Financial Aid Compliance Specialist

Financial Aid Compliance Specialist

Salary

$51,581.00 - $54,159.00 Annually

Location

Main Campus - Mattoon, Illinois

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

202600527

Division

Student Services

Department

Financial Aid & Veteran Services

Opening Date

07/15/2026

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

N/A

• Description
• Benefits

Description

The Financial Aid Compliance Specialist provides financial aid advising, program administration, and regulatory compliance support to promote student access and success. The position collaborates with students, staff, and external partners to administer aid programs, provide outreach and training, and support institutional compliance initiatives.

Description of Essential Functions (critical tasks)

Essential Job Functions:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of Federal and State student aid programs, including eligibility requirements, processes, rules, and regulations.
• Provide guidance and support to students, parents, and staff on all aspects of student financial aid, including application procedures, special circumstances, alternative funding options, eligibility requirements, financial literacy, and budgeting.
• Gather and analyze complex data while handling highly confidential records and sensitive situations. Apply detailed regulatory guidance when determining financial aid awards and processes, summarize findings in relevant reports, and provide precise and accurate responses in communications.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of financial aid policies and procedures.
• Conduct financial aid outreach to high schools and the community, presenting information and providing counsel to students and parents at local Financial Aid events
• Collaborate with financial aid staff to provide student financial aid advising, delivering accurate and timely guidance through walk-in appointments, phone inquiries, and email communications to support student understanding and access to financial aid.
• Provide training and support to students and staff in navigating online financial aid systems, applications, and resources to promote self-sufficiency and accuracy.
• Engage in training and professional development to stay up-to-date with federal, state, and institutional regulations and processes.
• Collaborate with the Financial Aid Accountant to monitor and resolve outstanding financial aid transactions, including uncashed checks, and support the administration and reconciliation of state financial aid programs in compliance with applicable regulations.
• Coordinate the oversight of cross-functional regulations, including, but not limited to Consumer Information, Gainful Employment, and Workforce PELL.
• Assess academic programs, both proposing and existing, for compliance with federal student aid regulations amidst evolving standards to ensure alignment of program structure and workforce readiness. Serve on Curriculum Committee and manage E-application updates.
• Maintain relationships with other college offices to coordinate technical activities, software enhancements, program eligibility, registration and billing processes.
• Serve as a backup School Certifying Official for Veterans Affairs education benefits, ensuring timely and accurate certification of student enrollment, maintenance of compliance with VA regulations, and appropriate communication with students and the VA as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Financial Aid & Veteran Services.

Specific Functional Job Requirements

Education Requirements:

• Bachelors degree required. Masters Degree in Student Personnel preferred.

Experience Requirements:

• Related experience in a college setting preferred; community college experience preferred;

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of community college environment, including financial aid regulations and guidelines and the utilization of technology.

Skills:

• Excellent customer service and organizational skills; Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills; ability to work critically; detail-oriented; ability to comprehend and communicate Federal/State regulations and guidelines regarding financial aid; ability to work with numerous interruptions;

Personal Requirements:

• Cultural consciousness and support for all students; Ability to work effectively with administration, faculty and staff of the college, high school principals and guidance counselors, students and parents; ability to work efficiently with extreme attention to detail; ability to work independently and as a team member.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SUMMARY

Support and Supervisory Staff

(For specific details, please refer to summary plan documents and/or board policy.)

Vacation Hours

Full-time support and supervisory employees earn 80 hours of vacation time during their first full year of employment. For each additional year of employment, support staff employees receive an additional 8 hours, up to a maximum of 160 hours. Hours are accrued monthly and can be taken in hourly increments. Hours start accruing from the first day of employment, although employees must complete their 90-day probationary period before using vacation time. There is a maximum carryover of 80 hours into a new fiscal year.

Sick Hours

Full-time support and supervisory employees earn 96 hours of sick time each year. Hours are accrued monthly (8 hours per month) and can be used in hourly increments. Sick leave may carry over and accumulate with no maximum.

Personal Hours

Full-time support and supervisory employees earn 40 hours of personal time each fiscal year. For employees who begin in the middle of a fiscal year, hours will be prorated. Personal time can be used in hourly increments. Any unused personal time will be transferred to sick leave at the end of the fiscal year.

