Financial Aid Advisor

Benefits of Being a Lindenwood Employee:

• Upon hire, employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s (employee, spouse, and dependent) and master’s degree programs (employee and spouse only).
• Tuition discounts for doctoral programs (employee only).
• Comprehensive benefits plan: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement options.
• Paid holidays: MLK Jr. day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break (Wednesday – Friday), and winter break (Dec. 23 – Jan. 1).
• Free lunch Fridays: LU employees are eligible for a free meal on Fridays at the Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman Dining Hall; Chick-fil-A and Qdoba included.   
• Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy.

Job Title: Financial Aid Advisor

Division: Enrollment and Marketing

Evaluation Group: Staff

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Director, Student Financial Services Operations

Positions Supervised: N/A

The financial aid advisor is responsible for providing effective counseling and administrative support for various federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work programs. This role serves as the primary point of contact for students and families, providing skilled advising through multiple communication channels. The financial aid advisor also processes financial aid applications, verifications, and eligibility reviews to ensure timely and accurate awarding and disbursement of funds in compliance with federal and state regulations and institutional policies.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and level of responsibility that will be required of positions given this title. This job description shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Job Responsibilities and Execution

• Counsels students and parents of assigned population on financial aid eligibility for grants, loans, scholarships, student employments, and payment options
• Monitors progress of FAFSA completion for assigned population
• Initiates outreach to students/parents to provide guidance on completing financial aid requirements
• Provides skilled financial aid advising via email, phone, virtual platforms, and presentations including high school recruiting events
• Maintains contact with students throughout the financial aid cycle to ensure all financial aid funds are in a ‘ready to pay’ status
• Monitors financial aid applications for assigned population to ensure students are packaged accurately and efficiently
• Performs verifications, resolves C codes, and reviews conflicting information and comment codes to determine the eligibility of financial aid applicants
• Works with students/parents to resolve rejected ISIRs
• Awards financial aid per federal, state, and institutional policies
• Resolves aid processing, certification, and disbursement issues
• Identifies and processes financial aid adjustments based on enrollment changes
• Assists in preparing for financial aid audits

Service Excellence

• Supports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence
• Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University’s values
• Participates in developing financial aid processes, policies, and procedures that improve efficiency and quality of service provided to students

Communication, Teamwork, and Collaboration

• Works collaboratively across departments to resolve student aid issues such as collaborating with Student Accounts to resolve unpaid balances
• Participates in training, workshops, and professional development opportunities

Job may require other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications – An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered. Additional requirements may be designated by position.

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of 1 years’ experience in financial aid or student accounts
• Experience with student financial services model preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – May be representative, but not all inclusive, of the knowledge, skills, and abilities commonly associated with this position.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
• Ability to coordinate with other departments
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Highly organized with the ability to multitask
• Strong professional integrity and ability to maintain strict confidentiality
• Ability to use good judgment, think critically, and problem solve
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite

Work Environment – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of this job’s functions. Please click here to view Lindenwood University’s flexible work designation descriptions.

• General office setting
• Evening and weekend work possible
• Fully On-Ground

Physical Abilities – The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to work effectively at a computer for up to eight hours daily
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function
• Adequate mobility to attend meetings and events across campus

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lindenwood University is an Equal Opportunity employer. The University complies with appropriate federal, state, and local laws and provides equal employment opportunities and access to educational programs without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status to all qualified applicants and employees.  Lindenwood University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and dedicated to providing a positive discrimination-free educational work environment.