Financial Aid Counselor

Main Work Location: Historic Stanford Campus Schedule: Hybrid (at least 3 days per week on site) Budgeted Pay Range: The expected pay range for this position is $34.85 - $41.33 per hour. To be considered, please include a cover letter and resume in your online application. The Financial Aid Office strives to enable all admitted students to take advantage of the opportunities at Stanford through one of the most generous financial aid programs in the nation. We are a dynamic team of dedicated professionals committed to serving all students, both undergraduate and graduate, and their families. We maximize use of technology to provide funding, tools and information necessary to meet educational expenses for all students. We ensure that institutional, governmental and private funds are administered in compliance with the highest standards of fiscal responsibility. The Financial Aid Office (FAO) seeks a Financial Aid Counselor who, as part of a team, will provide direct support to prospective students, current students (undergraduate and/or graduate), their families and supporters, Stanford colleagues and the general public related to financial aid programs and policies. Examples of Core Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Adjusting student eligibility upon request for student loans based on eligibility guidelines. Responding to a high volume of requests for information via email. Serving as the main point of contact for walk-in and phone traffic for FAO. Maintaining and improving quality results by adhering to standards and guidelines; recommending improved procedures. Core Duties : Communicate and advise on complex financial information and application procedures within guidelines to prospective students, current students, and their families in a clear, timely and professional manner as the main point of contact for walk-ins, email and phone inquiries. Answer inquiries by clarifying desired information, researching, locating and providing information for current students. Explore financial situations on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility and recommend solutions and provide alternative solutions for special circumstances. Escalate unresolved problems and document student interactions when appropriate. Establish student eligibility upon request for student loans based on federal regulations and institutional guidelines. Review student eligibility based on outside scholarship funds per University policy and donor guidelines; evaluate and adjust existing aid packages as appropriate. Participate in process improvements by sharing learnings and recommendations during staff meetings, to improve operating procedures and student and colleague interactions. May assist with data updates; indexing of scanned documents and updating of student records during peak times. Minimum Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree and one year’s relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities : Excellent communication skills, including the ability to exercise tact and discretion when dealing with students, families, donors and staff. Excellent phone and verbal communication skills. Strong customer service skills. Ability to work at a very detailed level, using numeric data with a high degree of speed and accuracy. Demonstrated ability to set priorities, manage time and workflow and to manage multiple, concurrent high priority projects in a time-pressured environment. Ability to understand and explain university policy to others. Ability to work as an effective member of a team, identify and implement process improvements. Ability to use multiple financial aid systems, document management systems, and window based environment and office applications. Demonstrated analytical and quantitative skills, good judgment.