Student Financial Aid Specialist

15 hours per week/36 weeks per year from August through May. Two-year Grant Funded Position (8.14.25)

Position Summary:
The Part-Time Student Financial Specialist supports Terra State’s mission of fostering student success by reducing financial barriers to enrollment, persistence, and completion. This position coordinates the Reducing Financial Barriers Program, provides individualized financial counseling, conducts outreach to students with past-due accounts, and develops educational programming related to budgeting and personal financial wellness. Working collaboratively with Financial Aid, Admissions, and the Business Office, the specialist ensures students receive clear, timely, and accurate information about their financial obligations while upholding the College’s core values of Teamwork, Excellence, Respect, Responsibility, and Accountability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Student Support

1. Provide one-on-one financial counseling to students, including payment plan development and account explanation.
2. Conduct proactive outreach to students with past-due balances to connect them with resources.
3. Respond promptly to inquiries about billing statements, holds, payment plans, and account balances in a professional manner.

• Financial Literacy & Programming

1. Develop and deliver educational programming on budgeting, credit management, student loans, and paying for college.
2. Participate in orientation, registration events, and campus programming.

• Account Management

1. Coordinate the Reducing Financial Barriers Program, including intake, documentation, disbursement tracking, and reporting.
2. Monitor account balances, assist in collections, and recommend accounts for further action when needed.
3. Collaborate with Financial Aid, Admissions, and Business Office to ensure accuracy in cost and aid communication.

• Compliance & Administration

1. Maintain records in compliance with FERPA and institutional policies.
2. Support the creation and upkeep of financial resource materials.
3. Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• N/A

Education and/or Experience:

• Associate degree in Business, Accounting, Student Services, or related field required.
• Two or more years of experience in student accounts, accounts receivable, or related financial services, preferably in higher education.
• Experience with Ellucian Banner software is preferred.

Other Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a student-centered approach.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work independently.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Ability to handle sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to interact with a variety of personnel across a broad spectrum of College departments.
  
  

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations (as applicable)

None.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Typical office/classroom environment.
• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds, stand or sit for extended periods.
• Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with disabilities.

Statement of Commitment
As part of Terra State Community College’s ongoing commitment in providing the highest quality education and training to our students, faculty, staff and community, the College will:

• Educate students by means of free, open, and rigorous intellectual inquiry to seek the truth.
• Equip students with an opportunity to develop the intellectual skills they need to reach their own, informed conclusions.
• Not require, favor, disfavor, or prohibit speech or lawful assembly.
• Create a community dedicated to an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the autonomy of each member, supports individual capacities for growth, and tolerates the differences in opinion that naturally occur in a public higher education community.
• Treat all faculty, staff, and students as individuals, will hold them to equal standards, and provide them equality of opportunity, with regard to those individuals’ race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.