Financial Aid Counselor

About the Position

Please Note:
Review of applications will begin on February 27, 2026.

The Financial Aid Counselor provides high-quality service and guidance to prospective, new, and continuing students and their families throughout the financial aid application and awarding process. This position is responsible for determining student eligibility for financial aid in accordance with institutional, state, and federal regulations and exercising independent judgment in the administration of financial aid operations.

The incumbent maintains working knowledge of policies and procedures across related campus departments—including the Registrar, Student Accounts, Human Resources, and Athletics—and understands their impact on student financial aid eligibility. The Financial Aid Counselor applies strong counseling and conflict resolution skills to assist students and families in understanding financial aid challenges and identifying appropriate solutions, while maintaining strict confidentiality in compliance with FERPA regulations.

The Financial Aid Counselor participates in state, regional, and national professional development activities to remain current on federal and state financial aid regulations and program changes. Core responsibilities include reviewing financial aid eligibility, updating student awards, counseling students and families on financial aid matters, and processing verification, appeals, and C-flag reviews.

• Following complex Federal and California state regulations and CSUEB policies and procedures, reviews and analyzes financial aid applications, checking for accuracy and consistency; revises awards, and reviews change of circumstance appeals; determining adequate documentation, follows up for further information and/or makes assumptions to complete review and any changes to award.
• Provides coordination with other on campus offices and coordinates all reporting to the US Department of Education and the California Student Aid Commission for programs. This includes revising awards based on funding from those sources.
• Certifies student loans and corrects information utilizing the financial aid management systems (CMS Peoplesoft) and Common Origination and Disbursement (the Federal database) to reflect changed awards.
• Must thoroughly understand federal regulations and CSUEB policies and procedures but exercise considerable independent judgment. For complicated cases, follows up for further information and/or makes decision using experience and judgment to complete analysis and award.
• Providing financial aid advising in the One-Stop at Perry’s Nest at least once a week, including virtual appointment scheduling.
• Provides support and coaching to the financial aid customer service team and advises students and parents with questions and concerns. Uses sound judgment to recommend solutions to problems and changes in program procedures.
• Reviews awards following add/drop to make necessary changes to financial aid based upon the number of units a student is taking. Also revises awards based on other changes to eligibility. Coordinates with appropriate offices as required.
• Assist with responding to department emails, phone calls and text messages.
• Train and mentor Federal Work Study students assistants and Student Ambassadors in the One-Stop on all aspects of a federal and state financial aid program.
• Calculate Return of Title IV Funds.

• Reviews and interprets federal and state regulations and using considerable independent judgement, develops and distributes documentation, and trains colleagues on new policy and procedures.
• Serves as the primary lead and in-house expert relative to a specific student aid program.
• Designs and develops efficient and regulatorily compliant procedures to facilitate the delivery of financial aid services to a targeted population. This includes the development of materials and the creation of just-in-time communications to provide students with information before they need to ask for help.
• Responsible for all processes and procedures related to a federal, state or campus…