Financial Aid Advisor - Office of Financial Aid (3 Vacancies)
The University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, United States
Overview
Location:
Albany, NY
Category:
Professional
Posted On:
Fri Jan 9 2026 The Financial Aid Advisor supports students and families in navigating the financial aid process by providing accurate information, individualized guidance, and exceptional customer service. This position helps students access educational funding by interpreting federal, state, and institutional policies, evaluating eligibility, and assisting with the completion of required applications including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and pertinent state aid applications. The purpose of the Financial Aid Advisor is to ensure students understand their financial aid options and receive support to remove financial barriers to enrollment, retention, persistence, and completion. This role contributes to the institution's mission by counseling students, processing aid applications, maintaining regulatory compliance, and promoting financial literacy to help students make informed decisions about paying for college.
Primary Responsibilities
Ethical Conduct & Professionalism
Uphold the highest Code of Conduct by providing accurate, unbiased, and transparent financial aid information.
Maintain confidentiality of student records and ensure all advising practices comply with FERPA.
Avoid conflicts of interest and ensure fair, equitable treatment of all students.
Accurate Consumer Information
Provide clear, complete, and accessible information regarding financial aid programs, eligibility, costs, deadlines, and policies.
Educate students and families on funding options, rights, and responsibilities.
Need Analysis & Eligibility Determination
Apply need analysis methodologies when reviewing FAFSA data and calculating financial need.
Interpret federal, state, and institutional guidelines to determine student eligibility accurately.
Identify and resolve conflicting information in accordance with regulatory standards.
Verification & Documentation
Conduct verification following federal regulations and industry best practices.
Ensure timely collection and accurate review of tax documents, household information, and other required materials.
Update student records and correct FAFSA data as needed.
Packaging & Awarding Aid
Package financial aid for the academic year, or one semester.
Explain awards, cost of attendance, unmet need, and funding adjustments to students.
Reassess and revise aid packages due to enrollment changes, SAP status, special circumstances, or additional resources.
Professional Judgment (PJ)
Apply PJ decisions ethically, consistently, and with proper documentation.
Evaluate special circumstance requests such as income changes, dependency overrides, or unusual expenses.
Ensure PJ decisions meet federal regulations and institutional policy standards.
Compliance & Audit Readiness
Ensure all financial aid processes comply with Title IV regulations and state policies.
Maintain accurate records and support internal and external audit preparation.
Participate in ongoing training to stay current with regulatory updates.
Student Advocacy & Support
Act as a resource for students navigating financial, academic, or administrative challenges affecting aid eligibility.
Support enrollment, retention, persistence, and completion by helping students remove financial barriers.
Collaborate with departments such as Admissions, Registrar, Academic Advisement, and Student Accounts to ensure cohesive student support.
Continuous Professional Development
Engage in regular training offered by Federal Student Aid, NASFAA, state associations, and institutional programs.
Demonstrate commitment to stay informed about emerging regulations, best practices, and policy updates.
Functional and Supervisory Relationships
Reports to Senior Financial Aid Advisor
Supervises the following positions: N/A
Job Requirements Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree from a college or University accredited by the US Department of Education or internationally recognized accrediting organization.
1-3 years of relevant experience in a higher education setting, or at a financial institution.
Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community.
Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role.
Preferred Qualifications:
2+ years of experience in financial aid
Familiarity with PeopleSoft SIS
Working Environment
Occasional night and weekend events
Additional Information Professional Rank and Salary Grade: Financial Aid Advisor, SL3, $57,151
Special Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements. UAlbany is not an EO/AA/IRCA/ADA employer.
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) requires that all Title IV institutions publish an Annual Security Report. The University at Albany’s Annual Security Report is available in PDF format but no external link is included here for accessibility reasons.
Pursuant to NYS Labor Law 194-A, no State entity may seek wage history information until a conditional offer of employment is extended. For questions, contact: Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.
THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY IS AN EO/AA/IRCA/ADA EMPLOYER
Please apply online
via the university’s application portal.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Location:
Albany, NY
Category:
Professional
Posted On:
Fri Jan 9 2026 The Financial Aid Advisor supports students and families in navigating the financial aid process by providing accurate information, individualized guidance, and exceptional customer service. This position helps students access educational funding by interpreting federal, state, and institutional policies, evaluating eligibility, and assisting with the completion of required applications including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and pertinent state aid applications. The purpose of the Financial Aid Advisor is to ensure students understand their financial aid options and receive support to remove financial barriers to enrollment, retention, persistence, and completion. This role contributes to the institution's mission by counseling students, processing aid applications, maintaining regulatory compliance, and promoting financial literacy to help students make informed decisions about paying for college.
Primary Responsibilities
Ethical Conduct & Professionalism
Uphold the highest Code of Conduct by providing accurate, unbiased, and transparent financial aid information.
Maintain confidentiality of student records and ensure all advising practices comply with FERPA.
Avoid conflicts of interest and ensure fair, equitable treatment of all students.
Accurate Consumer Information
Provide clear, complete, and accessible information regarding financial aid programs, eligibility, costs, deadlines, and policies.
Educate students and families on funding options, rights, and responsibilities.
Need Analysis & Eligibility Determination
Apply need analysis methodologies when reviewing FAFSA data and calculating financial need.
Interpret federal, state, and institutional guidelines to determine student eligibility accurately.
Identify and resolve conflicting information in accordance with regulatory standards.
Verification & Documentation
Conduct verification following federal regulations and industry best practices.
Ensure timely collection and accurate review of tax documents, household information, and other required materials.
Update student records and correct FAFSA data as needed.
Packaging & Awarding Aid
Package financial aid for the academic year, or one semester.
Explain awards, cost of attendance, unmet need, and funding adjustments to students.
Reassess and revise aid packages due to enrollment changes, SAP status, special circumstances, or additional resources.
Professional Judgment (PJ)
Apply PJ decisions ethically, consistently, and with proper documentation.
Evaluate special circumstance requests such as income changes, dependency overrides, or unusual expenses.
Ensure PJ decisions meet federal regulations and institutional policy standards.
Compliance & Audit Readiness
Ensure all financial aid processes comply with Title IV regulations and state policies.
Maintain accurate records and support internal and external audit preparation.
Participate in ongoing training to stay current with regulatory updates.
Student Advocacy & Support
Act as a resource for students navigating financial, academic, or administrative challenges affecting aid eligibility.
Support enrollment, retention, persistence, and completion by helping students remove financial barriers.
Collaborate with departments such as Admissions, Registrar, Academic Advisement, and Student Accounts to ensure cohesive student support.
Continuous Professional Development
Engage in regular training offered by Federal Student Aid, NASFAA, state associations, and institutional programs.
Demonstrate commitment to stay informed about emerging regulations, best practices, and policy updates.
Functional and Supervisory Relationships
Reports to Senior Financial Aid Advisor
Supervises the following positions: N/A
Job Requirements Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree from a college or University accredited by the US Department of Education or internationally recognized accrediting organization.
1-3 years of relevant experience in a higher education setting, or at a financial institution.
Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community.
Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role.
Preferred Qualifications:
2+ years of experience in financial aid
Familiarity with PeopleSoft SIS
Working Environment
Occasional night and weekend events
Additional Information Professional Rank and Salary Grade: Financial Aid Advisor, SL3, $57,151
Special Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements. UAlbany is not an EO/AA/IRCA/ADA employer.
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) requires that all Title IV institutions publish an Annual Security Report. The University at Albany’s Annual Security Report is available in PDF format but no external link is included here for accessibility reasons.
Pursuant to NYS Labor Law 194-A, no State entity may seek wage history information until a conditional offer of employment is extended. For questions, contact: Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.
THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY IS AN EO/AA/IRCA/ADA EMPLOYER
Please apply online
via the university’s application portal.
#J-18808-Ljbffr