Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
Portland State University
Position Details
Proposed Start Date11/03/2025Classification TitleAdvising and Student ServicesRankN - No RankWorking TitleFinancial Aid CounselorDepartment331241 - FAO Financial AidPosition NumberD94601RepresentationAU - AAUP RenewableRenewableEnd date, if applicable Position FTE1.0Tenure StatusF - Fixed Term
Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept
Portland State University is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands-on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.
More than 27,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree-lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state-of-the-art science labs. We are proud of our world-class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.
Position Summary
Financial Aid Counselors conduct needs analysis of student aid applications; review IRS tax documents if necessary for federal verification; determine aid eligibility and package awards within federal, state and institutional guidelines. They are responsible for counseling students on financial aid policies and procedures.
Financial Aid Counselors evaluate unusual and mitigating circumstances and documentation provided by the student and must exercise independent judgment in making adjustments to a student’s record.
Financial Aid Counselors must maintain a current knowledge of federal, state and institutional requirements regarding student financial aid.
Financial Aid Counselors participate in outreach efforts, as well as annual planning and committee work within the office.
Each Financial Aid Counselor, in addition to a student file caseload, is assigned one or more programmatic responsibilities such as grant administration, loan administration, R2T4 processing, etc., and will serve as liaison to campus partners for programmatic related processing and inquiries.
In accordance with the AAUP collective bargaining agreement this position is open only to current PSU AAUP academic professionals. Article 17 Section 11 refers: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WZyWEsoNjGpaNtvQmJgHDeWhSQuSCHKY/view
Minimum Qualifications
- BA/BS degree from an accredited college or university with 1+ years of related experience.
- Thorough and current knowledge of federal student aid administration required.
- Up-to-date knowledge of federal aid regulations and guidelines.
- Strong communication skills required to provide concise and high-quality counseling to students in-person, over the phone and via email.
- Effective time management skills and the ability to self-direct and manage dynamic re-prioritization of tasks to best serve student needs.
- Ability to work comfortably in a highly computerized environment.
- Flexibility and adaptability to new/changing circumstances.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment that requires attention to detail despite high volume of interruptions.
- Many hours required working on a computer (i.e. keyboarding and looking at a computer monitor).
- Cannot be in default on a federal student loan or in “owes repayment of a federal grant” status. This is required so they can receive and maintain access to Dept of Education resource sites such as NSLDS, CPS and COD.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelors degree and 1-3 years Financial Aid counselor-level experience such as file verification, professional judgment, program responsibilities, outreach presentations, etc.
- Experience using SCT Banner (Ellucian) Financial Aid program or similar software.
- Bilingual Spanish, both written and spoken
Key Cultural Competencies
- Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
- Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
- Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
- Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.
Environmental Stewardship
Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.
Work Days/HoursMonday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pmTotal Compensation Range & Benefits Statement
The starting annual salary for this position will be $54,072 but may be negotiated above this range dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.
An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools.
Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package.
Posting Close Date09/23/2025Projected Close Date for PostingClosesApplication screening beginsQuick Linkhttps://jobs.hrc.pdx.edu/postings/48268
Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * What is your highest degree earned?
- Associates
- Bachelors
- Masters
- PhD
- * Are you currently represented by AAUP as an Academic Professional?
- * How did you first find out about this position?
- PSU Website
- Indeed.com
- HERCJobs
- Urban League of Portland
- Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber
- Oregon Employment Department
- Social Media
- Person Referral
- Career Builder
- Glass Door
- Other - Please describe in the next Question
- If you selected Other, please describe.
(Open Ended Question)
Applicant Documents Required Documents- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Professional References
Optional Documents
Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
PI277976516
