Financial Wellness Advisor

The Financial Wellness Advisor provides integrated financial literacy education and financial aid counseling to students in support of academic and personal success. This position delivers one-on-one and group advising, develops and facilitates workshops, and assists students with complex financial needs. The Advisor helps students navigate their financial aid eligibility, make informed borrowing decisions, and build essential money management skills.  

This position requires completion of training to become a Certified Personal Finance Counselor (CPFC) within the first year of employment.

Financial Wellness & Financial Aid Advising (45%)
• Provide one-on-one and group advising, as well as workshops, on financial literacy topics such as budgeting, credit management, debt reduction, savings, and long-term financial planning.

• Offer individualized advising for students with special financial needs, including cost of attendance adjustments, income reduction requests, or circumstances such as homelessness or risk of homelessness, that may impact financial aid eligibility and overall financial stability.

• Guide students in understanding their financial aid packages within the broader context of personal financial planning and decision-making.

• Anticipate and resolve problems that may delay aid disbursement while teaching students strategies to manage resources responsibly.

• Design and facilitate financial wellness workshops and outreach initiatives that support student success and informed financial decision-making.

Program Support & Outreach (25%)
• Create, coordinate, promote, and assess financial wellness programs and initiatives aligned with USF’s Financial Education Program.

• Track student participation and outcomes, preparing reports using systems such as Banner, NSLDS, Excel, and Qualtrics.

• Provide training, scheduling, and mentorship support to peer financial educators.

Administrative & Compliance Responsibilities (20%) 

Maintain and safeguard confidential student records in accordance with institutional, state, and federal requirements.

• Ensure compliance with Title IV and related financial aid regulations.

• Deliver high-quality customer service through in-person, phone, and electronic communication channels. 

 Professional Development & Knowledge Advancement (10%)
• Stay current on emerging financial literacy trends, student financial wellness research, and best practices in higher education.

• Pursue ongoing professional development, including completion and maintenance of the CPFC credential.

• Engage in workshops, conferences, and training opportunities to continuously improve financial literacy education and financial aid counseling skills.

Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion.

Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Bachelor or Master degree in business, finance, or related field. 
• Certified Personal Finance Counselor (CPFC) or similar financial certification.
• Experience developing and delivering workshops or educational programming.
• Proficiency with Banner, NSLDS, and Microsoft OfficeSuite.

Additional Requirements:
• Ability to access the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS); must not have a history of student loan default.
• Ability to handle sensitive financial information with discretion and integrity.