Financial Aid Specialist

About the position

Under the direction of the Financial Aid Officer, assist the Financial Aid Officer in coordinating and implementing an effective student financial aid program according to legal requirements. There is currently one full-time, bilingual (40 hours/week, 12 months/year) vacancy located at Oxnard College. This recruitment is being conducted to establish a list of eligible candidates that will be used to fill district-wide, current and upcoming, non-bilingual and bilingual, temporary and regular vacancies for the duration of the list, not to exceed one year.

Responsibilities

• Assist in coordinating and implementing an effective student financial aid program according to legal requirements.
• Review and analyze documents, compile and verify information to determine accuracy; perform need analysis, make determinations and award financial aid packages to eligible students according to established guidelines and procedures.
• Assure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations governing financial aid programs and with district and internal policies and procedures.
• Assist students and parents with information regarding the financial aid process and the completion of applications.
• Collect student and parent financial data; determine student budgets and compute financial need.
• Meet with students and parents to resolve issues and discrepancies or to make revisions in awards.
• Discuss a variety of sensitive and confidential information with students, parents, faculty and staff.
• Make professional judgments and decisions regarding eligibility.
• Review, interpret and apply complex regulations and policies governing all Title IV financial assistance and programs administered by the State and federal government.
• Oversee the maintenance of student records regarding financial aid; advise students of program eligibility.
• Assist with the planning and implementation of college and community financial aid workshops.
• Participate in and represent the college at meetings, workshops and conferences relating to financial aid.
• Coordinate awards and other outside resources to determine financial aid eligibility.
• Issue and collect emergency student loans; maintain loan records.
• Prepare a variety of reports and statistical data as requested by State or federal officials.
• Develop office forms for verifying information.
• Provide financial planning information and assistance to students planning to transfer to other colleges.
• Receive and provide a variety of information to other district departments, staff, management, faculty, students, parents, outside agencies and the public regarding the financial aid process and financial aid policies and procedures.
• Review and evaluate students' academic progress in accordance with the current Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
• Review, evaluate and take action on student complaints and appeals relating to financial aid eligibility.
• Keep current with federal and state financial aid laws relating to eligibility and disbursement procedures.
• Use complex student system and financial aid computer software; submit and receive data and information via various financial aid internet sites in compliance with federal regulations.
• Prepare and process a variety of letters and forms.
• Maintain special programs as assigned; coordinate special program activities between the college, private agencies and the public.
• Prepare program reports as needed.
• Provide work direction and guidance to student workers or other staff as assigned.
• Assist with staff training as needed; provide input to the Financial Aid Officer on the evaluation of financial aid staff and student workers.
• Oversee Financial Aid Office operations when Financial Aid Officer is away as requested.
• Work collaboratively and professionally with faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders from diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, and ethnic communities.
• Demonstrate cultural humility, sensitivity, and equity-mindedness in working with individuals from diverse communities.
• Model inclusive behaviors; and achieve equity in assignment-related outcomes.

Requirements

• Graduation from high school or its equivalent AND three years of experience in a financial aid office.
• OR Two years of college AND two years of experience in a financial aid office.
• OR A bachelor's degree AND one year of experience in a financial aid office.