"Financial Aid Counselor I - Financial Aid/Scholarships"

Position Announcement

Utah Valley University is seeking a detail-oriented and student-focused Financial Aid Counselor to help make higher education accessible and affordable. In this role, you will guide current and prospective students through the scholarship process-advising on eligibility, programs, and procedures while ensuring compliance with institutional policy, award criteria, and state regulations. You'll review and process scholarship applications, exercise professional judgment to determine eligibility, and make award adjustments to best meet student needs.

Beyond office support, you will connect with the community through outreach events, assist high school seniors as they prepare for college, and present at UVU orientation to educate students about financial aid opportunities. This position offers the chance to make a direct impact on students' educational journeys while working in a collaborative, mission-driven environment dedicated to student success.

Summary of Responsibilities

• Awards current and prospective students institutional and private scholarship awards, advises on the scholarship process, and provides information on available programs, procedures, and eligibility requirements. Exercises professional judgement to determine eligibility. Evaluates and processes students' scholarship requests and makes award adjustments.
• Reviews, updates, and maintains the university scholarship management platform for compliance with institutional policy, individual award criteria, and state law. Creates and updates scholarship review committees, rubrics, and applications.
• Develops training programs and informs and/or trains campus departments, students, secondary education counselors, parents, and other community agencies regarding opportunities for financing education based on federal, state, and institutional funding requirements.
• Assists in the development of training manuals. Research and resolve questions about application process and processing problems. Continued education through state, regional, and national trainings. Performs regular area internal audits.
• Daily processing of reports and peripheral documentation pertaining to scholarship eligibility and awarding.
• Assists co-workers when needed to ensure the successful operation of the department. Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications / Licenses / Certifications

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree plus one year of experience related to the Summary of Duties; or any combination of education and/or experience totaling five years.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Knowledge

• Knowledge of federal, state, and institutional rules pertaining to financial aid and scholarships including need analysis, eligibility assessment, packaging strategies, loan awarding, evaluation of academic progress, and NCAA rules.
• Knowledge of compiling data and preparing reports.
• Knowledge of financial aid institutional policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of computerized financial aid systems, preferably Banner.
• Knowledge of computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, database, power point, internet tools, email systems, and other general computer skills.

Skills

• High technical aptitude and skill in problem solving, technical troubleshooting, decision-making, and prioritizing.
• Effectively uses interpersonal skills and communications skills, including tact, diplomacy, understanding, compassion and valuing all contributions, while maintaining adherence to policies.
• Skills in maintaining an established work schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends for outreach programs.
• Skills in making public presentations to large and small groups, and one-on-one.
• Effectively using organizational and planning skills, with acute attention to detail, exacting accuracy, and follow-through.
• Skills in maintaining confidentiality of work-related information and materials, including information from student records.

Abilities

• Ability to work effectively with individuals from all different backgrounds.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems in an effective and professional manner.
• Shows initiative and has ability to effectively prioritize tasks to meet deadlines.
• Ability to learn quickly.
• Ability to effectively provide knowledge, training, and expertise to students, faculty, and staff.
• Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Ability to gain and maintain access to federal student aid databases.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality pertaining to all student records in compliance with federal and state regulations (i.e. FERPA, GRAMA, etc.).
• Ability to effectively create, compose, and edit written materials.