Job Announcement List Title:
Financial Aid Counselor - Systems

Post Date
8/23/2021

Expiration Date
9/22/2021

Details:
Salary: $21.63 per hour

Job Summary:

The Financial Aid Counselor-Systems is responsible for counseling students, parents and staff regarding financial aid processing and awarding. Coordinating all facets of federal financial aid processing. Exercise professional judgement in the verification process, awarding, and corrections of all federal financial aid for students. Obtain documentation and complete verification and professional judgements. Revise awards for any student whose financial aid has changed, adjusting credit hours, and any other revisions that are not covered by other counselors. Trouble shoot problems pertaining to processing all federal aid. Responsible for some daily processing of federal financial aid for students. While a systems background is not needed for this job, a logical and systematic thought process is needed to understand the system and how it works.


Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Business Administration, Finance, or Education or equivalent professional experience
• Proficiency with MS Office and familiar with school information system (SIS) database
• Excellent oral and written skills needed to communicate
• Logical and analytical thought process to understand systems and process oriented tasks
• Must have reliable transportation to all HPU worksites

Desired Qualifications:
• Two or more years of experience working in higher educations, preferably in a traditional college/university and/or financial aid
• Possess knowledge of all processing (awarding & disbursing) of Federal Financial Aid
• Two or more years of experience counseling students, parents and staff in the processing of all federal financial aid
• Two or more years of SCT Banner and/or financial aid systems/software experience
• Ability to manage complex tasks with minimal or no supervision
• Experience counseling students, parents and staff.
• Some knowledge of college financial aid policies and procedures.
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills

Other Qualifications:
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship and relocation allowance is not available for this position.
• Report to work obligations to support the department and may require work during HPU’s winter break, if necessary.
• Must meet training and background check qualifications and comply with the Protection of Minors policy.
• Upon hire, candidate must have reliable personal transportation to facilitate travel between to all HPU worksites and other locations as required by the position. This includes a valid driver’s license and a personal vehicle that is legally registered and insured.
• Able to work all shifts and extended hours.
• Successful candidate will be able to work in an environment that utilize excellent time and stress management skills.


Comments:
Key Responsibilities/Essential Job Functions:

1. Financial Aid Counselor (70%)
• Counsel students and educate parents regarding federal financial aid opportunities
• Counsel students, parents and staff regarding debt management and the responsibility of repayment of federal and alternative loans
• Counsel students, parents and staff on the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) application process, and the packaging and disbursement processes
• Counsel students and parents in providing correct information when a student is selected for verification by the Federal DOE, or request review for special circumstances
• Assist with folder review, verification and use of professional judgement
• Responsible for the packaging of student financial aid awards for cohort assigned
• Plans, recommends, and manage the timely and accurate processing of all federal financial aid for assigned cohort of students
• Formulate student needs analysis when requested
• Carry out the verification process and determine the validity of all information provided when a student is selected for verification (randomly selected for auditing by the federal government)
• Analyze all documents from students and parents requesting special circumstances such as reduction of income, independency overrides, and other circumstances that may affect their federal aid
• Make judgments and recommendations concerning the special circumstances
• Responsible for carrying out all packaging procedures and organizing workflow for awarding federal financial aid to students
• Review and evaluate Banner data (that includes determination of students registered for correct number of credits, that amount of funds being paid is accurate, and that corrections from the Federal Government are done correctly)
• Manage the tracking of all student loans (completion of documents and in disbursing of funds) in assigned student cohorts
• Although the general work hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, occasional weekend and evening work may be required.

2. Systems Assistant (25%)
• Primary support for processing loan through various systems, including Banner
• Provide support to systems staff
• Provide back up to running packaging, including assisting with review of reports related to packaging
• Assist with running financial aid disbursements and reconciliation
• Assist with mass communications to students
• Assist with requests for students to complete outstanding documents needed to complete their files

3. Performs other related duties as assigned (5%)
• Actively participates as an effective member of team by completing assigned duties, accepting additional assignments or reassignments.
• Assists with seasonal peaks.

This description is not designed to list all activities, duties or responsibilities which may be required for this job. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned at any time.

Hawai'i Pacific University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable environment in which faculty and staff can excel irrespective of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, or any other protected class covered by state and federal law. Hawai'i Pacific University encourages applications from veterans and individuals with disabilities. A pre-employment background investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment.


Employer:
Hawaii Pacific University
Contact:
Human Resources

Address:
500 Ala Moana Blvd. Ste 4-545
Honolulu, HI 96813


Work Phone:
808-544-1188

Email:
hr@hpu.edu

Website:
https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/hpu/jobs/3196429/financial-aid-counselor-systems