Financial Aid Specialist

Southside Virginia Community College; Alberta (VA); Hybrid; USD 46,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework options

Job summary

Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) is seeking a Financial Aid Specialist to guide students through FAFSA, provide accurate financial aid counseling, and ensure timely awarding in a high-volume environment.

You will use systems such as PeopleSoft, COD, NSLDS, and Salesforce to process, track, and report financial aid data, while maintaining strict confidentiality and compliance with federal/state regulations.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or Equivalent required.
• Experience communicating with students, customers or the public in fast-paced settings.
• Strong data entry, reporting, and use of financial aid platforms.

Responsibilities

• Assist students and families with FAFSA completion and guidance on financial aid eligibility.
• Process and award financial aid in a high-volume environment with deadlines.
• Coordinate G3 program eligibility, SAP, and VA education benefits as needed.
• Serve as School Certifying Official for VA benefits and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Maintain FERPA-compliant records and support enrollment management goals.

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Data entry

Report generation

Knowledge of financial aid regulations

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Tools

PeopleSoft

Microsoft Office

Job description

Financial Aid Specialist

Posting Details

Working Title | Financial Aid Specialist

Role Title | Education Support Spec II

Role Code | 29144-SW

FLSA | Nonexempt

Pay Band | 04

Position Number | 27600083

Agency | Southside Va Community College

Division | Southside Va Community College (Div)

Work Location | Brunswick - 025

Hiring Range | $45,739 - $48,000

Emergency/Essential Personnel | No

EEO Category | 5-Paraprofessionals

Full Time or Part Time | Full Time

Does this position have telework options? -Telework options are subject to change based on business needs- | Yes

Does this position have a bilingual or multilingual skill requirement or preference? | No

Work Schedule | Monday through Friday, day hours; evenings and weekends as needed Telework options are subject to change based on business needs.

Sensitive Position | No

Posting Summary

Job Description |

Established in 1970, Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) is one of 23 colleges in the Virginia Community College System, with seven locations across several counties, including Brunswick, Charlotte, Nottoway, Mecklenburg, Greensville, and Halifax. SVCC serves the largest community college region in the state, covering ten counties and one city.

SVCC is located in a beautiful rural region renowned for its rolling hills, pine and hardwood forests, and farmland, and is home to two popular lakes: Gaston and Kerr. We offer a welcoming learning environment and are accredited to award associate degrees. The college offers a diverse range of programs, including developmental studies, academic, technical, and lifelong education. SVCC empowers students to build skills, knowledge and leadership, preparing them to thrive in a changing society.

Thank you for considering employment with Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC). We are dedicated to attracting and retaining a talented workforce, which has earned us recognition as a Great College to Work For by The Chronicle of Higher Education for several consecutive years. Committed to ensuring equal educational opportunities for all students, SVCC values the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of our students, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve.

For more information, please visit southside.edu. Join SVCC as a key member of the Financial Aid team, where your work directly impacts students’ ability to enroll, persist, and complete their educational goals.

This position plays an important role in advancing the college’s strategic enrollment management goals by ensuring students receive timely, accurate, and supportive financial aid services.

Student Support & Financial Aid Counseling Assist students and parents in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) through in‑person appointments, phone consultations, virtual sessions, and group workshops on and off campus Provide clear, accurate, and student‑centered guidance on financial aid eligibility, documentation requirements, and application processes, helping students navigate complex financial decisions Use Salesforce to send communications, schedule appointments, and support student outreach initiatives Answer and direct all incoming phone calls for the Financial Aid Office to ensure excellent customer service Respond to financial aid email inquiries in a timely manner Conduct financial aid workshops and schedule one‑on‑one appointments for FAFSA assistance.

Financial Aid Processing & Compliance Complete timely awarding and data entry for all eligible students in a high‑volume processing environment with established deadlines Utilize systems such as PeopleSoft, COD, NSLDS, and Salesforce to process and manage financial aid records and reporting Adjust awards after census based on enrollment, charges, and eligibility changes. Manage and resolve required “to‑do” list items including: High School Transcripts, High School Conflict, and Proof of Veteran Status Handle specialized cases such as: Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU), Third‑party contracts, Social Security number mismatches, and Out‑of‑state students requiring manual review Manage complex financial aid scenarios requiring analysis, independent judgment, and application of federal and state regulations Serve as the institutional liaison for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), ensuring student understanding of requirements and assisting with:SAP appeal processing, Communications to students, and End‑of‑semester procedures.

G3 Program Administration Determine student eligibility for the G3 last‑dollar program based on Virginia residency and income thresholds Award and track G3 funding in accordance with state guidelines and institutional procedures Maintain accurate documentation and compliance for all G3 program participants.

Veterans Affairs Certification (School Certifying Official) Serve as the college’s School Certifying Official (SCO) for VA education benefits Process all enrollment certifications in Enrollment Manager promptly and accurately Ensure compliance with federal regulations governing VA education benefits, including reporting enrollment changes, tracking benefit usage, and managing required documentation Maintain communication with the State Approving Agency (SAA) regarding program approval and compliance matters Provide guidance to veterans, service members, reservists, and dependents regarding benefit requirements and certification timelines.

Additional Duties Maintain accurate, organized records in accordance with FERPA, federal guidelines, and institutional policies Support departmental projects, reporting requirements, and initiatives as assigned by the supervisor Participate in professional development and training to stay current with changes in financial aid, VA regulations, and state programs Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission of the college Contribute to institutional goals related to enrollment, retention, and completion by ensuring students receive timely and accurate financial aid support.

Special Assignments May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

KSA's/Required Qualifications High School Diploma or Equivalent required Experience providing verbal and written communication to students, customers, clients, coworkers, or members of the public in a fast‑paced environment Demonstrated computer experience and technical skills, including data entry, report generation, and use of systems such as Microsoft Office, PeopleSoft, and financial aid platforms Experience handling sensitive, confidential, financial, personnel, medical, student or other protected information Strong organizational skills, including customer service, records management, and attention to detail Demonstrated experience managing multiple responsibilities, priorities, deadlines, or a high‑volume workload with attention to detail Knowledge of or ability to learn federal and state financial aid programs and regulations Experience interpreting and explaining policies, procedures, regulations, or other complex information to students, families, and stakeholders Experience providing services or support to individuals from diverse backgrounds Experience working independently and collaboratively as part of a team Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work in a fast‑paced environment Experience performing calculations, analyzing numerical or financial information, or applying eligibility criteria. Demonstrated cultural competence and commitment to supporting diverse student populations Valid driver’s license required

Additional Considerations Experience working in a financial aid office or higher education setting Administrative office support experience in higher education preferred Experience with PeopleSoft Student Information System or similar database systems Familiarity with federal and state financial aid programs and regulations Experience supporting financial aid processes such as FAFSA completion, awarding, or SAPExperience working with Veterans Affairs education benefits or willingness to learn SCO responsibilities Experience supporting outreach, workshops, or student engagement initiatives Experience with data systems and reporting tools preferred Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support student activities or events.

Operation of a State Vehicle Yes

Supervises Employees No

Required Travel Occasional travel to SVCC campuses, centers, meetings, and training/conferences with access to a state vehicle

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number | CLS_4781P

Recruitment Type | General Public - G

<