Financial Aid Counselor

The Financial Aid Office is seeking an Assistant Director. The Assistant Director contributes to policy development, staff training, workflow optimization, and cross‑campus collaboration to advance USC’s commitment to access, affordability, and student success. The key responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to the following: providing guidance and assistance to Financial Aid staff, students, and academic units on eligibility issues.

The Aid Coordination unit within the Financial Aid Department manages financial aid packages for over 27,000 students per year. This includes maintaining and implementing department policy on aid coordination, working with various University departments, and managing the University Outside Scholarship Process.

• Assisting with award and coordination of 23.2 million dollars in state grants, 19.7 million in federal grants, and 238.7 million in university grants and scholarships
• Ensuring the program integrity of the Federal Pell Grant Program
• Ensuring the program integrity of the Federal Work Study Program
• Facilitates the coordination of aid for USC NAI, AB50, Chafee and Dream Act students.
• Assist in collecting, analyzing and preparing Cost of Attendance (COA) data then help to create updated COA documentation for each academic year.
• Responsible for emailing students and managing ongoing correspondence through the Salesforce email client to ensure timely and accurate communication.
• Ensure accurate awarding, packaging, and reconciliation of aid in compliance with Title IV regulations and USC policies.
• Collaborate with academic departments, Student Financial Services, Admissions, and other USC units to support seamless student experiences.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and workflow enhancements

Additional responsibilities include:

• Analysis
• Communication -- written and oral skills
• Conflict resolution
• Counseling
• Interpretation of policies/analyses/trends/etc.
• Knowledge of applicable laws/policies/principles/etc.
• Lead/Guidance Skills
• Organization
• Planning
• Problem identification and resolution
• Public speaking/presentations
• Adaptability
• Collaboration

Preferred Field of Expertise:

Prefer USC experience with knowledge of SIS computer system

Knowledge of student financial aid programs and award coordination.

In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values.

The hourly rate for this position is $30.50. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree

Additional

Education Requirements:

Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

Minimum Experience:

1 year

Additional Experience Requirements:
Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum work experience

Minimum

Skills:

Financial analysis and evaluation.