Financial Aid Counselor

Job Description

Montgomery College has an immediate need to fill one full-time Financial Aid Counselor position. The position is located on the Rockville Campus in Rockville, Maryland in the College Scholarship Office. The days and hours for the position is: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am -5:00 pm, with occasional nights and weekends as needed.

The position is a non-exempt, non-bargaining, grade 27 position. For non-exempt positions, you are not eligible to work a secondary job at Montgomery College. One (1) day of telework may be granted based on the needs of the unit.

Work consists of planning, developing and performing activities pertaining to administrative and technical tasks related to financial aid programs. Duties are varied with a wide range of processes and methods relating to established policies and procedures. Interpretation of the rules and regulations is required to respond appropriately to inquiries.

Montgomery College promotes and creates a working and learning environment rooted in the basic tenets of fairness, diversity, and inclusiveness.

Duties Include But Are Not Limited To

• Counsel prospective and current students and their family representatives regarding participation in federal, state and institutional financial aid programs including eligibility, regulations, policies and procedures through in-person, phone and email conversations.
• Evaluate applications and award financial aid to students. Provide leadership for a specific financial aid process and/or program(s).
• Plan, develop and perform activities pertaining to administrative and technical tasks related to financial aid programs.
• Interpret rules and regulations to respond appropriately to inquiries.
• A comprehensive knowledge of applicable laws and regulations is needed to warrant independent decisions.
• Counsel and advise students and family representatives regarding financial aid regulations, application policies and procedures, methods used to determine eligibility, specific program requirements and limits, disbursement and appeal procedures, requirements for continued eligibility, and related financial matters.
• Use comprehensive knowledge of applicable laws and regulations, including Title IV, to interpret rules and regulations as needed.
• Develop processes and procedures and update others when appropriate. Evaluate financial aid applications and determine financial aid eligibility.
• Award financial aid to eligible students using independent judgment and discretion to make determinations. Review appeals for exceptions and make determinations in accordance with state, federal and institutional policies governing financial aid.
• Adjust student budgets and awards accordingly.
• Maintain statistical data; review and assign reports as needed.
• May manage a file review caseload and/or coordinate, administer or lead a federal, state, institutional or operational program or task.
• May facilitate and/or participate in program specific or financial aid outreach activities. May be responsible for a specific college-wide program.Responds to oral and written inquiries from students, parents, faculty and staff about MC scholarship applications. Makes referrals as necessary to other college offices and/or to outside agencies.
• Coordinates awarding of various State mandated tuition waivers and works with student populations, which include students with disabilities, homeless students, and foster care students. Coordinates with College staff and faculty in support of their scholarship funded programs, such as Athletic Scholarships and Workforce Development and Continuing Education.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Five (5) years of experience in a financial aid office, or the equivalent combination of education, training, certification and/or experience that provides the required knowledge and expertise to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Customer service experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of current Student Financial Aid Office policies and procedures, state and federal financial aid regulations and policies, and institutional policies governing financial aid.
• Comprehensive knowledge of one or more of the following programs: loans, work study, scholarships or other federal or state programs.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office Suite.
  
  

Application Process

Hiring Range: $30.47 -$39.60 per hour. Initial salary placement for new hires falls between the minimum and midpoint of the range and is based on relevant candidate experience and internal equity. The maximum salary for this position is $48.74 per hour.

• Posting Deadline is: February 6, 2025
• For consideration, you must attach a resume that provides the month and year(s) worked at each employer and detailed experience to reflect the duties and responsibilities performed at each employer.
• If any position listed on your resume was a part-time position, please indicate so on the resume.
• Click Here to apply online
  
  

For degrees earned outside of the U.S., a copy of your education equivalency, conducted by a nationally recognized evaluation service, must be included in your application.

As a condition of employment, the following are required at the time of hire:

• Successful completion of a background check and degree verification (if applicable).
• Participation in a Maryland State Retirement System plan (Pension or Optional Retirement Plan, depending on the position). If you are already retired from the Maryland State Retirement System, you may not enroll in a Maryland State Retirement System plan at Montgomery College and may have earn ings restrictions, per state law.
  
  

Our benefits package includes: generous paid vacation, sick, paid holidays, medical, dental, vision, group legal benefits, professional development, retirement plan, educational assistance, tuition waiver for employee and dependents, wellness programming including onsite gyms, pools and classes.

If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management at 240-567-5353 or HRSTM@montgomerycollege.edu. We require at least two weeks advance notice to enable us to provide the requested accommodation.

Montgomery College is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting and fostering diversity among its student body, faculty, and staff.

Montgomery College is a tobacco-free and smoke-free workplace.

Closing Date

Wednesday, February 5, 2025