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The Financial Aid Advisor supports students and families in navigating the financial aid process by providing accurate information, individualized guidance, and exceptional customer service. This position plays a key role in helping students access educational funding by interpreting federal, state, and institutional policies, evaluating eligibility, and assisting with the completion of required applications including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and pertinent state aid applications.

The purpose of the Financial Aid Advisor position is to ensure students understand their financial aid options and receive the support needed to remove financial barriers to enrollment, retention, persistence, and completion. This role contributes to the institution's mission by counseling students, processing aid applications, maintaining regulatory compliance, and promoting financial literacy to help students make informed decisions about paying for college.

Primary Responsibilities:

+ Ethical Conduct & Professionalism

+ Uphold the highest Code of Conduct by providing accurate, unbiased, and transparent financial aid information.

+ Maintain confidentiality of student records and ensure all advising practices comply with FERPA.

+ Avoid conflicts of interest and ensure fair, equitable treatment of all students.

+ Accurate Consumer Information

+ Provide clear, complete, and accessible information regarding financial aid programs, eligibility, costs, deadlines, and policies.

+ Educate students and families on funding options, rights, and responsibilities.

+ Need Analysis & Eligibility Determination

+ Apply need analysis methodologies when reviewing FAFSA data and calculating financial need.

+ Interpret federal, state, and institutional guidelines to determine student eligibility accurately.

+ Identify and resolve conflicting information in accordance with regulatory standards.

+ Verification & Documentation

+ Conduct verification following federal regulations and industry best practices.

+ Ensure timely collection and accurate review of tax documents, household information, and other required materials.

+ Update student records and correct FAFSA data as needed.

+ Packaging & Awarding Aid

+ Package financial aid for the academic year, or one semester.

+ Explain awards, cost of attendance, unmet need, and funding adjustments to students.

+ Reassess and revise aid packages due to enrollment changes, SAP status, special circumstances, or additional resources.

+ Professional Judgment (PJ)

+ Apply PJ decisions ethically, consistently, and with proper documentation.

+ Evaluate special circumstance requests such as income changes, dependency overrides, or unusual expenses.

+ Ensure PJ decisions meet federal regulations and institutional policy standards.

+ Compliance & Audit Readiness

+ Ensure all financial aid processes comply with Title IV regulations and state policies.

+ Maintain accurate records and support internal and external audit preparation.

+ Participate in ongoing training to stay current with regulatory updates.

+ Student Advocacy & Support

+ Act as a resource for students navigating financial, academic, or administrative challenges affecting aid eligibility.

+ Support enrollment, retention, persistence, and completion by helping students remove financial barriers.

+ Collaborate with departments such as Admissions, Registrar, Academic Advisement, and Student Accounts to ensure cohesive student support.

+ Continuous Professional Development

+ Engage in regular training offered by Federal Student Aid, NASFAA, state associations, and institutional programs.

+ Demonstrate commitment to stay informed about emerging regulations, best practices, and policy updates.

Functional and Supervisory Relationships:

+ Reports to Senior Financial Aid Advisor

+ Supervises the following positions: N/A

Job Requirements:

Knowledge:

+ Federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations, including Title IV, FAFSA processes, verification requirements, and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.

+ NASFAA standards and ethical guidelines, including need analysis, awarding, professional judgment, and documentation best practices.

+ Financial aid systems such as PeopleSoft, Banner, Colleague, PowerFAIDS, or similar student information systems.

+ Financial literacy concepts, including budgeting, borrowing, loan repayment, and debt management.

+ FERPA and data privacy regulations related to handling sensitive student information.

+ Basic accounting and financial concepts to understand cost of attendance, billing, and aid reconciliation.

+ Customer service and counseling principles to support diverse student populations effectively.

Skills:

+ Communication skills (written, verbal, and interpersonal) to explain complex financial aid information clearly and compassionately.

+ Analytical and problem-solving skills to interpret regulations, evaluate documentation, and resolve conflicting information.

+ Detail-oriented data management skills to ensure accuracy in awarding, documentation, and compliance.

+ Strong organizational and time-management skills to meet deadlines during peak processing periods.

+ Technological proficiency, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word), data entry, and CRM/SIS tools.

+ Conflict resolution and de-escalation skills to assist stressed or frustrated students.

+ Presentation and facilitation skills for workshops, orientations, and outreach events.

Abilities:

+ Ability to interpret and apply complex regulations with accuracy, judgment, and ethical decision-making.

+ Ability to advise and support students with diverse backgrounds, needs, and financial circumstances.

+ Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information responsibly.

+ Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

+ Ability to adapt to regulatory changes and new technologies quickly.

+ Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and compliance.

+ Ability to exercise professional judgment (PJ) when evaluating special circumstances, ensuring consistency and fairness.

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

+ Bachelor's degree from a college or University accredited by the US Department of Education or internationally recognized accrediting organization.

+ 1-3 years of relevant experience in a higher education setting, or at a financial institution.

+ Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community

+ Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role

Preferred Qualifications:

+ 2+ years of experience in financial aid

+ Familiarity with PeopleSoft SIS

Working Environment:

+ Occasional night and weekend events

Additional Information:

This is a promotional opportunity for current UAlbany employees.

Eligibility for Consideration:

+ You must be employed at the University at Albany campus.

+ You must be in a State-funded UUP professional position (MC employees are not eligible).

+ You must have a permanent, term, or probationary appointment. Only temporary employees employed by UAlbany for three or more consecutive years can be considered eligible.

For details concerning the University's Promotion Policy for Professional Employees, please see HR Memorandum 88-4 (https://www.albany.edu/hr/promotion.php) .

Professional Rank and Salary Grade: Financial Aid Advisor, SL3, $57,151

Special Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, please note that UAlbany is not an E-Verify employer.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University's crime statistics for the past three years; and disclosures regarding the University's current campus security policies. The University at Albany's Annual Security Report is available in portable document format [PDF] by clicking this link http://police.albany.edu/ASR.shtml (https://www.albany.edu/police/statistics-and-records)

Pursuant to NYS Labor Law 194-A, no State entity, as defined by the Law, is permitted to rely on, orally or in writing seek, request, or require in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current wage, or salary history as a condition to be interviewed, or as a condition of continuing to be considered for an offer of employment, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation, and for the purpose of verifying information, may such requests be made. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at [email protected].

THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY IS AN EO/AA/IRCA/ADA EMPLOYER

Please apply online via http://albany.interviewexchange.com/candapply.jsp?JOBID=196295