Financial Aid Counselor

Financial Aid Counselor

DePauw University is an Equal Employment Opportunity

Employer:

Women, members of underrepresented groups, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Position will remain open until filled.

The Office of Financial Aid is seeking a dedicated, detail-oriented, and customer-focused Financial Aid Counselor to join our team. This entry-level position plays a crucial role in supporting students and families through their academic journey by guiding them through the financial aid application, evaluation, and financing processes. Excellent communication skills, outstanding student service, a strong attention to detail, and a willingness to learn and adhere to federal, state, and institutional regulations are required.

Essential Functions

Reasonable Accommodations Statement To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions Statement(s)

• Customer Service:
  Provides high-quality, welcoming service to all students, parents, and members of the DePauw University community. This includes handling phone calls, emails, and in-person inquiries.
• Advising & Counseling:
  Assists and advises students and parents regarding financial aid eligibility, application procedures (FAFSA), aid programs, packaging policies, costs, and the university billing process.
• Records Management:
  Maintains accurate, secure, and confidential records of student financial aid information in compliance with privacy regulations.
• Document Processing:
  Processes and verifies financial aid materials, tax documents, and related verification forms accurately and timely.
• Compliance:
  Learns, interprets, and ensures compliance with all federal, state, and institutional regulations regarding financial aid administration.
• Outreach & Presentation:
  Assists in developing basic informational materials and conducts informational sessions or workshops on financial aid for students and families.
• Admissions
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Collaborates with the Office of Admission to help recruit new students and meet enrollment goals through relationship building and timely communication regarding financial aid packages.
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Qualifications

Competency Statement(s)

• Accountability:
  Ability to accept responsibility for one's actions and workload.
• Communication (Oral & Written):
  Ability to communicate financial information clearly, concisely, and empathetically to diverse audiences.
• Customer Oriented: A strong desire to serve both external and internal clients by focusing effort on meeting their needs and building trust.
• Diversity Oriented:
  Ability to work effectively with people regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or background.
• Interpersonal:
  Ability to get along well with a variety of personalities and work collaboratively within a team.
• Organized:
  Ability to follow a systematic method of performing tasks and managing paperwork.
• Time Management:
  Ability to utilize available time efficiently to complete tasks within strict administrative deadlines.

Requirements

• Education/
  
  Experience:
  
  A Bachelor's degree required. (Equivalents include 1–2 years of foundational experience in customer service, higher education administration, or banking/finance).

• Communication/Language:
  Ability to read and interpret complex documents (such as government regulations). Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively and confidently with students, parents, and peers.

• Quantitative Ability:
  Basic mathematical and data analysis skills; comfort working with financial figures and budgets.

• Computer
  
  Skills:
  
  Technical proficiency with computer applications, including Google Workspace and Microsoft Office (specifically Excel). Ability to quickly learn institutional database systems; prior experience with student information systems (e.g., Workday or PowerFAIDS) is a plus but not required.

Other Requirements

• A strong commitment to the values associated with a nationally respected, residential liberal arts university, including…