Financial Aid Specialist

Salary: $41,349.00 - $59,541.00 Annually
Location : NWSCC - Muscle Shoals Campus - 800 George Wallace Blvd, Muscle Shoals, AL
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: NWS26-36
College/Division: NWSCC-503010-Financial Aid Administration
Opening Date: 07/27/2026
Closing Date: 8/10/2026 11:59 PM Central
Campus Location: Northwest-Shoals Community College


Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide professional and courteous customer service by answering telephone inquiries, responding to messages, and directing students and visitors to appropriate resources or personnel.
• Assist students with the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), scholarship applications, Federal Work-Study documentation, and other required financial aid forms.
• Assist with the administration of the Federal Work-Study Program by processing student interest forms, supporting job fairs and placement activities, facilitating onboarding and Canvas orientation, maintaining program records, conducting routine follow-up with student employees and supervisors, and providing customer service in accordance with program requirements.
• Process consortium agreements by reviewing required documentation, communicating with home and host institutions, verifying enrollment and financial aid eligibility, and maintaining accurate records in accordance with federal regulations and institutional policies.
• Process and maintain athletic scholarship records by reviewing documentation, verifying eligibility, communicating with the Athletic Department regarding required information, and entering awards in accordance with institutional policies and applicable regulations.
• Process institutional scholarships, community partner waivers, and employee waivers by reviewing documentation, maintaining accurate records, entering awards, and ensuring compliance with institutional policies and applicable regulations.
• Process Shoals Scholar Dollar (SSD) scholarship awards by reviewing eligibility, verifying renewal requirements, maintaining accurate records, and processing awards in accordance with institutional policies and program guidelines.
• Maintain confidentiality of student records and protected information in accordance with FERPA, Title IV regulations, and institutional policies.
• Serve on college committees, task forces, and workgroups as assigned, contributing to institutional initiatives and continuous process improvement.
• Collaborate with academic departments, Student Services, the Business Office, and other campus partners to coordinate the effective administration of student financial aid programs.
• Provide accurate, timely, and comprehensive information regarding financial aid programs, policies, procedures, and eligibility requirements to students, prospective students, families, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Accurately enter, maintain, and update student financial aid records and related information within Banner and other institutional systems.
• Represent the Financial Aid Office by participating in recruitment events, orientations, workshops, outreach activities, and other college-sponsored events as assigned.
• Perform duties related to the administration of Title IV financial aid programs and institutional waivers in accordance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Perform software technical and functional setup, testing, maintenance, and system updates to support financial aid processing and office operations.
• Assist in the preparation for and participation in local, state, federal, and institutional audits, program reviews, fiscal monitoring, compliance reviews, accreditation activities, and other oversight processes by compiling records, verifying data, responding to requests, and supporting the implementation of required corrective actions.
• Complete and process Dynamic Forms in a timely and accurate manner, including withdrawal forms and other assigned student forms.
• Cross-train and serve as a backup for all Financial Aid Office functions to ensure continuity of operations, compliance with federal and institutional regulations, and uninterrupted service to students.

Qualifications

• One (1) year (32 semester hours) of postsecondary education from a regionally accredited institution, required.
• Associate Degree or higher, preferred.
• Financial Aid work experience, preferred.
• Ellucian Banner work experience, preferred.

Application Procedures/Additional Information

A complete application packet consists of the following:

• a completed Northwest Shoals Community College online application form,
• a current resume, and
• postsecondary transcripts (unofficial or official), which must include institution's name, college degree, and degree date.

Applications may be submitted online at


Applications should be received by no later than August 10, 2026.

Incomplete application packets will eliminate the possibility of an interview. Application packets received after the deadline date will eliminate the possibility of an interview. The submission of all required application materials by the deadline date is the sole responsibility of the applicant.

SALARY: Compensation is in accordance with the Alabama Community College System's Salary Schedule E3-4 ($41,349 - $59,541).


Northwest Shoals Community College is an equal opportunity employer . It is the policy of the Alabama Community College System, including all postsecondary community and technical colleges under the control of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees, that no employee or applicant for employment or promotion, on the basis of any impermissible criterion or characteristic including, without limitation, race, color, national origin, religion, marital status, disability, sex, age, or any other protected class as defined by federal and state law, shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, or employment.


Northwest Shoals Community College will make reasonable accommodations for qualified disabled applicants or employees. Applicants in need of an accommodation(s), should contact the Office of Human Resources prior to the interview. View phone number on click.appcast.io

Applicants must adhere to the College's prescribed interview schedule and must travel at their own expense.

Northwest Shoals Community College will not be responsible for copying application packets for current or future positions.

