Description
About the Position
The Student Financial Aid Counselor 2 serves as an experienced financial aid professional responsible for administering financial aid programs, ensuring regulatory compliance, managing scholarship funding, and providing comprehensive counseling to students and families. This position requires in-depth knowledge of federal, state, and institutional regulations; strong analytical skills; and the ability to independently resolve complex and time-sensitive issues.
The counselor functions as a subject matter expert within the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and plays a key role in compliance oversight, scholarship administration, withdrawal processing, and continuous improvement of business processes to support student success.
Job Responsibilities
- Research, interpret, and remain current on university, state, federal, and external agency rules and regulations to ensure operational compliance.
- Recommend policy and procedural changes; develop and implement business processes that align with compliance requirements.
- Assist with the annual review of state and federal regulatory changes and apply updates to internal policies and procedures.
- Thoroughly research and respond to time-sensitive and complex financial aid issues.
- Accurately review, compare, and correct FAFSA data using submitted tax documentation in accordance with federal verification policies and procedures.
- Exercise professional judgment when reviewing and evaluating verification records for students and parents.
- Evaluate and analyze financial information submitted by applicants to determine eligibility for financial assistance, including type and amount of aid awarded, in accordance with federal, state, and university guidelines.
- Identify, analyze, and resolve discrepancies, unusual award packages, and complex financial aid records.
- Test, analyze, and validate data to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Implement, coordinate, direct, and maintain donor-funded and foundation scholarships.
- Monitor scholarship eligibility, funding allocations, and compliance with institutional and external requirements.
- Monitor, evaluate, and review daily reports identifying students who change enrollment levels, officially withdraw, or unofficially withdraw.
- Calculate Return to Title IV (R2T4) and related eligibility adjustments based on the prorated percentage of earned and unearned aid.
- Manually process and adjust financial aid eligibility in PeopleSoft in accordance with federal regulations.
- Ensure timely and accurate adjustments to prevent compliance risk and institutional liability.
- Independently counsel and advise current and former students, parents, faculty, staff, collegiate units, third parties, and the public via phone, email, in-person appointments, and virtual meetings (Zoom).
- Clearly explain:
- Financial aid eligibility requirements
- Cost of attendance components
- Disbursement processes
- Differences and benefits of various aid types (grants, scholarships, loans, work-study)
- Student Aid Index (SAI)/Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) methodologies
- Provide in-depth guidance on loan options, debt management strategies, and program-specific financial aid matters.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted to the UMN Job Board under Job Opening 372310 (https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/372310). To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume or CV.
Required Application Materials:
- Resume
Requirements
Required Qualifications
- BA/BS degree plus at least two years of relevant experience, or a combination of education and relevant work experience to equal at least six years.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in a university financial aid office.
- Advanced knowledge of federal Title IV regulations.
- Experience managing scholarship programs or restricted funding.
- Experience counseling diverse student populations
