Senior Financial Aid Advisor

Position Summary

The Senior Financial Aid Advisor serves as a senior-level financial aid professional responsible for administering complex financial aid programs, resolving advanced student eligibility issues, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, institutional, and accrediting agency regulations. The position provides comprehensive financial aid counseling to students while serving as a subject matter expert and resource for Financial Aid Advisor I and II staff.

The Senior Financial Aid Advisor independently manages complex financial aid cases, professional judgment reviews, and compliance-sensitive situations. The position assists with staff training, quality assurance reviews, audit preparation, policy implementation, and departmental initiatives. Working closely with financial aid leadership, the Senior Financial Aid Advisor supports operational effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and student success.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide advanced financial aid counseling to prospective, current, and returning students regarding federal, state, institutional, veteran educational benefits, alternative loan programs, scholarships, and other funding opportunities while independently managing complex student cases and resolving escalated issues.
• Review, analyze, and process financial aid applications, ISIRs, verification documents, professional judgment requests, dependency overrides, unusual circumstance determinations, and eligibility reviews to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely awarding of financial aid programs.
• Determine student eligibility and package, award, revise, and repackage federal, state, institutional, Cal Grant, veterans' educational benefits, scholarship, and alternative loan funding based on regulatory requirements, enrollment changes, and institutional policies.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for Title IV programs, state aid programs, veteran educational benefits, alternative financing options, and institutional funding while providing guidance, training, mentoring, and quality assurance support to Financial Aid Advisor I and II staff.
• Identify and resolve complex eligibility issues, conflicting information, over awards, compliance concerns, Return-to-Title-IV implications, and processing discrepancies while recommending and implementing appropriate corrective actions.
• Conduct quality assurance reviews of student files, monitor compliance with federal, state, accrediting agency, and institutional regulations, and assist with audits, program reviews, and compliance monitoring activities.
• Process and award alternative loan applications and assist students with understanding lender requirements, loan eligibility, borrowing responsibilities, and repayment obligations.
• Assist students with Cal Grant and Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefit processes by reviewing documentation, monitoring eligibility requirements, and coordinating with appropriate departments and or agencies to support timely funding.
• Assist with staff training, onboarding, regulatory implementation, policy development, process improvement initiatives, systems testing, and special projects to support operational effectiveness and student success.
• Collaborate with Admissions, Student Services, Academic Affairs, Business Office, Veterans Affairs representatives, and external agencies to support student persistence, retention, and successful educational outcomes.
• Remain current on federal and state financial aid regulations, Cal Grant requirements, veterans' educational benefits programs, institutional policies, industry best practices, and emerging regulatory guidance.
•  Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications – Knowledge and Skills

• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations, including Title IV programs.
• Demonstrated leadership and team support skills.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong customer service orientation with a student-centered approach.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and financial aid management systems.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate degree/ or Bachelor's degree, and/or equivalent relevant work experience required.
• Two (2) to three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in financial aid administration required.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing student files, determining eligibility, performing verification, professional judgment reviews, resolving conflicting information, and administering federal, state, institutional, Cal Grant, veteran educational benefits, scholarship, and alternative loan programs.
• Experience packaging and awarding financial aid, processing complex eligibility determinations, and ensuring compliance with Title IV and applicable state regulations.
• Experience conducting quality assurance reviews, compliance monitoring, audit preparation, or regulatory reviews preferred.
• Experience training, mentoring, onboarding, or serving as a lead resource for financial aid staff preferred.