Substitute Financial Aid Specialist

Financial Aid Specialist

Performs a variety of technical duties in support of the financial aid and scholarship programs.

The Financial Aid Specialist position is distinguished from the Financial Aid Technician position additional responsibilities requiring considerable experience that may include the electronic transfer of all student applications to and from the federal government's database and providing assistance to the Assistant Financial Aid Director.

Receives limited direction from appropriate supervisor; refers only unusual decisions to supervisor. May provide technical and functional direction to assigned student workers.

The following duties are typical for this classification.

1. Imports financial aid applications from the federal database for financial aid processing; renames files and forwards applications to appropriate staff for review; enters necessary corrections on applications and redistributes to staff; exports finalized applications into federal government systems.
2. Verifies eligibility and required student information through a variety of sources, including Financial Aid Administrative Access (FAA), National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), Common Origination and Disbursements (COD), and Selective Service (SS).
3. Reviews and processes student files selected for verification; reviews and verifies student tax returns transcripts for accurate information; reviews student grade transcripts for satisfactory progress and dismissal.
4. Verifies the accuracy of requesting student's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP); requests and reviews student transcripts to ensure compliance of SAP and other regulations; reviews student enrollment grades for financial aid approved appeals and for students on probation; verifies SAP components are complete and scanned into student files to receive the disbursement.
5. Assists students at the counter; responds to questions from students, parents, and staff; provides information regarding financial aid programs including eligibility requirements, types of available assistance, and opportunities for self-help.
6. Compiles all necessary documentation; prepares folder for each financial aid student; reviews and revises information as necessary during the award process.
7. Determines student eligibility and financial needs according to clearly established criteria set forth by federal guidelines and District policy; assists in making initial awards, adjustments, and in the distribution of loan funds.
8. Processes loans/financial aid awards; notifies students of awards or denial of awards; follows up with students with incomplete documentation to complete eligibility; adjusts awards based on student receiving scholarships and other outside assistance.
9. Prepares periodic reports on accumulated expenditures and balances in preparation for fund disbursements.
10. Maintains financial aid student records and related documentation; reviews and updates pertinent financial aid data.
11. Stays current on legislative updates pertaining to financial aid; updates and maintains required licensure required to access federal databases.
12. Performs other duties related to the primary job duties.

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Core Competencies:

• Analyzing and Interpreting Data Apply sorting, coding and categorizing rules
• Customer Focus Attending to the needs and expectations of customer
• Reading Comprehension Understanding and using written information
• Professional and Technical Expertise Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Critical Thinking Analytically and logically evaluates information to resolve problems
• Attention to Detail Focusing on the details of work content
• Using Technology Working with electronic hardware and software applications
• Team Work/Involving Others Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Writing Communicating effectively in writing
• Adaptability Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Innovation Imagining and devising new and better ways of doing things
• Listening Comprehend and verbal instructions and orally presented information
• Legal and Regulatory Navigation Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Professional Integrity and Ethics Follows a clear-cut set of rules
• Valuing Diversity Shows acceptance of individual differences

Qualifications

Education/Training: Equivalent to completion of high school supplemented by twelve (12) units of college level course work in business administration, accounting, or a related field.

Experience: Three (3) years of increasingly responsible financial aid program experience.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with frequent student contact.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to occasionally lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight up to 25 pounds; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents; and to operate assigned equipment.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Employment Requirements

The person selected for hire will be required to complete the following pre-employment requirements:

• Submit to and successfully pass DOJ live scan/fingerprinting. Cost of live-scan services to be borne by candidate.
• Sealed official transcript(s) in envelope from institution or electronic copies emailed directly from institution (for positions with higher education requirement)
• Tuberculosis (TB) risk assessment
• Other pre-employment requirements may be required depending on the position (i.e. certifications or licenses; see job posting qualifications section for details).

Successful completion of all pre-employment requirements is mandatory to be eligible for employment. These requirements are in accordance with the San Bernardino Community College District's Administrative Procedures and Board Policies.

Benefits

This position is not eligible for full-time benefits.