Student Financial Services Specialist

Barnard College•New York City, NY

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

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, delivers high-quality customer service and assists in piloting emerging service technologies, including AI-driven solutions, to continuously improve service delivery and response times. 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.

Requirements

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 sensitive and confidential information.
Commitment to continuous improvement and student-centered service.
Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 2-3 years’ experience in student accounts, financial aid, or related higher education finance role.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of PowerFAIDS, Technolutions Slate, Workday, and/or other financial aid and student information systems.

Responsibilities

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.
Acts as a functional liaison for student service innovations, exploring and supporting the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation tools to enhance the overall digital student experience.
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.
Perform need analysis and packaging for assigned caseload of prospective and current students with an understanding of the principles of federal methodology including: Evaluating and calculate awards with a thorough knowledge of and adherence to Barnard’s own policies and procedures.
Make professional judgment decisions in extenuating circumstances to determine student's eligibility and awards.
Awarding institutional and federal grants, loans and jobs.
Estimating federal state and outside need-based grants and loans.
Assist with the packaging and awarding of federal, state, and institutional financial aid, and appeals.
Monitor the appeal process; review student appeals and documents to present to the appeal committee; communicate appeal decisions to students and ensure file completion.
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.
Determine eligibility for prospective HEOP students during Early Decision (ED) and Regular Decision (RD) cycles; provide support and counseling to all assigned HEOP and CSTEP students, and assist the OP Office as needed.