Financial Aid Counselor
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
Job Summary
Provides professional, timely assistance regarding application completion and processes, general and program eligibility, and financial planning. Evaluates and analyzes information to determine applicants’ eligibility for financial assistance and to determine type and amount of aid to be awarded in accordance with established standards and guidelines. Coordinates the awarding of all federal and state student aid funding, and university and/or private scholarships. Ensures compliance with applicable statutes, regulations, and procedures, remaining current on changes to regulations and policies affecting scholarships and financial aid.
Responsibilities 1. Service, Processing, and Communications
Effectively advances processing and service workloads, ensuring timely, accurate, and well‑documented delivery within benchmarks set by supervisors.
Provides timely, accurate, and complete information to students, parents, and colleagues.
Determines eligibility for scholarships and financial aid, designating types and amounts in accordance with federal and university standards.
Professionally addresses and resolves complex or novel situations encountered in office processing and service work.
Ensures professional service delivery, maintaining data security, privacy, and confidentiality.
Follows appropriate records‑management procedures and complies with record‑keeping and archival requirements.
Communicates policies and procedures (including rights and responsibilities) to students, families, and colleagues in an accurate, timely, and inclusive manner.
Produces complex reports used to monitor service benchmarks and eligibility accuracy.
Serves as a subject‑matter expert, proactively advancing processing, service, and eligibility monitoring.
2. Determining Student and Program Eligibility
Effectively determines and conveys student and program eligibility requirements, addressing inquiries with appropriate investigation.
Uses discretion within regulatory and policy constraints to advise on verification, appeals, and special circumstances.
Applies verification and appeals policies accurately and fairly.
Assists in developing office‑wide policies, ensuring current content and noting emerging trends.
Monitors and adjusts financial aid awards to ensure timeliness and accuracy.
3. Regulatory and Policy Adherence
Maintains access to and working knowledge of relevant systems.
Documents transactions, conversations, and interactions clearly and accurately.
Adheres to all statutory, regulatory, and policy guidance, including office procedures.
Maintains privacy and confidentiality of student and family data.
Ensures security of student records.
Actively participates in overall office effectiveness activities.
4. Training and Professional Development; Professionalism
Maintains current knowledge of policies, regulations, technical standards, and high‑impact practices related to federal, state, institutional, and private programs.
Participates in professional meetings, conferences, and workshops, sharing knowledge with management and staff.
Ensures area policies and procedures are current; documents interactions affecting student eligibility and compliance.
Assists with financial aid outreach events, delivering timely and professional information.
Maintains professional appearance and demeanor when engaging students, families, colleagues, and the public.
Assists in training new employees, including interns and graduate assistants, as needed.
5. Overall Support of Office and Institutional Operations
Partners in monitoring overall office operations for functionality, accessibility, efficiency, and compliance.
Reviews output and reports routinely for accuracy and compliance.
Follows established timelines and calendars for projects and tasks.
Serves on or oversees office committees, including communication plans, appeals processes, outreach, personnel, and publications.
Advises management of anomalies, trends, or patterns affecting student and program eligibility.
Maintains effective working relationships, serving as a resource on scholarship and financial aid issues.
Performs other duties as assigned by supervisors and the Executive Director.
Collaborates with other employees on policy, procedures, and training opportunities.
Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Science, or a related area, or equivalency (one year of education may be substituted for two years of related work experience). Minimum one year of experience in counseling, budgeting, public relations, or computer technology, with demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills. Ability to work with a diverse population of students and understanding of federal and state financial aid regulations are critical.
Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in this position description.
Preferences
Previous work experience in a higher education setting.
Additional Information May require a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants. Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be provided for individuals with disabilities.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working with students and a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
The University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status.
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Responsibilities 1. Service, Processing, and Communications
Effectively advances processing and service workloads, ensuring timely, accurate, and well‑documented delivery within benchmarks set by supervisors.
Provides timely, accurate, and complete information to students, parents, and colleagues.
Determines eligibility for scholarships and financial aid, designating types and amounts in accordance with federal and university standards.
Professionally addresses and resolves complex or novel situations encountered in office processing and service work.
Ensures professional service delivery, maintaining data security, privacy, and confidentiality.
Follows appropriate records‑management procedures and complies with record‑keeping and archival requirements.
Communicates policies and procedures (including rights and responsibilities) to students, families, and colleagues in an accurate, timely, and inclusive manner.
Produces complex reports used to monitor service benchmarks and eligibility accuracy.
Serves as a subject‑matter expert, proactively advancing processing, service, and eligibility monitoring.
2. Determining Student and Program Eligibility
Effectively determines and conveys student and program eligibility requirements, addressing inquiries with appropriate investigation.
Uses discretion within regulatory and policy constraints to advise on verification, appeals, and special circumstances.
Applies verification and appeals policies accurately and fairly.
Assists in developing office‑wide policies, ensuring current content and noting emerging trends.
Monitors and adjusts financial aid awards to ensure timeliness and accuracy.
3. Regulatory and Policy Adherence
Maintains access to and working knowledge of relevant systems.
Documents transactions, conversations, and interactions clearly and accurately.
Adheres to all statutory, regulatory, and policy guidance, including office procedures.
Maintains privacy and confidentiality of student and family data.
Ensures security of student records.
Actively participates in overall office effectiveness activities.
4. Training and Professional Development; Professionalism
Maintains current knowledge of policies, regulations, technical standards, and high‑impact practices related to federal, state, institutional, and private programs.
Participates in professional meetings, conferences, and workshops, sharing knowledge with management and staff.
Ensures area policies and procedures are current; documents interactions affecting student eligibility and compliance.
Assists with financial aid outreach events, delivering timely and professional information.
Maintains professional appearance and demeanor when engaging students, families, colleagues, and the public.
Assists in training new employees, including interns and graduate assistants, as needed.
5. Overall Support of Office and Institutional Operations
Partners in monitoring overall office operations for functionality, accessibility, efficiency, and compliance.
Reviews output and reports routinely for accuracy and compliance.
Follows established timelines and calendars for projects and tasks.
Serves on or oversees office committees, including communication plans, appeals processes, outreach, personnel, and publications.
Advises management of anomalies, trends, or patterns affecting student and program eligibility.
Maintains effective working relationships, serving as a resource on scholarship and financial aid issues.
Performs other duties as assigned by supervisors and the Executive Director.
Collaborates with other employees on policy, procedures, and training opportunities.
Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Science, or a related area, or equivalency (one year of education may be substituted for two years of related work experience). Minimum one year of experience in counseling, budgeting, public relations, or computer technology, with demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills. Ability to work with a diverse population of students and understanding of federal and state financial aid regulations are critical.
Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in this position description.
Preferences
Previous work experience in a higher education setting.
Additional Information May require a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants. Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be provided for individuals with disabilities.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working with students and a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
The University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status.
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