Financial Aid Specialist

Posting Summary

Working Title Financial Aid Specialist

Role Title Education Support Spec II

Role Code 29144\-SW

FLSA Nonexempt

Pay Band 04

Position Number 27600083

Agency Southside Va Community College

Division Southside Va Community College (Div)

Work Location Brunswick \- 025

Hiring Range Minimum $44,192, commensurate with experience and education

Emergency/Essential Personnel No

EEO Category E\-Paraprofessional

Full Time or Part Time Full Time

Does this position have telework options? \-Telework options are subject to change based on business needs\- Yes

Does this position have a bilingual or multilingual skill requirement or preference? No

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday, day hours; evenings and weekends as needed

• Telework options are subject to change based on business needs.

Sensitive Position No

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, servicemembers, 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

Special Assignments

May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

KSA's/Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with students, parents, faculty, and staff in a fast\-paced environment
• Strong computer and technical skills, including data entry, report generation, and use of systems such as Microsoft Office, PeopleSoft, and financial aid platforms
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive information appropriately
• Strong organizational skills, including customer service, records management, and attention to detail
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage multiple responsibilities effectively
• Knowledge of or ability to learn federal and state financial aid programs and regulations
• Ability to interpret, apply, and explain complex policies and regulatory requirements in a way that is clear and accessible to students and families
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse populations
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work in a fast\-paced environment
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills related to financial aid processing and eligibility
• Demonstrated cultural competence and commitment to supporting diverse student populations
• Ability to understand and communicate complex government regulations to students and stakeholders
• Valid driver’s license required

Additional Considerations

• 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
• Administrative office support experience in higher education preferred
• Experience with data systems and reporting tools preferred
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support student activities or events

Operation of a State Vehicle Yes

Supervises Employees No

Required Travel

Occasional travel to SVCC campuses, centers, meetings, and training/conferences with access to a state vehicle

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number CLS\_4367P

Recruitment Type General Public \- G

Number of Vacancies 1

Position End Date (if temporary)

Job Open Date 03/20/2026

Job Close Date 04/03/2026

Open Until Filled

Agency Website

Contact Name Jennifer Davis

Email Jennifer.davis@southside.edu

Phone Number 434\-949\-1048

Special Instructions to Applicants

This is a full\-time position with state and VCCS benefits. Applicants must apply online by submitting a state application through this site. Applicants must create a user account to apply online. If you are a state employee who has been affected by Policy 1\.3 Layoff and possess a valid Inter\-agency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the Card BEFORE the closing date for this position. The Card may be scanned and attached to the application or faxed to (434\) 949\-0708\. Please include your name, the position number, and the position title on the fax cover sheet. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted for consideration. Please refer to your VCCS applicant portal account for the status of your application and the status of this recruitment. For more information about this position or other vacancies within our agency, please visit our website at

Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other non\-merit factors. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non\-discrimination policies: Shannon Feinman, Vice President of Finance and Administration, 109 Campus Drive, Alberta, VA 23821, 434\-949\-1005\.

SVCC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA and ADAAA), to provide reasonable accommodations to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.

We are a “Virginia Values Veterans” (V3\) stage agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29 (2010\). If you are a Veteran or a Virginia National Guard Member, we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application.

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth’s Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly called a Certificate of Disability) provided by the Department for Aging \& Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or the Department for the Blind \& Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service\-Connected Veterans may also apply via the AHP if they also provide an AHP Letter. To request an AHP Letter, use this link:

Additional Information

Background Check Statement Disclaimer

The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/

EEO Statement

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non\-merit factors.

ADA Statement

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.

E\-Verify Statement

VCCS uses E\-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I\-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.