Financial Aid Specialist

Southwest Tennessee Community College is a comprehensive, multicultural, public, open—access college. Southwest has four campuses/centers from which it offers over 100 programs and over 20 technical certificate programs.

We foster student success, transform lives, and increase the educational level of a growing community in Shelby County. Southwest is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Title: Financial Aid Specialist

Employee Classification: Other Professionals

Institution: Southwest Tennessee Community College

Department: Financial Aid

Campus Location: SWTCC - Multiple Campus Locations

Job Summary

This is a full-time, fiscal year position reporting to the Associate Director of Financial Aid. The Financial Aid Specialist provides excellent customer service and counseling to students and parents regarding all types of Federal Financial Aid, State and Institutional Grants and Scholarships available to students attending Southwest Tennessee Community College. He/she may work some evenings and weekends as needed; have the ability to travel between two main campuses, site locations; and travel mostly within the state for attendance at professional meetings.

Job Duties

• Administers the verification process and awarding of all Federal Financial Aid programs including Federal Pell Grant, SEOG, and Academic Competitiveness Grant programs.
• Counsels students and parents by assisting them through the financial aid application process.
• Administers the verification process and awarding of all State of Tennessee Financial Aid programs.
• Manages effectively a large case load in an accurate and timely manner which includes accountability in verification, paperwork, error rates; student and parent office visits, and other duties to meet team goals for accurate awarding and excellent customer service.
• Maintains current knowledge of Federal Aid Program regulations; provides high standard of customer service when assisting students with problem resolution.
  • Seek input from alternate authority if necessary.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field.
  
• Two (2) years of work experience in a financial aid office or related area.
  
• Must have the ability to travel between two (2) main campuses, site locations; and travel mostly within the state for attendance at professional meetings.
  
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• A background check will be required for the successful candidate.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the guidelines and regulations pertaining to financial aid programs, including federal laws and regulations governing student-work programs.
  
• Knowledge of organizational rules, regulations and procedures.
  
• Skill in excellent oral and written communication.
  
• Ability to efficiently organize, make decisions, prioritize multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and work independently and as a team player within a highly computerized environment and with frequent daily interruptions.
  
• Ability to analyze files for professional considerations.
  
• Ability to understand, interpret and effectively apply federal regulations regarding administration of federal student aid programs.
  
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information.
  
• Ability to interact in an effective and appropriate manner with an ever-growing college population and the public.
  
• Ability to detect and correct grammatical and spelling errors in written correspondence.
  
• Ability to maintain files accurately, in paper and in software programs.
  
• Ability to efficiently operate a personal computer and associated software.
  
• Strong customer service skills and experience.
  
• Personal qualities of integrity, intellectual curiosity, exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, significant strategic and analytical capacity, technological savvy, a collaborative work style, and commitment to excellence that characterizes our college.

Physical Demands / Working Conditions

• Physical demands include the ability to sit and talk or hear; ability to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms; ability to occasionally stand, walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; ability to occasional lift and or move up to 50 pounds; specific vision abilities required by this job include vision, distance vision and adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Candidates who are called for an interview must notify Human Resources in writing at least five (5) days in advance of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

First consideration will be given to current Southwest Tennessee Community College employees who meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Unofficial Transcripts

A summary of our benefits can be found below: 

https://www.southwest.tn.edu/hr/benefits-overview.php

The TBR does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. 

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: Dr. Brandon Johnson, Director of People & Culture, myhr@southwest.tn.edu, 737 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, 901-333-5000. See the full non-discrimination policy.

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