Financial Aid Counselor

Financial Aid Counselor

Pay Range: $40,000- $45,000 per year

The pay range listed reflects the anticipated base compensation for this role. Actual compensation will be determined based on skills, experience, education, and internal equity.

Benefits Eligibility: Our commitment to employee well-being is reflected in our competitive benefits package located here: https://www.iit.edu/hr/benefits

Position Summary

A financial aid counselor is responsible for management of student accounts, as well as program management for different segments of institutional, federal, and state funding. This position serves the Office of Financial Aid as a first point of contact for counseling students, covering the Welcome Desk, managing specific scholarship programs, adjusting accounts for federal work study payments and serving as support for the office communications plan.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Counseling: serve students on the front line as first point of contact for general questions and counseling.

• Counsel students (in person, over phone and email) on all aspects of the financial aid process, including FAFSA completion, cost of attendance, awarding of federal funds, loan borrowing and management, financial hardship situations, etc.

• Serve as member of counseling team to assist with student appointments (in-person & virtual) and walk-in needs.

• Assist with the cases email system to answer general inquires to the Office of Financial Aid. Troubleshoot issues with other staff as needed.

• Advise prospective co-terminal students on aid eligibility upon entry to the program.

• Eligibility Review: monitor accounts for compliance cross-check and assist students in processing aid appeals.

• Monitor accounts on a daily basis for over awarding of federal funds. Adjust according to federal and institutional guidelines and communicate/ counsel changes with students.

• Review reports and required federal documents to keep accounts in compliance with institutional and federal awarding regulations.

• Process appeals for students, including but not limited to need based award evaluation and professional judgment for EFC adjustments and recalculations.

• Assist students in navigating unaccompanied homeless youth determinations and dependency status reviews.

• Program Management: serve as a point of contact for special populations served by the office.

• Process outside scholarships in collaboration with the Office of Student Accounting. Ensure students are not over awarded through this process.

• Serve as point of contact for students and families utilizing the Net Price Calculator. Answer questions pertaining to inquiries from calculator usage.

• Events: represent the university at various events.

• Work several events each aid year to assist students and families in understanding the financial aid process.

• Presentations required during admission recruitment events and undergraduate and graduate orientation.

• Some nights and weekends required for university events.

Qualifications

• Bachelors' degree required
• Prior customer service experience required
• Analytical skills required
• Good communication skills (written and verbal) required
• Bi-lingual preferred

Preferred Competencies

• Serves the IIT community regarding any issues pertaining to the financial aid process. This includes in person student and family appointments, email and phone counseling as well as in person events. Handles communication with any outside organizations required to process student aid, including the Department of Education and other organizations as needed.
• Excellent customer service required when working with university staff, outside vendors and current and prospective students. The ability to maintain student confidentiality is essential in this position.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team-based environment
• Excellent commitment to diversity and to service the needs of a diverse population
• Ability to work with traditional and non-traditional students
• Ability to handle multiple tasks
• Demonstrated communication, interpersonal and organizational skills along with the ability to function as team player
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated ability to efficiently and effectively solve problems and initiate and implement projects independently
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary
• Works well in translating financial aid requirements into operational activities supporting overall enrollment efforts
• Interacts effectively with peers and superiors to address and resolve issues
• Influences management by supplying key data that assists in decision making
• Good customer service skills
• Ability to handle stress due to pace and volume of work