Lead Financial Aid Advisor
University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
Posting Details
Posting Summary
Posting Number : STA00276PO26
Job Family : Student Administrative Services
Job Function : Financial Aid
USC Market Title : Financial Aid Officer
Job Level : P4 - Professional
Business Title : Lead Financial Aid Advisor
Campus : Columbia
Work County : Richland
College/Division : School of Medicine Columbia
Department : SOMC Student Affairs
State Pay Range : G10
USC Market Range : MRH - $63,557 $79,446 $95,336
Anticipated Hiring Range : $63,557 $79,446 $95,336
Location of Vacancy : Columbia, South Carolina
Part/Full Time : Full Time
Hours per Week : 37.5
Work Schedule
Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.
Basis : 12 months
Job Search Category : Student Services
Position Description
Advertised Job Summary
The Lead Financial Aid Advisor provides strategic leadership and vision for all aspects of student financial assistance in support of the medical school’s educational mission, student success, and institutional priorities. The advisor leads a high‑impact financial aid operation that integrates compliance excellence, data‑informed decision‑making, and proactive student engagement.
Job Related Minimum Required Education And Experience
Bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in a job‑related field and 4 or more years of experience in undergraduate or graduate financial aid or a related financial leadership role or other job‑related experience.
Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials
See relevant certifications for senior leadership roles in financial aid, if any.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Detail oriented, with the ability to work with various stakeholders to achieve a desired result.
Self‑motivated and able to work independently and carefully manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously with short deadlines in a high‑volume environment.
Interpersonal, communication and organizational skills.
Ability to analyze data to produce reports and for assessment purposes.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with key employers, visitors, professional contacts, faculty, staff, and administration. Knowledge in the use of Microsoft Office and web‑based software.
Must demonstrate independent judgment and discretion with respect to matters of significance.
Job Duty: Strategic Leadership & Institutional Impact
Provides vision and strategic direction for the medical school’s financial aid enterprise, aligning financial aid policies and practices with institutional goals related to access, affordability, inclusion, and student success.
Advices senior leadership on national and institutional trends in medical education costs, student debt, federal regulations, and peer benchmarking, translating insights into actionable institutional strategies.
Leads long‑range planning related to cost of attendance, tuition setting, and financial aid sustainability using financial modeling and data analytics.
Advocates for current and future financial aid resources, including institutional scholarships and innovative funding mechanisms, to support student access and minimize educational debt.
Job Duty: Student‑Centered Financial Strategy & Debt Management
Leads a comprehensive, proactive approach to financial counseling, debt management education, and financial literacy for applicants, students, and graduates across the medical education continuum.
Develops systems to identify students at risk of financial distress and implement early intervention strategies in collaboration with student affairs and academic leadership.
Guides the development of individualized financial aid packages that maximize benefit to students while supporting institutional priorities such as recruitment and diversity.
Provides oversight for counseling students experiencing significant financial hardship and determining appropriate institutional responses.
Job Duty: Financial Aid Policy, Compliance & Stewardship
Ensures full compliance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations, including Title IV administration, satisfactory academic progress, enrollment status, and required reporting.
Recommends and implements institutional policies and procedures in response to evolving federal regulations and accreditation expectations.
Oversees the awarding, reconciliation, and stewardship of institutional scholarship, grant, and loan funds, ensuring transparency, equity, and fiscal responsibility.
Serves as the institutional authority on financial aid regulations and their implications for medical students, programs, and academic policies.
Job Duty: Management & Operational Excellence
Oversees the day‑to‑day operations of the financial aid office, ensuring efficient, student‑centered service delivery and continuous improvement.
Leads, mentors, and develops a professional staff, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and service excellence.
Utilizes data, assessment, and outcome measures to evaluate program effectiveness and inform strategic decisions.
Job Duty: Collaboration, Partnerships & Innovation
Partners closely with Admissions, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Finance, Alumni Affairs, and Development to integrate financial aid considerations into enrollment management, curricular decisions, and student support strategies.
Collaborates with advancement and external partners to demonstrate student financial need and support the development of new scholarship and funding opportunities.
Represents the medical school at national forums and professional associations related to financial aid and medical education.
Position Attributes
Employees in Safety‑Sensitive or Security‑Sensitive positions will be subject to pre‑employment and post‑employment drug testing in accordance with University policy.
Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive : No
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies : 1
Desired Start Date : As soon as possible
Job Open Date : 04/22/2026
Job Close Date : 06/06/2026
Open Until Filled : No
Benefits for FTE Positions
Health and Life Insurance
Retirement Programs
Paid Tuition
Dependent Scholarships
Annual Leave
Sick Leave
13 Paid Holidays
Paid Parental Leave
Professional Development Opportunities
EEO Statement
The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV /AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.
