Title: Financial Aid Specialist

Department: Financial Aid

Campus Location: Arnold/Main Campus

Salary Range: $55,782-$69,727

Work Mode: This position requires some regular in-person presence on campus or at alternative locations, depending on business needs of the office.

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule: 

Position Type: Full-Time Staff,  Exempt

Position Summary

The Financial Aid Specialist is responsible for providing services and guidance regarding student financial aid and/or VA education benefits, be it remotely or at any of the AACC campuses. The specialist is responsible for processing financial aid and/or veterans files, including managing and awarding funds and working on any one of a number of individual programs and/or projects related to the administration of federal, state, institutional, VA, or private student aid. The assistant director provides daily supervision of this position.

Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) is committed to enriching the educational experience it offers through the diversity of its faculty, administrators, and staff members. The college seeks to recruit and support a broadly diverse team who will contribute to the college's excellence, diversity of viewpoints and experiences, embrace concepts of equity and inclusiveness and support the equal rights of all people by advancing the understanding and appreciation of differences including age, race, gender, ability, religious convictions, socio-economic status, ethnic heritage, or sexual orientation.

While we appreciate your interest in employment with Anne Arundel Community College, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for any position.

In the best interest of the College, only individuals who are residents of Maryland or one of the following states will be eligible for employment at the college: Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, or the District of Columbia. The college will annually review this restriction and, if appropriate, expand the list of states of employment eligibility.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Specialists will be available to assist with all areas of financial aid and/or veterans education benefits processing to ensure timely and accurate delivery of service. Specialists will be responsible for one or more of the following processes: verification, professional judgment, dependency overrides, student employment programs, Maryland State awards, Foundation and institutional scholarships, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Unusual Enrollment History, web content updates, consortium agreements, federal grants and loans, and/or veterans education benefits.

Provide counseling on financial aid and veterans education benefits remotely or in person at any of the AACC Financial Aid offices (Arnold, Arundel Mills, Glen Burnie Town Center) and assist with financial aid emails and phones. The specialist must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, as needed. Additional programs and projects may include outreach events, student success measures, document collection and imaging with Perceptive Content, and working with other campus offices to effectively and efficiently deliver financial aid to students.

Maintain current knowledge of financial aid and VA regulations to counsel current and prospective students (and parents, if applicable) regarding Title IV eligibility, FAFSA completion, the awarding process, billing questions, satisfactory academic progress, book voucher use, and disbursements.

Regularly review processes and procedures to identify areas for improvement. Identify and trouble-shoot financial aid and/or VA education benefits discrepancies and provide effective resolutions to processing issues. Provide regular feedback on existing procedures to maximize efficiencies for the financial aid office and our students. Seek professional growth opportunities by attending and participating in Financial Aid and VA professional development trainings and events.

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree or higher

Minimum of two years of relevant experience

Working knowledge of Title IV program eligibility and processing.
Knowledge of automated data processing systems and Microsoft Office Suite.

Ability to work effectively in a high-volume, fast-paced environment with minimal supervision and utmost attention to accuracy, details, and deadlines.

Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to make public presentations.

Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with a diverse population of students, parents, staff, and the public.

Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, to meet the needs of the office.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with student database systems

Intermediate to expert level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Experience working in a community college setting.