Entry Level Financial Aid Advisor Jobs in Michigan

Financial Aid Advisor
Job no: 497879
Work type: Staff
Location: Big Rapids, MI 49307
Categories: Staff
Position Title: Financial Aid Advisor
Location: Big Rapids (Main Campus)
Department:
61300 - Financial Aid
Advertised Salary: $44,335- $49,336
Benefits:
Comprehensive benefits package (health care, vacation, etc.). Please see the following link for a list of benefits offered with this position.
Admin / Admin Temp Benefit Plans
FLSA: Exempt
Temporary/Continuing: Continuing
Part-Time/Full-Time: Full-Time
Union Group: N/A
Term of Position: 12 Month
At Will/Just Cause: Just Cause
Summary of Position: The incumbent is responsible for providing expert financial aid counseling and guidance to students and families regarding financial aid eligibility, cost of attendance, borrowing and debt management, and related matters. The position requires maintaining a high level of expertise in institutional, state, and federal financial aid regulations and programs, with the ability to communicate complex financial aid concepts effectively to a diverse range of constituents, including students, parents and families, faculty and staff, and executive leadership.
The incumbent develops, implements, and manages policies, procedures, and processes that ensure the effective and compliant administration and distribution of financial aid resources. This role focuses on leveraging operational efficiencies and maximizing available funds to support institutional enrollment goals, student recruitment and retention, and overall student success.
The selected candidate for this position must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire without employer assistance or sponsorship now or in the future. The university will not assist with any F-1 EADs, OPT, H-1 B, etc.
Position Type: Staff
Required Education: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
Required Work Experience: Work experience that includes customer service and financial responsibility.
Required Licenses and Certifications:
Physical Demands:

• Office Environment
• Moving
• Reaching
• Sitting
• Twisting
• Repetitive movement

Additional Education/Experiences to be Considered: • Demonstrated work experience in financial aid or customer service to students in a postsecondary education setting.
• Experience with Ellucian Banner.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities: • Develop and maintain comprehensive expertise across the spectrum of financial aid programs and funding types, including an awareness of the institutional policy, state, and federal regulations governing each.
• Provide professional guidance on all matters of financial aid, determining financial need and student eligibility for the issuance of all forms of aid, including (but not limited to) scholarships, grants, loans, work study, and more.
• Cultivates an environment of belonging that values, respects, supports, and celebrates individual similarities and differences, allowing students, faculty, and staff to thrive authentically.
• Support, promote, and develop university student enrollment and retention initiatives.
• Provide expert counseling to students and parents regarding aid eligibility, application procedures, and other relevant information, utilizing effective communication skills and methods.
• Present financial aid information programs, both on-and off-campus, including evening and weekend presentations as needed (e.g., recruiting events, financial aid nights, and orientation).
• Work effectively with key strategic partners across campus, including; (but not limited to), University Advancement & Marketing, Student Employment; Student Financial Services, Academic Colleges, Athletics, and more.
• Assist with management of the portfolio of donor scholarships as needed.
• Utilize financial aid expertise to propose, implement, oversee, and disseminate policies and processes as needed.
• Develop and implement processes and ongoing training initiatives for campus constituents, which include internal office staff as needed.
• Ability to oversee, reconcile, and manage, in conjunction with pertinent offices and external agencies, accounts in excess of $1m, ensuring that funds are distributed in accordance with all institutional, state, and federal regulations.
• Provide appropriate reporting of account balances and spending, historical or forecasted trends, and statistical analysis to a variety of stakeholders.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive records and information in accordance with FERPA.
• Carries out responsibilities in accordance with university policies and applicable laws.
• Cultivates an environment of belonging that values, respects, supports, and celebrates individual similarities and differences, allowing students, faculty, and staff to thrive authentically.
• Support, promote, and develop university student enrollment and retention initiatives.
• Any other duties assigned within the position classification area.
Marginal Duties/Responsibilities: • May supervise clerical and / or student employees.
Skills and Abilities: • Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Ability to work with technical systems and software applications to investigate, troubleshoot, and resolve technical discrepancies in the issuance and distribution of aid.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with an ability to convey an appropriate amount of information to a diverse constituency.
• Exercise professional judgment, in accordance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations, in an equitable and consistent manner as it relates to changing students' cost of attendance, changing dependency status, or altering financial aid data due to special circumstances.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously with a high level of organization and attention to detail.
• Ability to apply analytical and problem-solving skills to a wide variety of financial situations.
• Perform various mathematical computations with accuracy.
• Demonstrated successful experience working directly with people from diverse backgrounds, including cultural, educational, socioeconomic, and life experiences.
Required Documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Unofficial Transcript 1

Optional Documents:
Special Instructions to Applicants: Unofficial Transcript 1 (REQUIRED): Applicants must attach a copy of an unofficial transcript of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
Transcript must include Institution name, applicant name, date degree attained, and degree awarded. Finalists will be required to submit an official transcript.
Initial Application Review Date:
Open Until Position is Filled?: True
Posting Close Date:
EEO Statement: Ferris State University, an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, is committed to enhancing equity, inclusion, and diversity within its community. Ferris offers employment opportunities to qualified candidates seeking careers in a student-focused environment that values opportunity, collaboration, diversity and educational excellence. Learn more about the Ferris Mission and community at ferris.edu. The University actively seeks applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and other underrepresented groups. For more information on the University's Policy on Non-Discrimination, visit: Ferris Non-Discrimination Statement.
Click here to learn more about working at FSU and KCAD.
Advertised: 26 Jun 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:
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