Student Financial Services Specialist

If you are a current Barnard College employee, please use the internal career site to apply for this position.

Job:

Student Financial Services Specialist

Job Summary:

The Student Financial Services Specialist serves as a key resource in supporting students and families with all aspects of tuition billing, financial aid, and related student account services. Specialists are cross-trained to provide general guidance across both Student Accounts and Student Aid, while each may hold a primary focus area. The position ensures compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies and delivers high-quality customer service in all financial interactions with students. To support accuracy and accountability, operational responsibilities for awarding aid and billing/collections are structured to remain distinct, while specialists collaborate to provide seamless service to students and families.

Job Description:

Duties and responsibilities include the following and may rotate among Student Financial Services Specialists as assigned by their manager:

General:

• Provide seamless guidance to students and families across financial aid and billing matters while adhering to accountability standards that keep awarding aid and billing/collections responsibilities distinct.

• Provide accurate and timely information to current and prospective students and families regarding financial aid, billing, payment alternatives, loan programs, refunds, deadlines, and institutional policies.

• Advise students on financial deadlines, financial aid options, and eligibility and application requirements.

• Enforce federal, state, and institutional regulatory standards.

• Assist in financial literacy outreach and education programs in collaboration with Admissions, Student Affairs, and other College partners.

• Maintain confidentiality of personal student financial information in compliance with FERPA and College policy.

• Contribute to process improvements and ensure strong internal controls.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Examples of Primary Focus Areas:

Student Accounts Focus

• Guide students in setting up and managing tuition payment plans and meal plans.

• Monitor and reconcile student accounts for accuracy, payment compliance, and outstanding balances.

• Provide billing and payment support, including the resolution of account discrepancies.

• Process and reconcile student payments, deposits, chargebacks, refunds, and account adjustments.

• Reconcile daily receipts of funds from all sources; prepare daily bank deposits.

• Prepare and mail past-due account statements; apply and remove registration and transcript holds in accordance with policy.

• Assist in reconciliation of state aid awards (e.g., TAP) and external payment programs.

• Support College loan programs by coordinating with Financial Aid on Perkins and Institutional loan compliance, servicing, and collections.

Student Aid Focus

• Process and review financial aid applications (FAFSA, verification documents, etc.).

• Assist with the packaging and awarding of federal, state, and institutional financial aid, and appeals.

• Provide counseling on federal loan programs (Stafford, PLUS) and process eligibility and paperwork.

• Support the administration of outside scholarships, health insurance waivers, SAP, and non-custodial parent documentation.

• Represent Student Financial Services at Admissions Open Houses, tabling events, and outreach programs. 

• Collaborate with Admissions, Lefrak Center for Well-being and other offices on recruitment, retention, and financial wellness initiatives.

Skills, Qualifications & Requirements:

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong customer service, communication, and interpersonal skills.

• Knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations and student account management.

• Demonstrated ability to work with complex financial systems and reconcile data accurately. 

• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

• Ability to exercise professionalism and discretion in handling