One Stop Services Counselor

Seattle University; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Seattle University is seeking a Financial Aid/Student Account Counselor to serve as the primary contact for students and families regarding financial aid and account questions. The role involves counseling, answering questions across multiple channels, and guiding applicants through the aid process.

To succeed, candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree and at least two years in a financial aid or student accounts office, with strong customer service and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of two years of experience working in a Financial Aid/Student Account office.
• Strong customer service skills and the ability to resolve complex problems through creative reasoning and logic.
• Ability to counsel individuals and families in financial aid and student accounts matters.
• Proficiency with desktop PC, ERP systems and Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Assist students and families with FAFSA and financial aid questions, including eligibility and documentation.
• Explain and process financial aid packages, loan types, and verification.
• Provide information on payment options, billing, refunds, 1098-T, holds, and enrollment statements.
• Support online services such as MySeattleU and studentaid.gov.

Skills

Customer service

Counseling

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Months Per Year: 12 Work Model: Onsite

Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.

Seattle University's Core Competencies

• Effective Team Collaboration: Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives.
• Emotionally Intelligent Communication: Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally.
• Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions.
• Flexibility and Innovation: Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making a positive impact.
• Mindful Inclusion: Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness.
• Outcomes-Driven Orientation: Sets clear objectives, pursues excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values.

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Student Contact and Communication, this position is the primary contact for students, prospective students, and family members regarding both Financial Aid and Student Account related questions. This position provides customer services and counseling for both financial aid and student account related activities and contact may take place over phone, in-person, via email or virtual video appointments.

Position Description:

Essential Functions and Associated Tasks

Financial Aid (45%):

Assist students and families with questions regarding applying for financial aid. Explain the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), including eligibility and filing issues, and assist with its completion as necessary. Answer questions about financial aid packages and the timing of awards. Provide information on types of loans (federal, state, and private) and assist students with the complex process associated with loans. Explain the financial aid verification process and assist students and families with documents required to satisfy verification. Explain satisfactory academic progress, requirements, and the eligibility appeal process. Assist students with Financial Aid special circumstance appeals and how financial aid decisions are made. Explain student's rights for financial aid and the student's responsibility in the Financial Aid process. Explain all financial aid questions that can be answered in a 5-7-minute timeframe that are not confidential in nature. Provide information about scholarships and grants for all student body populations, i.e., undergraduate, and graduate students and how to maintain eligibility. Provide information on federal and state grant qualifications.

Student Account Management (45%):

Provide information and assist with payment and financing options, payment plans, refunds, billing schedule, account balances, lost checks, waiver requests (e.g., health insurance and late fees), 1098-T, paid receipts and holds. Provide counseling to students, prospective students, and family members about educational finance options.

Online Services (10%):

Assist students, prospective students and families with various online services including: MySeattleU, FAFSA and the studentaid.gov website for federal loan information.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of two years of experience working in a Financial Aid/Student Account office, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job. Demonstrated commitment to strong customer services and the ability to resolve wide-ranging complex problems through creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause and the resolution to the problems in an effective, innovative and timely manner. Applicant must possess the skills to counsel individuals and families in financial aid and student accounts matters and work both independently and cooperatively with other staff members and other departments. Desktop PC, ERP system and Microsoft Office Suite experience are required. Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, orally and by preparation of reports and other materials.

Preferred Qualifications

Two or more years working in a Financial Aid/