Financial Aid Specialist

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision from assigned manager, performs analytical and technical support duties in support of financial aid programs and services; administers federal, state, and District financial aid program funds; maintains accountability for financial aid funding expenditures; provides program accountability for financial aid sources, including representing the Financial Aid Department during audits; makes financial aid award decisions and develops financial aid packages to meet student educational needs according to Federal, State and District regulations or policies; serves as a technical expert regarding area of assignment; and guides Department staff and activities related to area of assignment.

Need Help With Your Online Account?

• Use the online Help Guide or contact the NEOED Applicants Support Line at 855-524-5627 if you need assistance with your online applicant account.
• Applicant Support is available between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at hr@sierracollege.edu .

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

1. Determines, assigns, and adjusts a budget and cost of attendance for each student; calculates financial need figures and sets family contribution amounts; determines and assigns packaging group; determines eligibility for funds, standard and emergency grants, programs, subsidized or unsubsidized loan and plus loans; oversees the preparation of award letters.

2. Oversees the Financial Aid Advisory Committee (FAAC); gathers information from students to justify special petitions; processes files after petition determination; calculates Pace to Grad to ensure student meets regulatory requirements for continued Financial Aid eligibility; determines approval or denial of appeal based on requirements met by student; prepares appeal history for review when excessive appeals are present; reviews comprehensive Student Education Plans (SEP) for students that receive an approved appeal and places students on probation to ensure enrolled courses are reflected on the SEP.

3. Plans, organizes, and directs the District’s Scholarship Program; compiles and publishes electronic applications, including scholarship criteria; advertises and disburses scholarship information; exports data from the Student Information System (SIS) into the scholarship application to ensure students are matched to the scholarship criteria; develops and oversees on-campus scholarship bulletin board postings; oversees evaluation of scholarship applications to determine eligibility, including establishing and providing support for the scholarship committee to read and score applications and for the selection of recipients; notifies scholarship winners and donors; directs the release of scholarship checks; manages scholarship funds, including completing bank deposits from donors; and disbursing funds; reconciles scholarships and returns unawarded funds to the donor; plans and organizes the annual scholarship recognition ceremony.

4. Coordinates programs administered by the California Student Aid Commission, including, but not limited to, