tasks such as answering phones, greeting visitors, copying and scanning documents, sending and receiving faxes, responding to e-mails and phone calls and entering pertinent data within Colleague
• Communicate with campus offices (Admissions, Business Office, Academic Advising) as needed on student financial aid file status
• Participate in professional development activities - attending financial aid training and conferences to keep up with current financial aid regulations and changes, reading FSA Handbook to stay abreast of financial aid rules.
• Supports enrollment efforts by participating in weekend recruitment events providing financial aid information and assistance small and large groups for recruitment and retention purposes
• Performs other related tasks as required

• At least one year of Financial Aid experience.
• Associate degree from a regionally accredited institution in Business related field, Bachelor degree preferred.
• One year of experience in an educational environment, social service agency, or in the private business sector with specific experience in customer services.
• Ability to take required initiative to solve problems.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Experience using technology including e-mail, word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation software, and use of the Internet.
• Strong interpersonal skills to interact tactfully and courteously with students, faculty, staff, and the general public.
• Must be a “quick study” to grasp and retain knowledge of policies and procedures relating to student services that a prospective or current student may utilize.
• Demonstrate oral and written communication skills to interact with a wide range of diverse individuals.