Financial Aid Specialist

Title: Financial Aid Specialist

Agency: Southside Va Community College

Location: Brunswick - 025

FLSA: Nonexempt

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

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

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. In this role, you will assist students and families through the financial aid process from application to award, helping to remove financial barriers and support student success.

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

• 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

• 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 SAP
• Experience 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