Financial Aid Specialist

palmbeachstate; Lake Worth (TX); On-site; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Palm Beach State College is seeking a Financial Aid Specialist to assist prospective and continuing students with all financial aid functions, explain documentation, and help with verification processes. Evening, weekend hours and travel to other campuses may be required.

The role includes reviewing documents, updating records, and providing courteous service while ensuring FERPA compliance and accurate data entry across systems.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED with related training.
• One year of related experience.
• Ability to travel to campus locations and work evenings/weekends.

Responsibilities

• Assist students with financial aid via in person, phone, email, and online chat.
• Review documents for verification for completeness and accuracy.
• Process and log documents in the system.
• Update fields in Financial Aid systems to mark files ready for verification and disbursement.
• Communicate with other departments, campus staff, outside vendors, and the public.

Skills

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

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

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 October 21, 2026.

Wait, there is more! Culture: Be part of an inclusive, Panther First environment where every role has a purpose, and employees have a sense