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Posting Summary
Posting Number : STA00276PO26
Job Family : Student Administrative Services
Job Function : Financial Aid
USC Market Title : Financial Aid Officer
Job Level : P4 - Professional
Business Title : Lead Financial Aid Advisor
Campus : Columbia
Work County : Richland
College/Division : School of Medicine Columbia
Department : SOMC Student Affairs
State Pay Range : G10
USC Market Range : MRH - $63,557 $79,446 $95,336
Anticipated Hiring Range : $63,557 $79,446 $95,336
Location of Vacancy : Columbia, South Carolina
Part/Full Time : Full Time
Hours per Week : 37.5
Work Schedule
Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.
Basis : 12 months
Job Search Category : Student Services
Position Description
Advertised Job Summary
The Lead Financial Aid Advisor provides strategic leadership and vision for all aspects of student financial assistance in support of the medical school’s educational mission, student success, and institutional priorities. The advisor leads a high‑impact financial aid operation that integrates compliance excellence, data‑informed decision‑making, and proactive student engagement.
Job Related Minimum Required Education And Experience
Bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in a job‑related field and 4 or more years of experience in undergraduate or graduate financial aid or a related financial leadership role or other job‑related experience.
Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials
See relevant certifications for senior leadership roles in financial aid, if any.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Detail oriented, with the ability to work with various stakeholders to achieve a desired result.
Self‑motivated and able to work independently and carefully manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously with short deadlines in a high‑volume environment.
Interpersonal, communication and organizational skills.
Ability to analyze data to produce reports and for assessment purposes.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with key employers, visitors, professional contacts, faculty, staff, and administration. Knowledge in the use of Microsoft Office and web‑based software.
Must demonstrate independent judgment and discretion with respect to matters of significance.
Job Duty: Strategic Leadership & Institutional Impact
Provides vision and strategic direction for the medical school’s financial aid enterprise, aligning financial aid policies and practices with institutional goals related to access, affordability, inclusion, and student success.
Advices senior leadership on national and institutional trends in medical education costs, student debt, federal regulations, and peer benchmarking, translating insights into actionable institutional strategies.
Leads long‑range planning related to cost of attendance, tuition setting, and financial aid sustainability using financial modeling and data analytics.
Advocates for current and future financial aid resources, including institutional scholarships and innovative funding mechanisms, to support student access and minimize educational debt.
Job Duty: Student‑Centered Financial Strategy & Debt Management
Leads a comprehensive, proactive approach to financial counseling, debt management education, and financial literacy for applicants, students, and graduates across the medical education continuum.
Develops systems to identify students at risk of financial distress and implement early intervention strategies in collaboration with student affairs and academic leadership.
Guides the development of individualized financial aid packages that maximize benefit to students while supporting institutional priorities such as recruitment and diversity.
Provides oversight for counseling students experiencing significant financial hardship and determining appropriate institutional responses.
Job Duty: Financial Aid Policy, Compliance & Stewardship
Ensures full compliance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations, including Title IV administration, satisfactory academic progress, enrollment status, and required reporting.
Recommends and implements institutional policies and procedures in response to evolving federal regulations and accreditation expectations.
Oversees the awarding, reconciliation, and stewardship of institutional scholarship, grant, and loan funds, ensuring transparency, equity, and fiscal responsibility.
Serves as the institutional authority on financial aid regulations and their implications for medical students, programs, and academic policies.
Job Duty: Management & Operational Excellence
Oversees the day‑to‑day operations of the financial aid office, ensuring efficient, student‑centered service delivery and continuous improvement.
Leads, mentors, and develops a professional staff, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and service excellence.
Utilizes data, assessment, and outcome measures to evaluate program effectiveness and inform strategic decisions.
Job Duty: Collaboration, Partnerships & Innovation
Partners closely with Admissions, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Finance, Alumni Affairs, and Development to integrate financial aid considerations into enrollment management, curricular decisions, and student support strategies.
Collaborates with advancement and external partners to demonstrate student financial need and support the development of new scholarship and funding opportunities.
Represents the medical school at national forums and professional associations related to financial aid and medical education.
Position Attributes
Employees in Safety‑Sensitive or Security‑Sensitive positions will be subject to pre‑employment and post‑employment drug testing in accordance with University policy.
Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive : No
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies : 1
Desired Start Date : As soon as possible
Job Open Date : 04/22/2026
Job Close Date : 06/06/2026
Open Until Filled : No
Benefits for FTE Positions
Health and Life Insurance
Retirement Programs
Paid Tuition
Dependent Scholarships
Annual Leave
Sick Leave
13 Paid Holidays
Paid Parental Leave
Professional Development Opportunities
EEO Statement
The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV /AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.
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