Financial Aid Coordinator​/Counselor

Job Title: Financial Aid Coordinator/Counselor

Reports To: Director of Student Financial Services

Job Type: This is a full time, exempt position.

The Financial Aid Coordinator/Counselor provides financial services for students, overseeing the administration of all aid awarding while also acting as an educational financial planner. They guide students in creating a financial plan for account coverage during students’ educational tracks through outreach and thorough communication.

Additionally, they are tasked with ensuring students have an understanding of billing and aid processes and concepts.

WWU provides employees and their dependents with an opportunity to enroll in undergraduate, masters or doctoral coursework for credit at the university at a free or reduced cost. Employees interested in undergraduate degrees are eligible upon completion of three months of service. Masters or doctoral (including EDS) level degrees begins upon completion of six months of service.

• Assist in maintaining all student financial aid files by reviewing, determining and calculating aid eligibility, correcting and packaging students in caseload.
• Identify methods of awarding aid in accordance with federal, state, and institutional guidelines
• Award federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs for all student types. Apply information from outside sources to the aid package. Apply information from Admissions regarding institutional aid to the aid packages.
• Counsel students and families regarding all financing possibilities, processing steps, payment options, and account status

• Provide information and outreach (in person, on the telephone, and through electronic methods) to prospective and current students regarding student financial aid, account balance, and registration status - working primarily with the WWU Traditional population.
• Provides information regarding available financial aid opportunities, eligibility requirements, and the application process.
  
  Assist in students’ completion of these tasks in conjuncture with the other financial services staff.
• Organize and maintain financial clearance records to ensure goals are achieved on the number of students with approved clearance prior to the start of their courses each term.
• Responds to inquiries and researches and resolves problems related to account billing or financial aid.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience: Professional experience in higher education financial services and a bachelor’s degree are preferred but not required.

Knowledge, Abilities &

Skills:

• Excellent attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to work within a team environment
• Set priorities and deadlines, ensure projects are completed and respond to questions/problems in a timely manner, organize resources to meet program goals, reason logically, evaluate complex data, and recommend effective courses of actions
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with diverse populations and in conjunction with other professionals, as well as knowledge of counseling/advising techniques and standards and practices of student services within institutions of higher education
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills
• Ability to work with students in solving problems and planning a strategy for success in achieving the academic goals
• Ability to work independently under general supervision
• Ability to update, revise and develop new procedures related to changing tasks
• Ability to perform complex assignments under the pressure of pending deadlines
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in accordance with FERPA and financial aid ethics

Preferred Qualifications:

• Increased levels of professional responsibility…