Parental Leave

Paid parental leave of up to four (4) weeks for approved full-time employees with one (1) or more years of service.

Holidays

Lake Land College provides for nine paid holidays: January 1st, Friday Before Easter, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and December 25th.

College Closed Days and Summer Work Week

Except as may otherwise be provided, if the College establishes a four (4) day summer session work schedule, the standard work day, not including the lunch break, will be eight and one-half (8½) hours, which is equivalent to a thirty-four (34) hour work week, paid at forty (40).

In addition, there are six (6) paid College Closed days each year.

Tuition Waiver

Lake Land College offers tuition waivers for credit courses to current full-time employees, employee's spouse or civil union partner, and their unmarried dependents under age 23. Any fees associated with the classes are the responsibility of the employee.

Tuition Reimbursement

Full-time employees are entitled to a tuition reimbursement of $200 per credit hour with a maximum of $1200 a fiscal year to advance their education with a baccalaureate, masters, or doctoral degree. Reimbursement is available for courses in which a grade of C or better is received with verification through official transcripts.

Retirement

Lake Land College employees are members of the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). In addition, all SURS eligible employees will be auto-enrolled in the SURS Deferred Compensation (457b) plan at 3%.

(403)b/457(b) Retirement Savings Plans

Lake Land College offers a voluntary 403(b) plan and a 457(b) plan. Employees have the option of choosing from a variety of investment funds and can contribute on a pre-tax or post-tax basis. Employees can elect to enroll in a 403(b) and 457(b) plan at any time. The College offers an Employer Match of up to 3% of your gross salary based on certain criteria. Employees will be automatically enrolled in the SURS/Voya 457 plan, with the ability to opt out. Please refer to Board Policies 05.38 and 05.22 for criteria and guidelines.

Life and AD&D Insurance

Lake Land College provides full-time support and supervisory employees with $40,000 in life and AD&D insurance. Employees may also elect to purchase additional supplemental insurance for themselves, as well as spouse or civil union partner, and their dependent children. Spouses and dependents cannot exceed the amount of the employee's optional benefit.

Voluntary Benefits

Lake Land College offers Voluntary Short-Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Pet Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, and Accident Insurance at group rates paid by employees.

Flexible Spending Account

Full-time employees can elect through payroll deduction to establish a flexible spending account for qualified medical or dependent care expenses incurred during the plan year. These elections are made on a pre-tax basis to save the employee federal and state income taxes. Employees enrolled on a medical flexible spending account can carry over up to $500 from one plan year to the next.

Medical Insurance

Lake Land College offers two health plan options -a traditional PPO health plan and one High Deductible health plan with a compatible Health Savings Account. Employees can elect coverage for their dependents defined as a spouse, civil union partner, or child under the age of 26. Dependent verification is required. Spouses who are able to obtain insurance through his or her full-time employment are not eligible for the College Insurance.

Monthly Rates for January 1, 2026-December 31, 2026

Single

Employee + 1

Family

Plan A (Traditional)

$0.00

$843.68

$1117.89

Plan B (HDHP)

$0.00*

$436.82*

$660.80*

• Lake Land College will also contribute to a Health Savings Account on behalf of the employee.

Health Savings Accounts

A HSA is a tax-favored savings account which allows funds to be accumulated tax-free to pay for current and future qualified healthcare expenses. A HSA account is only available if a HDHP, or Plan B is chosen. Lake Land contributes an amount equal to the difference in premiums between Plan A and Plan B. For 2026, this amount is $363.85/month for single coverage, $363.85/month for employee+1 coverage, and $363.85/month for family coverage.

Dental Insurance

Lake Land College offers Dental Insurance to employees and their qualified dependents at the following monthly cost:

Single

Employee + 1

Family

Dental Insurance

$0.00

$18.26

$28.88

Vision Insurance

Lake Land College offers Vision Insurance to employees and their qualified dependents at the following monthly cost:

Single

Employee + 1

Family

Vision Insurance

$5.59

$10.62

$15.51

Employer Lake Land College

Address 5001 Lake Land Boulevard

Mattoon, Illinois, 61938-9366

Phone 2172345410

Website https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/human-resources/