Financial Aid Counselor

TITLE: Financial Aid Counselor

DEPARTMENT: Financial Aid/Enrollment Management

JOB CODE: FACS

DATE: 03/2024

REPORTS TO: Director of Financial Aid

GRADE: SS-4

DLSE STATUS: Non-Exempt

The Financial Aid Counselor will support the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships in the day-to-day processing of student Financial Aid (including Federal Work study and institutional aid). The primary responsibilities of this position include assisting students and families with Financial Aid options and processing federal, state and institutional Financial Aid applications in accordance with federal, state and college regulations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Counsels students and families on the Financial Aid process
• Assists in the daily operations of the office as necessary including front counter customer service, phones, mailings, data entry and retrieval, and file organization.
• Receives and reviews Financial Aid documents from students and families and prepares files for review and packaging.
• Assists in the administration of all Federal, State and Institutional Aid programs at the University.
• Ensures the maintenance of student Financial Aid records and files as they relate to the Financial Aid programs.
• Remains current in knowledge of and provides accurate information to students and staff related to Federal Pell Grant, Cal grants and scholarships, veterans’ programs, Federal Work-Study, scholarships, FSEOG, student loans and federal, state, and college rules and regulations related to Financial Aid.
• Manages time reporting for federal work-study and monitors student.
• Corresponds effectively and in a timely manner with students concerning eligibility, academic progress, and documentation requirements.
• Prepares files of student financial records and maintains accuracy of files and Financial Aid database.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

EDUCATION:

• Regionally accredited bachelor’s degree required, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

EXPERIENCE:

• 3-5 years of experience in higher education.
• 3-5 years of experience working in a higher education Office of Financial Aid.

KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY/SKILLS:

• Working knowledge of processes for applying for federal, state and institutional aid.
• Knowledge of PowerFAIDS and Microsoft Office (MS Windows, Word, Excel) applications.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with diverse/multi-culture faculty, students, staff and external contacts.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Excellent proactive communication skills, ability to negotiate, make requests and provide leadership.

COMPLEXITY:

• The ability to perform highly detailed work with sustained attention and care while providing/obtaining information on numerous inquiries is paramount to success in this position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Occasional stooping. Frequent standing. Constant walking, sitting, climbing, reaching high/low levels, finger movement, feeling, speaking clearly, hearing conversationally, and seeing far and near. Lifting up to 35 pounds; carrying materials to various locations

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Occasionally required to work in confined space. May work off-campus in other meeting rooms, social environments and/or public events.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

• The mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Frequent work on a variety of unrelated tasks. Constant calculating interrupted work, work on a variety of interrelated tasks, and use of sustained concentration, reasoning, judgment, resourcefulness, analytical ability, and ingenuity. Able to prioritize work for best outcomes.

Special Requirements:

• Ability to work effectively with a diverse community.

Mission Driven, Community Focused About | Charles R.Drew University of Medicine and Science (cdrewu.edu)

Charles R. Drew University is located in the Watts-Willowbrook area of south Los Angeles and was founded in 1966 in the wake of the Watts uprising. CDU was founded to address inadequate medical care in the region and to provide equitable medical education opportunities for under-represented students.
CDU offers the only historically black Doctor of Medicine program west of the Mississippi and is strongly invested in the local and regional community. The university leads multiple partnerships and programs to provide equitable healthcare resources in a variety of south Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Excellent benefits: Medical, dental, vision, retirement plan, vacation accrues on first day of employment, wellness programs, 17 paid holidays per year, up to 16 hours of paid time off to participate in community service and much more.

Full Time

EEO Statement: Charles R. Drew University is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity. Applicants will be considered without regard to gender, race, age, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability or covered veteran status.

Fair Chance Statement: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local “Fair Chance” laws.