In accordance with Alabama Community College System Policy and guidelines, the applicant chosen for employment will be required to sign a consent form for a criminal background check. Employment will be contingent upon an acceptable background check as determined by the College President.

Northwest Shoals Community College is an active participant in the Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-verify). E-verify electronically confirms an employee's eligibility to work in the United States as required by the Department of Homeland Security.

Northwest Shoals Community College reserves the right to withdraw this job announcement at any time prior to awarding of employment.
Sick Leave
All regular full-time non-instructional staff earns one day of sick leave which is the equivalent of 8 hours of sick leave per month. Unused sick leave is rolled over to the following year. Upon retirement, employees are allowed to convert unused sick time into service time for the purpose of retirement. Further retirement benefits may be found on this page under Alabama Teacher's Retirement.
8 hours per month
(may accumulate an unlimited number)

Annual Leave
All regular full-time non-instructional staff earn annual leave per month. A complete description of leave benefits can be found with the Human Resources office.
0-4 years 8 hours per month
5-9 years 10 hours per month
10-14 years 12 hours per month
15-19 years 14 hours per month
20+ 16 hours per month
(may accumulate up to 480 hours)

Personal Leave
All regular full-time non-instructional staff earns up to two (2) regularly scheduled workdays of personal leave per leave year.
Unused Personal Leave converts to sick leave if not used.
(converts to sick leave at the end of August each year if not used)

Professional Leave
Up to 10 days a year of professional development leave with pay may be granted by the President.

Holidays
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King/Robert E. Lee Birthday
National Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day after Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
16 (5 locally assigned)
Contracted Work Days
260

Retirement
The TRS was established in 1939 to provide benefits to qualified persons employed by state-supported educational institutions. Responsibility for the management and administration of the TRS is vested in its Board of Control. The Boards of Control elect the Secretary-Treasurer who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the RSA and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the RSA. The TRS is a defined benefit plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information visit All regular full-time and part-time employees (non-temporary and non- student) who work at least 20 hours per week are required to participate in The Teachers' Retirement System of Alabama.
Tier I - Pays 7.50% monthly. State matches 14.57% (effective 10/01/25)
Tier II - Pays 6.20% monthly. State matches 13.61% (effective 10/01/25)
Law Enforcement Officers :
Tier I -Pays 8.50% monthly. State matches 14.57% (effective 10/01/25)
Tier II - Pays 7.20% monthly. State matches 13.61% (effective 10/01/25)

Health Insurance
PEEHIP, established in 1983, provides health insurance benefits for active and retired education employees and is governed by the PEEHIP Board of Control. The Boards of Control elect the Secretary-Treasurer who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the RSA and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the RSA. For more information visit


Premium amounts:

• Single $ 30
• Family (without Spouse but with dependents) $ 207
• Employee + Spouse (no dependents) $ 282
• Family (with Spouse and dependents*) $ 307

*Includes $100 per month spousal surcharge Note: The spousal surcharge does not apply to spouses who are independently eligible for PEEHIP.


Tobacco Usage Premium

• Member $ 50
• Spouse $ 50

The tobacco premium applies only to the PEEHIP Hospital Medical and VIVA Health plans. Refer to the section to learn how you and/or your spouse can receive the non-tobacco user discount.

Wellness Premium

• Member $ 50
• Spouse $ 50

The wellness premium applies only to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Hospital Medical Group #14000 plan for non-Medicare eligible active and retired members, non-Medicare-eligible members on LOA or COBRA, and non-Medicare-eligible spouses on active or retired contracts. Refer to the section to learn how you and/or your spouse can receive a wellness premium waiver.

If desired, the employee may elect four options rather than health insurance options to include hospital indemnity, cancer, dental, and vision.


Optional Coverage Plan Premiums

• Cancer, Indemnity, and Vision Single or Family (cost per plan) $ 38
• Dental Single $ 38 Dental Family $ 50

Institution matches $800 monthly (effective 10/01/17).

Duty Hours
(hours vary by campus and needs of the student)

Tuition Assistance
This tuition waiver program is designed for all full-time instructional and non-instructional employees of The Alabama College System and the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education and their dependents as defined under by policy. The program will be coordinated by each institution for employees within The Alabama College System and the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education. An application form for the tuition assistance program is available in the Human Resources office and should be completed prior to registration for classes.


Employees/Dependents at two-year colleges:

• 1/3 waived after 1st year
• 2/3 waived after 2nd year
• 3/3 waived after 3rd year

Note: Employee is vested after 10 years in Retirement System. Additional information regarding retirement may be obtained from the Retirement System Web site at