Financial Aid Counselor II - University of the Pacific

Position Summary Information

Primary Purpose

The financial aid team includes multiple counselor positions at various levels. The current openings are located on the Stockton campus and may include program management across the three campus locations of the university. The counselor duties and focus both overlap and are distinct depending upon the business needs of the university and the experience of the individuals. The counselor is expected to understand and support the mission and goals of the department, division and institution. The counselor is responsible for effective and compliant administrative support of various federal, state and institutional financial aid scholarship, grant, loan and employment programs.

The Counselor II is expected to interact in a positive, collegial manner and to effectively work with all members of the financial aid team. The Counselor II is also expected to work effectively with and to appropriately represent the office when interacting with the university’s cross-functional teams with which the financial aid operation administers its programs.

As an essential member of the financial aid team the Counselor II is responsible for supporting a professional service-oriented operation that administers a full range of financial aid programs and is entrusted with ensuring that excellent customer service is provided to students, parents, colleagues and other constituencies.

Essential Functions

Core Competencies:

• Deliver exceptional service to students, parents and colleagues.
• Continue to develop a current working knowledge of Title IV, state and institutional regulations and policies as needed to fulfill position responsibilities.
• Understand and implement policies and procedures when working with student files and program processing.
• Ability to make sound independent decisions that determine financial aid eligibility for students.
• Multi-task and smoothly pivot focus as needed with the deadlines and the service needs of the department.
• Coordinate work with colleagues in the department and across the university as necessary.
• Maintain an at times high volume of work in which errors are minimized.

Essential Functions:

• Provides skilled advising for students and parents via all communication channels including email, text, telephone, website and platforms such as Teams and Zoom.
• Processes financial aid documents utilizing discretion and independent judgment pertaining to verification and eligibility confirmation for federal, state and institutional programs.
• Provides support and guidance in the areas of regulatory compliance, funds management, and reconciliation.
• Responsible for the training and mentoring of Financial Aid Counselor I positions.
• Collaborates with student accounts and other offices to confirm financial aid data.
• Assists with the processing of California state grants, Federal Pell Grants and Federal Direct Loans for undergraduate, graduate and professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students, including loan creation and loan origination.
• Assists with administering the university’s merit scholarship programs.
• Manages review of reports, analyzing enrollment status and identifying necessary aid adjustments.
• Responsible for oversight of one or more financial aid programs
• Performs other duties as assigned or requested.

University of the Pacific recognizes that diversity, equity, and inclusion is foundational to the success of our valued students and employees. We prioritize policy and decision-making that demonstrates awareness of, and responsiveness to, the ways socio-cultural forces related to race, gender, ability, sexuality, socio-economic status, etc. impede or propel students, faculty, and staff.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree (Two (2) years of full time experience in the same/similar position is equal to one (1) year of completed post high school education coursework).
• One (1) year of relevant financial aid work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to learn rules and regulations as they pertain to administration of federal, state and institutional financial aid programs.
• Expertise and experience to utilize professional judgement to independently calculate appropriate financial aid offers for students.
• Ability to identify and refer conflict/complexity to manager in escalated situations.
• Excellent oral, written and customer service communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the financial aid team, cross-functional colleagues and external partners.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize within concurrent deadlines.
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of the financial aid team.
• Ability to organize work for efficiency and to minimize errors.
• Positive attitude.
• Experience and sensitivity in working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Demonstrated experience in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion in a university setting.
• Ability to engage and integrate culturally responsive practices and knowledge in their work.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative but not definitive of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requires extended periods of sitting and repetitive hand/wrist motion while using computer keyboard and phone. Occasional standing, walking across campus, climbing stairs, bending, stooping and reaching. Occasional lifting up to twenty-five (25) pounds.

Work Environment/Work Week/Travel:
Work is generally performed during standard business hours but may occasionally include evenings and weekends. May be required to work at other campus locations. Local and national travel may be required.

Hiring Range

$20.35 - $26.96 per hour. We consider factors such as, but not limited to, scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s qualifications, internal equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Background Check Statement

All applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment are required to execute a release and authorization for a background screening.

AA/EEO Policy Statement

University of the Pacific is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer dedicated to workforce diversity. In compliance with applicable law and its own policy, Pacific is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and staff and does not discriminate in its hiring of faculty and staff, or in the provision of its employment benefits to its faculty and staff on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, sex/gender, marital status, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, medical condition, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, or mental or physical disability.

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