Student Financial Services Counselor
Department: Student Financial Services
Reports to: Director of Student Financial Services
Status: Full Time, Hourly
Date Last Revised: August 2017
Illinois College is a residential, private liberal arts college located in historic Jacksonville, Illinois, 70 miles northeast of Saint Louis, Missouri, and 30 miles west of Springfield, the Illinois State Capitol. True to its founding vision in 1829, Illinois College is a community committed to the highest standards of scholarship and integrity in the liberal arts. Illinois College promotes academic freedom, equality of opportunity, and human dignity through an increasingly diverse student population, currently comprised of 26 percent underrepresented students. The College develops in its students qualities of mind and character needed for fulfilling lives of leadership and service, fostering academic excellence rooted in opportunities for experiential learning while preparing students for lifelong success.
Summary
At Illinois College Student Financial Services comprises both Financial Aid and Student Accounts. The Student Financial Services Counselor is responsible for processing of financial aid and student account functions including counseling and supporting students and their parents regarding all aspects of paying for college.
Essential Functions
The following list of duties is meant to be representative of the work performed in this position. The omission of a specific duty or responsibility will not preclude it from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical extension of position responsibilities.
- Counsel students and families regarding the financial aid process, bill payment options, and the status of their account
- Provide advice and assistance to students with loans, grants, scholarships, and the financial aid application process and review applications to assure accurate and complete information.
- Responds to general student account inquires by retrieving information from various government, internal and financial websites.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations and policies
- Performs verification of student and parent Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data in compliance with federal requirements
- Prepare billing statements for students and monitor for payments
- Facilitate and process payments and issue receipts
- Daily posting of accounts receivable i.e. Tuition Management payment, on-line and cash payments to student accounts
- Process student refunds on a weekly basis
- Manage contact with students with accounts past due for payments
- Analyze student accounts and administers debt collection
- Counsel students that are studying abroad or on breakaway and process payments to the appropriate program
- Invoice and monitor payments for College Illinois, Upward Mobility, Department of Human Resource, Military, etc. for students qualifying for these programs
- Post charges from the Campus Store to student accounts
- Monitor and work directly with University Accounting Services in the collection of Perkins Loans
- Responsible for maintaining and balancing a cash drawer
- Makes recommendations on policies and procedures, content and design of forms, office operations and customer service matters
- Engage in College-wide initiatives to support student success, achieve strategic growth and build sustainable foundations
Qualifications
- A high school diploma or equivalent, required. Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field, preferred
- Ability to maintain a positive service attitude in a fast-paced, high-volume customer service and multi-faceted work environment
- Ability to carry out duties with accuracy and attention to detail despite frequent interruptions.
- Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills
- Must possess intercultural competence
- Must possess a pleasant, friendly demeanor with proven customer service skills
- Must possess computer knowledge and/or aptitude to learn products such as Microsoft office suite, database management, and Google drive.
To apply submit a cover letter, resume and list of references to the Office of Human Resources by email to ichr@ic.edu or by mail to:
Office of Human Resources
Illinois College
1101 West College Avenue
Jacksonville, IL 62650
Illinois College is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from underrepresented minorities and women.