"Financial Aid Support Specialist"

Financial Aid Support Specialist

Posted: 26-Jan-26

Location: Scottville, Michigan

Type: Full-time

Salary: Starting at or above $17.85/hr

Categories: Administrative/Support, Financial Aid, Staff/Administrative

Employment Type: Full-time

Organization Type: Higher Education Institution

Required Education: High School

West Shore Community College (WSCC) seeks a positive and outcome-focused professional to join our Financial Aid team. This team member must enjoy a fast-paced work environment, have strong interpersonal and communication skills, be skillful in empathizing, understanding, and practicing compassion for others, and be able to multi-task with accuracy.

The primary responsibilities of this position are; to assist in providing a welcoming and helpful space for prospective, new, and continuing students to learn about their financial aid, work collaboratively with other team members to utilize the software program PowerFAIDS for data, and provide clerical support, including but not limited to data entry, running reports, and preparing mailings/notifications. This position also performs a variety of duties and responsibilities which may be sensitive and confidential. The Support Specialist is a fulltime position, reports to the Director of Financial Aid, and shall maintain a positive customer service orientation.

WSCC is an innovative and progressive institution of higher learning located in a picturesque setting near Lake Michigan in a part of the state that offers year-round recreational activities. The College serves a multi-county district that includes Mason, Manistee, Lake, and Oceana counties. WSCC offers a student-centered and team-based atmosphere with a staff that is dedicated to excellence in serving students’ learning needs. Additional information about the college is available at www.westshore.edu.

For best consideration apply by February 3, 2026. Review begins immediately, and will continue until filled. Position will remain open until filled.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Utilize various software for entering, updating, and maintaining applicant information as required by federal and state regulations in administering financial aid such as document notices, financial aid awards and revisions, loan tracking, work study employment records, Pell Grant records, and veterans educational benefit information.
• Prepare and send student notices and/or awards and monitor receipt of forms and enrollment changes.
• Assist students with questions and information related to processing their financial aid in person and through e-mail and phone.
• Prepare communications to send to students via e-mail and postal mail.
• Track and update information on reports in various software program formats specific to federal, state, institutional, and private scholarship awards.
• Communicate effectively with professionals within our community.
• Gather information from a variety of institutional, state, and federal software programs and websites to assist with processing financial aid.
• Review submitted student paperwork, prepare paperwork for Financial Aid Director to review, and move completed paperwork to electronic filing system.
• Assist students with scheduling financial aid advising appointments with the Financial Aid Coordinator and Financial Aid Director.
• Maintain knowledge base and skills with phone system, fax system, electronic record software, and electronic forms.
• Assist students with documents or processes that may be needed to obtain federal, state, institutional or private financial aid, such as the FAFSA application, online forms, and other self-service tools where applicable.
• Assist with document preparation for annual military and Department of Education audits.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Maintain and safeguard equipment, software, and facility areas.
• Comply with College policies and procedures.
• Know and follow all safety procedures including maintaining a safe work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of Highschool/GED
• Experience working in a professional office or business environment ideally with numbers, spreadsheets and interacting with the public

To be a best fit for this position you need:

• Ability to work comfortably with numbers and understand regulations
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work efficiently under pressure
• Fast and accurate computer skills; ability to work with word processing, spreadsheets and databases
• Genuine enjoyment of assisting others and having the capacity to pleasantly, professionally, and confidentially interact with students and the public