GIA (Gemological Institute of America) · 1 day ago
Financial Aid Advisor
Carlsbad, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Entry, Mid Level
$25/hr - $34/hr
2+ years expGIA (Gemological Institute of America) is seeking a Financial Aid Advisor to provide student-facing funding support. The role involves guiding prospective and enrolled students through the financial aid process, managing intake services, and ensuring that all requirements are met for funding completion.
Non-profit Organization Management
Responsibilities
Serve as a primary point of contact for prospective and enrolled students regarding financial aid, scholarships, Veterans benefits, and third-party funding, providing responsive support via phone, email, and in-person communication as needed
Ensure student and applicant phone calls, emails, and inquiries are handled timely, accurately, and professionally, including proactive follow-up to support completion of required funding steps
Guide students through the financial aid intake process from initial inquiry through funding readiness, including timeline education, required documentation, and next steps to support enrollment and start-date completion
Provide clear, accurate information regarding available funding sources, including Federal Student Aid (Title IV), private education loans, scholarships, Veterans benefits, employer-sponsored tuition assistance, workforce/tribal funding, and other third-party sponsorships
Assist students with FAFSA-related questions and general troubleshooting; follow up with students to resolve missing or incomplete requirements in a timely manner
Review and monitor student financial aid files for completeness and accuracy, including verification requirements and documentation standards; communicate with students regarding corrections, missing items, or clarifying information needed
Provide student-centered counseling to ensure students understand funding options, outstanding requirements, deadlines, and payment responsibilities prior to enrollment
Support student understanding of estimated financial assistance, including award review, key deadlines, and student responsibilities required to secure funding
Assist with federal loan requirements and student completion steps, including Entrance Counseling, Master Promissory Note (MPN), and Exit Counseling as applicable
Utilize federal and institutional systems to support eligibility review, file completion, and processing workflows, including CPS, COD, NSLDS, SAIG mailbox, and EdExpress, in accordance with established procedures and compliance requirements
Track file progress and communicate status updates as needed; escalate discrepancies, unresolved issues, or compliance concerns to appropriate financial aid leadership for review and resolution
Support timely and accurate document flow and communication between students and third-party payers to ensure required forms and approvals are completed by established deadlines
Maintain clear, consistent communication with Admissions teams at each campus to ensure students receive aligned guidance and are supported through enrollment and funding timelines
Partner with Admissions, Student Accounts, Student Services, and campus teams to ensure consistent service delivery and timely issue resolution across multiple locations
Document all student interactions, status updates, and required actions thoroughly and consistently to support continuity of service, audit readiness, and efficient issue resolution
Confirm students are funding-ready prior to start dates by monitoring progress, addressing barriers, and escalating unresolved issues as needed to avoid enrollment delays or withdrawals due to incomplete funding
Provide support for student-facing financial aid outreach and events, including informational sessions, open houses, and other student engagement activities as assigned
Maintain knowledge of federal, state, and institutional regulations, policies, and procedures to ensure compliant communication and consistent guidance to students and stakeholders
Perform other duties as assigned
Respond to general scholarship inquiries and provide guidance on eligibility requirements, deadlines, and application steps
Support students in completing scholarship application requirements and submitting documentation accurately and on time
Provide status updates and next-step guidance to students based on established internal processes and communications
Qualification
Required
High school diploma or equivalent required
Minimum of two (2) years of experience in financial aid administration
Willingness and ability to obtain any required federal and state access and licenses as needed
Ability to work well in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment while being detail oriented and accurate
Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills to ensure customer satisfaction, repeat business and goodwill
Proficient coaching and mentoring skills
Excellent grammar, written and verbal communication skills
Flexible and team-oriented with strong problem-solving skills
Self-motivated with an outgoing and friendly demeanor. Proactively seeks out additional tasks when needed
Ability to adapt well to change and maintain a positive attitude
Strong recall for details, and adherence to standard that details are important
Ability to research data from multiple departmental records, summarize and create reports
Ability to multi-task and reprioritize as needed
Ability to act as a Student advocate for needed service
Strong computer skills utilizing software such as Microsoft Office Suite, e.g., MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint; and e-mail
Ability to maintain and foster sensitivity and respect for a culturally diverse work environment
Ability to display supportive behavior and communicate positively regarding department goals and objectives
Ability to deal effectively with a variety of personalities to establish and maintain effective working relationships
Preferred
Policy & Procedure writing experience preferred
college coursework or degree preferred
Company
GIA (Gemological Institute of America)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But quality is a matter of science.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (15)
2024 (8)
2023 (8)
2022 (1)
2021 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Pritesh Patel
President & CEO
Recent News
2026-01-14
2025-11-14
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