Financial Aid Advisor II

Job Title

Financial Aid Advisor II

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Scholarships And Financial Aid

Proposed Minimum Salary

$4,125.00 monthly

Job Location

Fort Worth, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

What We Want

Scholarships & Financial Aid is seeking a Financial Aid Advisor II to counsel and provide information on federal, state and institutional scholarships, financial aid & military education benefits for currently enrolled and prospective Law students. We're looking for a passionate, critical thinking, and driven individual who has a student first mindset to assist and advise students on available aid to finance their education. The successful candidate provides great customer service, has the ability to meet deadlines, succeeds in a fast pace environment, and maintains a high level of accuracy and professionalism. The Financial Aid Advisor II will learn to advise current and prospective students and their families both in one-on-one and group settings.

The ideal candidate will have experience in financial aid, scholarships, student employment, student services, military education benefits or in a related area. Detail-oriented, well-organized, customer service oriented, and the ability to work both individually and in a team setting are all crucial for success in this position. If this description appeals to you, we invite you to apply to be considered for this opportunity.

What You Need to Know

Salary: $49,500/annually

Cover Letter & Resume: A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended

Other Requirements: 

• Please note this position is located on-site in Fort Worth, TX.

• Occasional travel.

• May be asked to work weekends, holidays, and outside regular business hours during peak periods.

• Must comply with Texas A&M System Policy 07.02 Texas Higher Education Fair Lending Practices.

• Must be in good standing on all Federal Student Loans. The U.S. Dept. of Education will not grant access to student loan data for any individual who is in default status. Access to such information is a necessity for this position. Must be able to rectify default status within three months of employment. Good standing must be maintained for continued employment.

Essential Duties/Tasks

• Advising/Processing - Uses discretion and independent judgment to advise and counsel students and prospective students on financial aid and scholarships. Assists with reviews of student files and adjusts as needed. Understands the student financial aid/scholarship process and shadows team members for cross-training as needed. Learns to provide loan and indebtedness counseling to students on an individual and group basis. Uses independent judgment to provide support to colleges and departments as needed.  Assists with review, revision, and interpretation of complex rules, regulations, procedures, and policies relating to general financial aid, scholarships, and team specialty area(s). Awards, revises and/or approves the disbursement of financial aid through the specific controls of program policy and guidelines. Communicates with students and their families via multiple methods (i.e. email, in-person, phone, etc.).  Reviews application data against additional data received and resolves discrepancies or adjusts data in Banner/Compass as appropriate. Collaborates with on campus representatives regarding students’ financial aid concerns.  May assist with resolving and responding to complex student cases regarding financial aid.  May review professional judgment and satisfactory academic progress appeals and make adjustments and decisions to student files as needed. Attends local, state, and national workshops and conferences; some travel is required.

• Financial Aid Knowledge & Team Support - Continues to learn, interpret, and maintain knowledge of current federal, state, and institutional policies, procedures, and regulations pertaining to financial aid. Interacts with students and assists with transition from prospective to currently enrolled students. Ensures that processing activities adhere to established policies and procedures while using critical thinking skills. May recommend revisions to established policies and procedures.  May provide training and assistance to other financial aid staff on specialized processes. 

  

• Veterans Benefits Advisor - Assists with student and applicant Veteran and Hazlewood processing and certification. Assists students in resolving questions with the Veteran Administration, Texas Veterans Commission, and/or the School of Law. Learns from Military Education Benefits (MEB) on the Texas A&M College Station campus to ensure compliance in benefit advising and consistency in policies and procedures between the two campuses. Calls into weekly MEB meetings and other MEB related trainings/meetings as needed.

  

• General - Participates in and assists in the planning and execution of events for departmental initiatives (e.g. financial aid awareness programs, Aggieland Saturday, New Student Conferences). Responds to varied questions that may require researching and consolidating data regarding financial aid and scholarships. Attends local, state, and national workshops, and conferences. May assist with presentations.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• One year in financial aid, scholarships, student employment, student veteran’s services or related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two or more years in student financial aid or advising experience at a college level.

• Management and supervisory skills.

• Comfortable working independently while engaging with team members in different locations.

• Some professional experience in a higher education setting.

• Professional experience in a role related to student advising, recruitment, counseling or student affairs.

• Background in general office conditions with much time spent in contact with students.

• Excellent customer service skills.

• Knowledge of current versions of Microsoft products, including Windows and Office.

• Knowledge of Financial Aid or Student Information Systems.

• Bilingual in Spanish.

• Ability to develop and make presentations.

• Knowledge and experience in an enrollment management area focusing on outreach and/or retention.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to meet deadlines and maintain a high level of accuracy, professionalism, and customer service.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office software.

• Ability to work individually or as a team in a dynamic organization.

• Good interpersonal communication skills.

• Must be literate in the English language and able to comprehend, give and follow both written and verbal instructions.

• Ability to organize and make decisions.

• Ability to work well under pressure.

• Ability to use tact, diplomacy, and judgment in dealing with all customers.

• Attention to detail.

Who We Are

The mission of Scholarships & Financial Aid is to provide students and their families with information and financial resources to attend Texas A&M University, along with support programs that promote higher education and developmental opportunities. We administer scholarships and financial aid, which include the following programs: grants, student loans, student employment, veteran educational benefits, athletic aid coordination, short-term loans, and emergency tuition and fee loans.

In addition, our office provides advising on the programs listed above. Our office is responsible for processing student aid and veteran educational benefits for College Station, Galveston, and Health Science Center sites which totaled approximately $1 billion in financial aid assistance for the prior academic year.

Why Texas A&M University?

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration.  Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.  Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.   

• Medical,  prescription drug,  dental,  vision,  life and AD&D,  flexible spending accounts , and long-term disability insurance  with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums  

• 12-15 days  of annual paid holidays   

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave  and at least eight hours of paid vacation  each month  

• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas  

• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time   

• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning  training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more   

• Educational release time and tuition assistance  for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee  

• Living Well,  a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees 

Our Commitment    

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences.  Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service. 

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.