Financial Aid Counselor

Department: Division of Enrollment Management

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

In collaboration with the George Mason University community, and as a part of the Office of the Provost, the Division for Enrollment Management optimizes student recruitment and retention by developing and implementing strategic enrollment plans, overseeing the admissions process, providing financial aid services, and managing the Mason Student Services Center—a centralized student services resource. The Division’s activities support the achievement of institutional enrollment goals by placing the student (and family) at the center of our work, supporting a culture of transparency, and leveraging data to inform decision-making.

The mission of the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) is to offer services and programs to students through awards funded from federal, state, and private organizations. The primary mission of the Office is to provide eligible students with funds to finance and complete their education within the boundaries of federal, state, and University regulations. The focus of the Office is to help students develop an understanding of the need to be proactive consumers of educational opportunities at George Mason University.

About the Position:

The Financial Aid Counselor manages a caseload of students and provides assistance to students and their families to proceed through the financial aid process. This position advises students about financial aid eligibility, application procedures, available financial aid programs, costs and financial management strategies, including financing options. The Financial Aid Counselor manages students and is responsible for reviewing applications for accuracy and verification in order to determine financial need and the student’s award package. The Financial Aid Counselor assists in community outreach activities and provides guidance and information on financial aid related matters, which may include some weekend and evening attendance at information sessions and student orientation programs. This position is also responsible for maintaining a thorough working knowledge of all Federal Title IV, state, and institutional financial aid regulations. The Financial Aid Counselor exercises professional judgment while advising, processing, and reviewing appeals such as Income Reduction requests, student Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeals, dependency appeals, and cost of attendance adjustment requests.

Responsibilities:

• Provides assistance to students and their families to proceed through the financial aid process;
• Manages a caseload of students and advises students about financial aid eligibility, application procedures, available financial aid programs, costs and financial management strategies, including financing options;
• Manages students and responsible for reviewing applications for accuracy and verification in order to determine financial need and the student’s award package;
• Responsible for maintaining a thorough working knowledge of all Federal Title IV, state, and institutional financial aid regulations;
• Responsible for financial aid data review; verification, awarding, and packaging student financial aid files; and responsible for a specific student financial aid program/office function;
• Provides outstanding customer service while demonstrating patience and understanding to students and families who are seeking and/or receiving financial aid; collaborating with the Mason Student Services Center and utilizing Salesforce/Microsoft Teams to respond to emails/phone calls, and meets with walk-in students;
• Reviews reports such as over budget/over need reports, repeat course rule reports, residency reports, Expected Family Contribution (EFC) mismatch reports, selective service reports, ineligible certificate reports, failing Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) reports, and conflict reports, etc., to ensure files are awarded and packaged in accordance with federal, state, and institutional rules;
• Tracks documents, runs needs analysis, reviews tax documents, and completes verification if needed;
• Reviews professional judgement appeals such as income reduction appeals, SAP appeals, cost of attendance adjustment requests, and dependency appeals. Processes corrections on Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) and ensures students are repackaged accurately after appeals are reviewed;
• Utilizes federal sites to review aid eligibility such as National Student Loan Database (NSLDS), Common Origination and Disbursement (COD), Central Processing System (CPS), etc., as needed.
• Reviews summer aid applications and awards students federal, state, and institutional funding;
• Makes adjustments to awards to ensure federal, state, and institutional compliance, as needed; and
• Assists in community outreach activities and provides guidance and information on financial aid related matters, which may include some evening and weekend attendance at information sessions and student orientation programs.

Required Qualifications:

• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to an advanced degree in a related field;
• Experience working full time in a financial aid office;
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of federal student aid rules and regulations;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, collaborative, and computer software skills;
• Be a team player;
• Ability to provide in-depth contact with students and families via e-mail, telephone, and in-person, and demonstrated success in managing these communications with skill and finesse;
• Possess a strong desire to provide the highest level of service to students and their families, and has an energetic and positive approach to work; and
• Must be able to multi task and manage several responsibilities simultaneously while working in a high volume/fast paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working full time in a financial aid office at a large university;
• Experience with Ellucian Banner financial aid software;
• Experience with Salesforce case management software;
• Experience with using a call center software phone system; and
• Knowledge of Ellucian Banner financial aid software.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Financial Aid Counselor at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume for review.

Posting Open Date:  May 8, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  May 22, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes