Financial Aid Advisor

Position Information

Title: Financial Aid Advisor; FINANCIAL AID OFFICER 2 SV (004987)

Department: FINC (FINANCIAL AID OFFICE - Operation)

Location: 2101 Student Affairs and Administrative Services Building

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8AM – 5PM (100% full time)

Salary: $29.47 – $32.52 /hour (budgeted range); full range $29.47 – $50.69 /hour

Benefits: Full Benefits;
Hybrid Eligible (in‑person required)

Under the direction of the Assistant Director, the Financial Aid Advisor coordinates and administers multiple financial aid programs. The role performs operational tasks in all financial aid areas, including need analysis, packaging, and program revisions. The advisor advises students and parents, conducts workshops, and presents to campus organizations.

• Coordinating and administering one or more financial aid programs, interpreting policies and procedures, ensuring compliance, and developing new methods to improve student services.
• Preparing analytical reports, program updates, and presentations for staff meetings and workshops.
• Processing appeals, reviewing and deciding on appeals such as dependency overrides and academic progress, applying adjustments to need analysis as appropriate.
• Advising students, parents, and staff on financial aid processes, eligibility, and award policies; resolving complex procedural difficulties.
• Performing need analysis and award packaging for individual aid applications, applying federal, state, and university policies, authorizing modified or revised awards as needed.
• Conducting workshops and participating in committees to review and recommend changes to policies and procedures.

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related area or equivalent experience/training.
• Proven adaptability and ability to work effectively with multiple deadlines and schedules.
• Satisfactory criminal history background check.

• Financial aid administrative experience.
• Basic working knowledge of federal aid programs and the application process.
• Ability to apply policies to individual situations.
• Basic knowledge of policies, regulations, and practices for awarding financial aid and university policies.
• Basic knowledge of advising and counseling techniques.
• Ability to calculate financial aid with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Problem identification and critical thinking skills.
• Organizational skills and ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; active listening; customer service orientation.
• Ability to assess processes and recommend improvements; good interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with standard office software, internet, email, and common university applications.
• Strong analytical and technical skills; experience using complex databases.

• 25% Program Coordination – administers program, ensures compliance, develops improvements, prepares reports, presents updates.
• 20% Appeals Processing – reviews, decides appeals, makes adjustments overridden by standard policies.
• 30% Advising – provides counseling, explains procedures, resolves complex cases, interacts with other departments.
• 20% Need Analysis – conducts need analysis, applies rules, authorizes aid packages, solves problems.
• 5% Workshops/Committees – conducts workshops, participates in advisory committees, provides staff feedback.

• Limited vacation during the month of September/October.
• UCSB is a Tobacco‑Free environment.
• Required compliance with University of California vaccination policy; vaccination records must be provided.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.