Financial Aid Specialist

Salary $40,000.00 Annually
Job Type Full-Time Regular Staff
Job Number 2022-00739
Division Student Affairs
Department Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs
Opening Date 07/16/2026

SUMMARY

Open until filled-

Conduct, coordinate, and administer activities in the Financial Aid office to determine and provide financial assistance to students in accordance with college guidelines and in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Receive, interpret, and implement policies, rules, procedures, and regulations pertaining to the administration of federal, state, and local financial aid programs.
2. Receive, verify, process, and administer federal student aid applications via electronic data processing, process initial applications, renewal applications, corrections, payments, and reporting.
3. Counsel students and parents on programs, policies, and procedures.
4. Knowledgeable in applying U.S. Department of Educations required software in addition to the State software in processing student applications.
5. Work with Business Office for timely payment disbursements, Admissions and Registrars offices for verification of student information, and with Counseling/Careers office and instructors concerning student academic progress.
6. Ensure maintenance of timely and accurate input and retrieval of data.
7. Attending state and federal financial aid meetings to secure current information and training on regulations and procedures.
8. Assist and/or conduct workshops as requested.
9. Provide mid-term and end-of-year reports to Director of Financial Aid.
10. Audit each financial aid students schedule every semester to ensure classes are within the declared major.
11. Perform adjustments and reconcile student financial aid accounts.
12. Perform other related duties incidental to work herein described.

MINIMUM EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

• Associates degree in business, accounting, or related field required; bachelors degree preferred.
  
  
  

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

• One-year experience in a business, financial aid, or educational setting required; three years preferred.
• Must be detail-oriented, possess ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and work well under pressure; must have great organizational skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Generally, works in a traditional climate-controlled office environment and requires the ability to sit for extended periods. 
• Some walking, standing, and bending required, with the ability to lift and maneuver items weighing up to 25 pounds. 
• Work environment can be stressful at times in dealing with a wide variety of challenges and deadlines. 
• In addition to regular office hours, position sometimes requires overtime and/or evening hours.

BENEFITS

Gaston College provides a comprehensive, affordable insurance and benefits program. We are continuously investigating new benefit offerings that are responsive to the needs of our regular** employees. 

• State Health Plan
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Additional Supplemental Insurances
• NC State Retirement Plan
• Supplemental Retirement Plans
• Disability Benefits, Long- and Short-Term
• Longevity Pay
• State Employees' Credit Union Eligibility
• Leave (Vacation, Sick, FMLA, Civil and Military, Child/Student Involvement, Education, and Voluntary Shared)
• Paid Holidays
• Educational Advancement Compensation
• Tuition Assistance
• Employee Discount Program
• Benefits Overview Booklet

**Please note: Temporary (part-time) employees  do not  earn benefits.

Salary/Compensation: $40,000 per year