"Financial Aid Advisor"

Financial Aid Advisor

Company: Saginaw Valley State University

Job Location: University Center, Michigan

Category: Financial Aid

Type: Full-Time

Job Title: Financial Aid Advisor

Full or Part Time: Full time

Hours: 40

Exempt: Yes

Supervisory Org: Financial Aid (PM)

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY: The Financial Aid Advisor supports students and families by providing guidance on financial aid resources, ensuring affordability and minimizing financial barriers throughout the student lifecycle. This role involves coordinating financial aid processes, including budgeting, packaging scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs, as well as managing federal aid verification and reviewing ISIR comment codes. The advisor proactively monitors students at risk of exceeding Title IV fund limits, losing aid, or facing financial challenges that could impact their academic success, offering solutions-oriented communication to support their continued enrollment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide financial aid advising to students and families at all points in the student lifecycle.
• Conduct proactive outreach to support students who may need financial aid or scholarship assistance to start or maintain their enrollment.
• Coordinate and implement the federal aid verification process.
• Coordinate and implement procedures to resolve conflicting data on the federal student aid application.
• Perform professional judgment (unusual circumstances and dependency overrides) activities that are consistent and comply with program regulations.
• Budgeting, awarding, packaging, and/or finalization of various institutional, community, state, and federal aid programs.
• Review ISIR comment code reports, as assigned.
• Monitor a list of students who transfer who may potentially exceed their Title IV funds for the year.
• Assist in posting federal loans and the certification and posting of alternative loans.
• Coordinate with various campus offices, including Campus Financial Services Center, Academic Advising, Admissions, Registrar, Academic Colleges, and the SVSU Foundation.
• Responsible for receiving daily walk-ins, appointments, and phone calls.
• Respond to or distribute e-mail messages in a timely manner.
• Participate in the development and implementation of financial aid policies and procedures.
• Assist with the interview and recommendation process of departmental employees.
• Present financial aid information to various groups on and off campus.
• Attend professional development conferences, seminars, and workshops to stay up to date on all aspects of the financial aid industry.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: General supervision is received from the Associate Director of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree required
• One year of related work experience.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to address large groups.
• Ability to work under pressure with a positive attitude.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workloads.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn new software quickly.
• Experience and ability to positively interact with all members of the campus community
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodations.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Duties are generally performed inside and not exposed to adverse conditions.
• All work associated with this role must be performed within the state of Michigan.

The above reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the essential functions of the job. It shall not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements that may be inherent in the job. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.

About SVSU:

Saginaw Valley State University is a comprehensive university with more than 100 programs of study for its roughly 7,000 students. Located on a suburban campus in Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Region, SVSU is committed to a supportive and empowering environment for students, faculty and staff. SVSU was recognized as a "Great College to Work For" for 9 consecutive years (2016-2024).

SVSU emphasizes undergraduate teaching and learning, and community-based research. SVSU earned the Community Engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, a distinction achieved by only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities. By their senior year, 84 percent of students have engaged with community employers and agencies in internships, field placements or some other component of their academic preparation.

SVSU is establishing itself as a leader in STEAM education for the Great Lakes Bay Region, partnering with businesses, foundations and school districts to improve students' performance in math, science and the arts at the middle school, high school and university levels. SVSU is constructing the first university research facility on Lake Huron to improve public health and the economy in the Saginaw Bay watershed.

More than 70 percent of SVSU freshmen live on campus in student housing that has been rated No. 1 among public universities in the U.S. (2018-2025). SVSU fields 20 varsity sports at the NCAA Division II level. The average class size is 23 students. For more information, please visit our website, http://www.svsu.edu/.