Financial Assistance Advisor and Analyst

Location:

Des Plaines, IL Category: Staff Job Type: Full Time Staff Posted On: Fri Aug 21 2026 Job Description:

Determine financial aid eligibility including general eligibility, verification, awarding, and disbursement in accordance with federal, state, and institutional regulations and guidelines. This position advises prospective students, current students, family members, and community members and analyzes data and documents to supply financial resources that support student success. Actions and decisions must be performed with a high level of integrity, compliance with law, and protection of student data.

• Inform students and others on the federal, state, and institutional financial aid and scholarship processes, educational costs, and funding options including veterans' benefits. Counsel families with complex, extenuating, or unusual circumstances. Advise on eligibility requirements, special circumstances, timelines, academic requirements, and rules for financial aid programs with professionalism and compassion. Create a welcoming environment for families from diverse backgrounds. As needed, deescalate financial concerns and anxiety to support enrollment and student success.
• Evaluate financial aid applications for accuracy and eligibility including financial needs analysis. Make independent decisions that align with regulations and guidance to ensure applications meet general eligibility, academic progress, residency, and verification rules. Employ professional judgment when making decisions regarding special circumstance and dependency override appeals. Interpret foreign income taxes and determine equivalencies in U.S. dollars. Ensure all conflicting data is identified, resolved, and documented.
  
  Identify, inform and support students and families who have not complied with IRS tax filing requirements or Homeland Security status requirements.
• Determine financial aid awards and make adjustments in alignment with federal, state, and institutional regulations. Update cost of attendance. Resolve awarding errors and rejections. Monitor and resolve issues of over payments, defaults, unusual enrollment and Pell and MAP grant limitations. Ensure applicants are evaluated objectively and consistently. Manage weekly processes to ensure accurate and timely awarding of financial aid funds by established deadlines.
• For students using veteran benefits, confirm, report, and monitor progress and enrollment, and ensure courses are necessary for Oakton degree program. Calculate educational costs based on state or federal veteran program rules. Monitor enrollment within established reporting deadlines and submit updates. Collaborate with academic advising on courses eligible for payment. Prepare college financing plan documents. Partner with the Bursar on application of payment and return of over payments.
• Inform and communicate decisions to students. Offer in-person and virtual appointments. Respond to telephone calls. Maintain a student caseload and regularly provide updates that support financial and enrollment decisions. Utilize various forms of communication methods including electronic methods such as texting and email. Maintain accurate communication records in the student information system. Support general office email communication by regularly responding to emails sent to the departmental email address.
• Perform Title IV Return of Funds calculations for students who withdraw. Examine student course schedules for the percentage of aid earned. Determine post withdrawal disbursements. Advise students on reductions in financial aid. Return funds in accordance with the order and timeframe dictated by the federal government.
• Prepare student data for transmission to various federal or state agencies, and access various databases to report and/or review student information including but not limited to FAA Access to CPS online, Common Origination and Disbursement (COD), National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS), VA Once, and ISAC Gift Assistance Program (GAP).
• Determine compliance with and advise students on the academic progress requirements for the financial aid programs. Direct students who do not meet requirements to academic advising for assistance with educational planning for appeals. Review and interpret student coursework in relation to academic program requirements and federal regulations. Review student academic appeals and recommend approval of financial aid for students who have mitigating circumstances and arrangements for academic success.
• Serve as a liaison to special support programs such as TRIO Student Support Services, the Emory Williams Academy, STEM scholars, and Athletics in order to coordinate support and services for students. Collaborate and inform Academic Affairs and the Oakton Educational Foundation on scholarships and grants to comply with unique federal, state and institutional requirements.
• As directed, determine student…