Position Overview

The Financial Aid Counselor is a key ally to support students before, during, and after their time at Butler University. The Financial Aid Counselor counsels students and families from the initial financial aid application as a prospective student, through the renewal financial aid process to maintain eligibility from varying aid sources, to educating students and parents about responsible borrowing and repaying their loans after Butler. The Financial Aid Counselor must understand and interpret Federal and State laws, Institutional policies and needs, and all components of calculating student financial aid eligibility while confidentially handling families' highly sensitive financial information. The Financial Aid Counselor manages and coordinates the financial aid front desk operations, assists with crucial financial aid aspects including compliance, and facilitates multiple liaison relationships to various departments across campus.

Individual is expected to work on campus with flexible and remote work arrangements available based on departmental guidelines. 

Responsibilities

• Lead frontline operations including customer service contact via the front desk visits, phone calls and email
• Manage all front desk operations, including schedule of office coverage, appointments, technical support, response summaries, and additional operational needs
• Demonstrate office leadership by assessing and reporting on customer service experience and providing agreed upon improvement efforts
• Key contributor to student recruitment and retention through counseling prospective, current, and former learners through visits, emails, presentations, and by phone
• Provide efficient and effective ongoing communications through the complex financial aid process, helping enable families to make informed decisions regarding the funding of higher education, while balancing the University’s needs with the learners’ expectations
• Oversee all aspects of financial aid processing and compliance including Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data, financial aid eligibility
• Execute decisions based on the intent of complex federal and state law and regulations and University policy for assigned group of students
• Use professional judgment to determine aid eligibility and make adjustments with federally-accepted documentation
• Interact and collaborate with key federal and state agencies to ensure fiduciary and regulatory integrity
• Coordinate Federal Work Study reconciliation between payroll and FA systems
• Comply with federal aid regulations for reporting Federal Work Study earnings
• Contribute to other University and office efforts including data analysis and other areas of interest and skill
• Liaise and communicate with assigned offices across campus including Global Education
• Compliance and counseling lead for students pursuing study abroad options
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications 

• Required Education: Bachelor’s Degree
• Relevant Work Experience: 2-5 years   
• Skills and Abilities
  • (Degree of Proficiency – Intermediate)
    • Ability to analyze and interpret financial data
    • Strong written and verbal communication and listening skills
    • Maintain a high degree of professionalism
    • Productivity\Consistently completes work in a timely manner
    • Demonstrated ability to maintain confidential information
    • Perform work independently with minimal supervision
    • Computer and administrative software skills
  • (Degree of Proficiency – Advanced)
    • Possess flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment
    • Demonstrated customer service skills

Preferred Qualifications 

• 2 years of progressive experience working in an administrative position in a college or university, especially in a counseling role, and administrative financial aid experience working in a university financial aid office

BU Benefits and Perks

Please check out Butler’s Total Rewards website to learn more about our benefit offerings, which include:

• Paid Time Off and Holidays:
  • 20 days of paid time off (vacation and PTO days)
  • 8 Paid Holidays
  • Paid Winter Break between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day
  • Paid Parental Leave (after 1 year of full-time employment)
• Health:
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans including disability and life insurance programs
• Retirement:
  • 10% employer contribution after 1 year of full-time employment
• Tuition Assistance:
  • Remission of tuition for classes taken at Butler for employees, spouses, and dependent children.
    • Eligibility after 9 months of full-time employment
    • Employees & spouses- undergraduate/graduate degrees
    • Dependents (under age 26)- undergraduate degree
    • Covers tuition only
  • Tuition Exchange Program for Dependents
• Butler Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks:
  • Access to Butler’s on-site fitness facility and libraries for full-time staff and faculty
  • LinkedIn Learning Courses
  • Free premium subscription to the Calm App
  • Free subscription to the WSJ and NYT
  • Discount at the College Bookstore
  • Discount on select Athletic and Arts/Events Center Performances

About Butler

Butler University is a private, nationally recognized comprehensive university encompassing seven colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Pharmacy & Health Sciences and Founder's College. Approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate and doctoral students are enrolled at Butler, representing 46 states and 24 countries.

Join us at the crossroads of tradition & transformation. A career at Butler University means so much more than a job. Join the dedicated, innovative, and supportive community of faculty and staff that is moving Butler Beyond.

Butler University is an equal-opportunity employer.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all employees.  We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of age, gender, gender identity, sex, race, religion, color, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, national origin, or any other legally protected category.