Financial Aid Counselor

Job Details: Financial Aid Counselor

Job ID:  5302 - Unclassified - FT (Salaried)

This professional staff member counsels students and parents about financial aid programs, application procedures and eligibility, and assists with problem resolution; serves as a resource and a liaison to Miami's One Stop staff and management; uses technical knowledge of federal and state student aid programs to ensure compliance and accuracy; determines and verifies student eligibility for financial assistance; and assists with outreach activities.

• Counsel students/parents on eligibility for federal, state, university, and private aid programs. Assist with developing strategies for financing college, including consideration of debt management. Serves as resource to One Stop. (40%)
• Communicates clearly, accurately, and in a timely manner with clients, their families, other office staff, and university departments regarding individual students, their aid, and assistance needed to resolve student problems.(20%)
• Works tactfully and effectively to resolve problems for individual applicants in a timely manner, prioritizing tasks to minimize the possibility of negative impact on student recruitment and retention.(20%)
• Assist with processing of scholarship awards. Provide customer service responses to students, parents, and staff regarding scholarship eligibility and status.(5%)
• Use technical knowledge regarding financial aid programs and associated legislation and need-analysis theory and computations to review student application information to determine financial aid eligibility.(5%)
• Maintain familiarity with federal/state aid programs in order to maintain standards, define new system activity, and assist in advising staff, students, parents, and other constituencies as deemed appropriate.(5%)
• Assist with outreach activities. (5%)

• A bachelor's degree or a combination of education and experience are required.  Must have the ability to think critically and perform complex tasks. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work cooperatively with co-workers are required.  Must be able to work some evenings and weekends, and have a valid driver's license.
• Employment is dependent upon successful access to the National Student Loan Data System, which requires all federal student loans to be in good standing and not in default and a credit check to review that student loans are not in default.

The University is committed to equal opportunity, affirmative action, and eliminating discrimination and harassment. Miami University does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or protected veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, facilities, programs or employment practices.  Requests for reasonable accommodations/or disabilities related to employment should be directed to ADAFacultyStaff@MiamiOH.edu or 513-529-3560.  Miami University's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report with information on campus crime, fires, and safety may be found at: http://miamioh.edu/campus-safety/annual-report/. Hard copy available upon request. A criminal background check is required. All campuses are smoke and tobacco free campuses.