Financial Aid Specialist

About the role

The Financial Aid Specialist supports all aspects of financial aid operations with an emphasis on student-facing service. The Specialist counsels students and families on financial aid options, conducts need analysis, processes applications, and performs verification activities in compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provides comprehensive counseling to students and families on all aspects of financial aid, including eligibility criteria, application procedures, aid programs, educational costs, satisfactory academic progress, state scholarship eligibility and renewal requirements, professional judgment considerations, and borrower rights and responsibilities under federal loan programs.
• Manages file processing, verification, clearance monitoring, and Direct Loan adjustments for an assigned student population.
• Conducts intake and follow-up with students and parents regarding outstanding or incomplete documentation to ensure timely and accurate completion.
• Reviews and evaluates collegiate transcripts and enters data to determine eligibility for State scholarship programs.
• Affords excellent customer service by supporting visitors to the office, responding to phone calls and emails, and maintaining timely communication in accordance with office standards.
• Maintains oversight of the student withdrawal process to ensure compliance with federal regulations, including timely R2T4 calculations, return of funds, completion of exit counseling, and follow-up notifications related to Direct Loans.
• Manages the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program to include monitoring expenditures and coordination of employment with Human Resources.
• Collaborates with the Associate Director to coordinate appeals related to the South Carolina Tuition Grant (SCTG) program.
• Affords assistance with financial aid workshops, enrollment events, and other outreach initiatives to support student engagement and promote financial aid awareness.
• Performs other related duties as assigned to support the overall operations and goals of the Financial Aid Office.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of one (1) to three (3) years of experience in higher education preferred.
• Knowledge of South Carolina state is preferred, but is not a requirement.