Financial Aid Specialist

Palm Beach State College; Boca Raton (FL); On-site; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote or hybrid opportunities

Job summary

Palm Beach State College is seeking a Financial Aid Specialist to guide students through financial aid processes and document verification. The role requires attention to detail, effective communication, and the ability to work with diverse populations across campus locations.

The position may involve evenings, weekends, and travel to other PBSC campuses. Strong knowledge of FERPA and Microsoft Office is preferred. PBSC offers comprehensive benefits and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED with additional training related to the position.
• One year of related experience.
• Familiarity with FERPA within 30 days of employment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Assist students via in person, phone, email, and chat.
• Review financial aid documents for verification.
• Process and log documents in the system.
• Update fields in Financial Aid systems for verification and disbursement.
• Liaise between departments and respond to inquiries.

Skills

Attention to detail

Customer service

Effective communication

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

FERPA training

Job description

Join our team! What We Offer At Palm Beach State College, you will discover a place where ideas come to life and the heartbeat of a county begins. By joining us, you will be exposed to professionals from across the U.S. and abroad who are the strivers, reinventors, explorers, and influencers dedicated to developing talent that fills the most needed workforce roles. As the Panthers, we embrace a community of belonging, caring, and connection for our students and employees. We seek creative individuals to help PBSC fulfill its mission of inspiring hope, advancing skills, and transforming lives.

About this role

Responsible for assisting prospective and continuing students with all financial aid functions. Provides guidance on required documentation for students seeking a financial aid appeal. Updates students with results of changes made on student and families income status, dependency override, satisfactory academic progress or other special conditions that may arise. Must be able to work evenings, weekends, and possibly during holidays. Must be able to travel to any of the other campuses.

What a day of a Financial Aid Specialist looks like:

• Assists students with issues utilizing a variety of formats such as in person, phone, email, and online chat.
• Reviews financial aid documents for students selected for verification to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Processes and logs received documents in the system.
• Updates multiple required fields in Financial Aid systems to identify file as ready to be verified, packaged and subsequently disbursed.
• Gather routine oral information from, or make oral requests of, other administrative, maintenance or clerical employees and outside vendors, customers, or the public.
• Liaison among departments, functions or groups, within the College.
• Communicate information to appropriate personnel.
• Welcomes and assists persons who come into the department.
• Assists students and personnel with operating office equipment such as personal computers, printers, copying machines, and software programs, providing training when necessary.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

We’d love to hear from you if you have the following:

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED with additional training related to the position
• One year of related experience

Knowledge of:

• Microsoft Office Professional or similar application
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) within 30 days of employment

Skilled in:

• Attention to detail while maintaining effective time and task management
• Ability to: Interact in a positive manner with diverse populations and varying education levels of students, faculty, staff, and the public
• Organize and prioritize multiple, competing priorities to maximize personal and team effectiveness
• Effectively communicate verbally and in writing on a regular basis with internal and external customers, build relationships, manage customer expectations and take responsibility for a high level of service

Licenses, Registration, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Regular physical attendance required Must not be debarred from Title IV Programs, and not in default on Title IV student loans Some periods throughout the year will require extended work hours including nights, weekends, and college closures

Preferred, but not a must:

• Education and Experience: Associate degree

Work Environment and Physical Demand

• Frequency Reach and grasp objects.
• Hourly Stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Occasionally Stand for extended periods of time.
• Daily Use of video display terminal.
• Hourly Use of manual dexterity and fine motor skills.
• Daily Communicate information verbally.
• Hourly Communicate information in writing.
• Hourly Receive and understand information through oral and written communication.
• Hourly Proofread and check documents for accuracy.
• Hourly Work a fluctuating work schedule.
• Occasionally

Additional Job Information

This job description is intended to be generic in nature and describe the essential functions of the job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities, and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Certain service members and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such service members and veterans, receive preference and priority. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements, in the employment by the state and its political subdivisions and are encouraged to apply for the positions being filled.

The minimum base pay for this position starts at $17.95, hourly; however, the offer may vary based on the candidate’s education and experience.

This position is open until filled with a first initial review on September 15, 2026.

Culture: Be part of an inclusive, Panther First environment where every role has a purpose, and employees have a sense of belonging.

Education Benefits: Tuition fee waiver at PBSC, tuition reimbursement, degree recognition award, educational leave, and more. Public Service Loan Forgiveness institution.

Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, parental leave, and more.

Generous Time Off: Vacation, sick leave, holidays, and spring and winter breaks offering additional paid time off.

Panther Perks: Potential remote or hybrid opportunities, wellness programs, and apps related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.

Professional Development: Leadership programs, professional learning workshops, and more.

Retirement Investments: State retirement plan options and voluntary 403(b) and 457 plans.

Application Deadline This position is open until filled

About the College Palm Beach State College, Florida's first public community college, was founded in 1933 and has grown to become the largest institution of higher education in Palm Beach County. Currently serving a richly diverse student population of 49,000 annually, the College offers classes at five locations and offers bachelor's and associate degrees, professional certificates, and workforce development programs. With over 1,200 full-time employees, Palm Beach State College offers a highly attractive benefits package including health insurance, a retirement program, tuition assistance, and paid time off.

An Equal Access/Equal Opportunity/Veteran Preference/ADA Employer Per the Florida Open Records and Public Meeting Laws (286.011), also known as 'the Sunshine Laws,' all correspondence received from applicants for any position with the College is a matter of public record. Palm Beach State College is an equal access, equal opportunity institution. The College complies with all state and federal laws granting rights to applicants for employment or admission to the College. The College prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, disability, or pregnancy in any of its employment or educational programs or activities. Applicants who believe they have been discriminated against in the recruitment process should contact the Human Resources and Compliance Director or Chief Human Resources Officer at [phone] or 4200 Congress Avenue, Lake Worth, FL 33461. Written complaints must be filed within 180 days from the position's closing date for which the applicant applied. Claims will be investigated, and a timely response will be provided. The College prohibits retaliation against any applicant who utilizes the complaint procedure.

Accommodations Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job by contacting the Human Resources and Compliance Director at [phone] for assistance.