Financial Aid Specialist (HEOa)

City University of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 71,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

City University of New York’s Lehman College ACE program is seeking an ACE Financial Aid Specialist to manage the financial aid process from start to finish for ACE students.

Responsibilities include counseling students and families, training staff on data and reporting, and resolving disbursement issues while coordinating with program leadership and college partners. The role involves verification with federal guidelines and workshops to support ACE initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and four years’ related experience required.

Responsibilities

• Provide in-person and virtual financial aid counseling to ACE students and parents regarding all aspects of federal, state, institutional financial aid processes.
• Schedules workshops, reviews applications, establishes pay cycles, disburses funds and resolves disbursement problems, and records awards, disbursements and returns.
• Provides training to program staff on how to interpret and use financial aid data, queries, and reports.
• Serves as the direct resource for program staff on all financial aid related issues including prioritised matters with timely responses and analyses.
• Troubleshoots, diagnoses and resolves packaging, FA awards and tuition and fee gap scholarships by verifying student eligibility and reviewing disbursements.
• Represents Lehman College at ACE/ASAP FA required meetings and other program initiatives as needed with college partners.
• Performs verification of federal financial aid files for ACE students selected for verification by the US Department of Education and makes corrections as needed in accordance with federal student aid regulations to finalize financial aid awards.

Skills

Financial aid counseling

Student advisement

Data reporting

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

CUNYfirst

Microsoft Excel

Job description

POSITION DETAILS

Financial Aid Specialist (HEOa)

The Lehman College ACE (Accelerate-Complete-Engage) program is a comprehensive program designed to help students complete their academic journey to the bachelor’s degree within two

years (transfer) or four years (freshmen). ACE provides a range of financial, academic, and personal support, including intensive academic advisement and career counseling, as well as tuition, textbook, and transportation assistance.

To provide comprehensive financial aid and outreach support to ACE staff and students, Lehman College seeks an ACE Financial Aid Specialist to administer the financial aid process from beginning to end for all ACE students. The ACE Financial Aid Specialist reports to the Director of ACE and Director of Financial Aid. In addition to the CUNY Title Overview, the Specialist:

Provides in-person and virtual financial aid counseling to ACE students and parents regarding all aspects of federal, state, institutional financial aid processes

Schedules workshops, reviews applications, establishes pay cycles, disburses funds and resolves disbursement problems, and records awards, disbursements and returns.

Provides training to program staff on how to interpret and use financial aid data, queries, and reports

Serves as the direct resource for program staff on all financial aid related issues including: escalated matters of priority along with providing timely responses, updates, analyses and

reports

Troubleshoots, diagnoses and resolves packaging, FA awards and tuition and fee gap scholarships by verifying student eligibility and reviewing disbursements

Uses query tools and software such as Microsoft Excel and CUNYfirst to report and analyze financial aid packaging plans, monitor scholarships, and track disbursements and balances

Represents Lehman College at ASAP|ACE FA required meetings and other program initiatives as needed in collaboration with college partners

Performs verification of federal financial aid files for ACE students who are selected for verification by the US Department of Education and makes corrections as needed in accordance with federal student aid regulations to finalize financial aid awards

Assist ACE on new outreach initiatives while also providing financial literacy & financial aid workshops for ACE staff/student

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s Degree and four years’ related experience required.

CUNY TITLE OVERVIEW

Administers and supervises financial aid programs and operations.

• Reviews contracts, disbursements, tuition and fees; validates student eligibility for various programs

• Administers, monitors and troubleshoots CUNY financial aid systems as well as Federal and NY State systems in order to ensure integrity of student databases and timely and accurate delivery of funds

• Assists CUNY staff, applicants, and students/families with advice on financial aid issues and eligibility

• May review and reconcile student payroll processing

• Represents the Financial Aid function at Admissions events; works with academic departments as well as Bursar, Registrar, Admissions and Computing offices to assure staff understand and implement financial aid processes correctly

• Assists in the development and evaluation of Admissions processes

• Prepares documentation, instructions, and materials in various media to support financial aid activities

• Performs related duties as assigned.

Job Title Name: Financial Aid Specialist

CUNY TITLE

Higher Education Assistant

FLSA

Exempt

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

$70,756 - $79,630. Salary commensurate with education and experience.

CUNY’s benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

CLOSING DATE

November 7, 2026

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

Job ID: 32905

Location: Lehman College