Financial Aid Specialist - Program Specialist 3

Location: Spokane CC Main Campus Spokane

Department: SCC Financial Aid/Work Study

Salary Range: $4,740 - $6,384

Open Continuous. 

Starting salary for this position is: $4,740 (Monthly)

Employees starting at the entry step of this range receive salary step advancement after six months and every 12 months thereafter. An employee starting at anything higher than the entry step of the range will have salary step advancement after 12 months and every 12 months thereafter until they reach the top of the salary range. Each salary step advancement will be approximately a 5% increase.

About Us 

Spokane Community College (SCC) is a beautiful campus located in the inland Pacific Northwest, on the ancestral home of the Spokane Tribe, near the Spokane River. Our campus is not far from the urban center of Spokane, a mid-sized city with a high quality of life and quick access to the outdoors.

SCC is one of two accredited community colleges that comprise the Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS). Serving about 15,000 students, SCC endeavors to be an educational leader and a responsive partner with the community and region, offering access to relevant programs of the highest quality. We offer state-of-the-art career technical programs (approximately 50% of total enrollment) as well as liberal arts/transfer programs (about 25%) and basic education for adults (about 25%), In addition to serving the urban and suburban population in greater Spokane, CCS provides educational services to rural communities throughout a 12,302 square mile region in Eastern Washington. This region includes all of Spokane, Stevens, Whitman, Ferry, and Pend Oreille Counties as well as portions of Lincoln County.

SCC’s mission is to provide all students with an excellent education that transforms lives and expands their opportunities.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. However, since the screening committee will begin reviewing applications on 08/10/2024, submissions are encouraged prior to that time.

About the Financial Aid Specialist - Program Specialist 3

The Financial Aid Specialist works in the Financial Aid Office under general direction of the Associate Director of Financial Aid. Each financial aid program has policies, procedures, regulations, and specific government reporting requirements. The rules of these programs are highly complex and require coordination to ensure that students receive the correct information and are offered aid in accordance with established regulations.

The Financial Aid Specialist works independently, interprets, and works in accordance with federal, state, and college policies, procedures, and regulations, and coordinates with other financial aid programs and the Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS) Business Office to ensure college administrative capability is maintained. The specialist review applications for financial aid eligibility, advises students and makes decisions regarding special circumstances.

This position is responsible for all aspects of the of managing all the DOE, state and institutional Authorizations and Disbursements for all funds sent to students.

This position serves as a subject matter expert (SME) for the Department of Education (ED), and Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC).

Duties & Responsibilities

• Manages the federal, state, and institutional Authorizations and Disbursements for all funds sent to students. *
  
• Responsible for being backup for the college work-study students who work in the financial aid office. Assists at times with the work schedule to maximize the number of hours received from work-study students. Create priority lists, assigns students according to their skill level and training. Evaluate each day to determine where the office needs the most help and then assigns students; accordingly. *
  
• Analyze and evaluate documentation to determine financial aid file completion, and student eligibility, perform file review and award federal, state, and local financial aid. This includes using data obtained from federal and state systems. Analyze and evaluate documentation submitted by student, complete the verification process for selected students, using submitted documents that includes but not limited to federal tax returns. *
  
• Provide complex counseling, assistance and problem solve by providing a variety of options to students based on individual need