Student Financial Services Advisor

Student Financial Services plays a vital role in shaping the student experience by helping individuals navigate the financial side of their educational journey with confidence and clarity. Guided by federal, state, and university regulations, the office supports students from enrollment through graduation—removing financial barriers and empowering them to stay on track toward their academic goals.

The Student Financial Services Specialist serves as a trusted resource and primary point of contact for students and families, delivering personalized support across financial aid and student account services. This includes guiding students through financial aid applications, deadlines, and award processes, as well as assisting with billing, payments, refunds, and financing options. Engagement takes place across multiple channels, including in person, phone, email, and digital platforms, ensuring accessible and responsive service.

This role is integral to student success, directly contributing to recruitment and retention efforts by creating a supportive, solutions-focused environment. It offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day by helping students overcome challenges and move forward in their education.

The ideal candidate brings strong communication and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, professionalism, and a commitment to confidentiality. Success in this role requires adaptability, sound judgment, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative setting while delivering exceptional service.

• Provide accurate, timely assistance to prospective and current students regarding student accounts and financial aid processes, guiding them from initial inquiry through completion.
• Deliver high-quality customer service through in-person, phone, and email interactions, addressing a high volume of student and parent inquiries with professionalism and care.
• Clearly communicate financial aid programs, application procedures, eligibility requirements, billing information, tuition rates, deadlines, and payment options.
• Review and process large volumes of documentation for accuracy and completeness; prepare and maintain student files for verification and financial aid packaging.
• Ensure accuracy of student account balances, payment plans, and installment amounts prior to disbursement and billing cycles.
• Assist students in establishing and understanding tuition payment plans; counsel students on financial responsibilities and available aid options.
• Troubleshoot and resolve student and family concerns; provide follow-up and escalate complex issues to appropriate staff as needed.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of financial aid programs, federal and state regulations, NCAA Division II requirements, institutional policies, and key deadlines.
• Interpret and apply policies related to tuition, fees, refunds, billing, financial aid disbursement, and account audits.
• Utilize institutional systems (e.g., Informer) to monitor account holds, generate reports, and communicate with students regarding outstanding balances or required actions.
• Support collection efforts through professional communication, including outreach regarding past-due balances and policy explanations.
• Investigate and resolve account discrepancies, including disputed charges and financial aid over-awards, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations.
• Promote and assist students in using online tools and self-service resources to manage their accounts and financial aid.
• Collaborate with campus partners (e.g., Registrar, Admissions, Academic Advising) to enhance the student experience and ensure service alignment.
• Represent Student Financial Services at events such as orientations, open houses, and registration activities.
• Provide guidance and oversight to advising team members; assist with issue escalation and contribute to process improvements and staffing recommendations.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of student records in accordance with privacy regulations, including FERPA.
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Work independently and collaboratively, exercising sound judgment and decision-making.
• Adapt to new technologies and systems to support evolving operational needs.
• Participate in outreach activities, including occasional travel to schools or community organizations.
• Maintain flexibility to work non-traditional hours, including peak processing periods, and attend relevant training sessions as required.
• Demonstrate a commitment to serving and inspiring students and colleagues in a context of a Christian University, integrating your Christian faith into your role and responsibilities.
• Embrace themission, vision, and values of Fresno Pacific University, affirm theFPU Faith Expectations, and support the ideals and practices articulated in "The Fresno Pacific Idea”
• Uphold and advance Fresno Pacific University’s commitment to Christ-centered higher education, holistic student development, and serving diverse communities.
• Complete tasks timely with work that is comprehensive, complete, and accurate
• Communicates clearly, listens attentively, and seeks to understand others
• Collaborates productively with colleagues of varying skillset
• Other job duties as assigned

Required

• High school diploma
• One year of experience in financial aid
• Valid driver’s license
• Experience in Microsoft Suite Software

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience
• Bilingual
• One year experience with Colleague/Datatel
• Experience in Christian college or university
• Knowledge in accounting principles and accounts receivable

Environmental Conditions:

• Indoors in a normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, fumes, vibrations, and temperature changes at least eighty percent (80%) of the time.
• Frequent computer use at a workstation, up to eight hours per day.
• Frequently work at a fast pace with unscheduled interruptions.
• Drive personal or University vehicles to appointments.
• Public contact position requiring professional apparel, personal hygiene, and grooming.

Physical Demands:

• This position typically functions indoors in an office environment with light to moderate noise associated with business office equipment. The position may involve travel for meetings and events.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: remain in a stationary position 80 % of the time, be able to move about inside the office to access file cabinets/office machinery etc., operate a computer and keyboard and other office productivity machinery such as calculators/copy machines/printers. The employee is occasionally required to position self to reach items on the floor and in high cabinetry.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Employee must be able to communicate with others to exchange information including both over the telephone and in-person communication with callers and community members and be able to read a computer screen and paper documents.
• Reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities will be provided in accordance with law.

$39,520 – $46,800 is the starting annual salary for this role and reflects what Fresno Pacific University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition to compensation, Fresno Pacific University offers a competitive benefitspackage.

Reserving its rights as a religious institution, Fresno Pacific University is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, age or disability, or other classes protected by applicable law. Committed to excellence and actively supportive of cultural diversity, FPU invites individuals who contribute to such diversity to apply. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you should contact FPU’s Human Resources Department athr@fresno.edu. As a religious institution, the University will administer the equal opportunity employment policy consistent with the Fresno Pacific University statement of faith, the FPU Idea and the University’s governance by the Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.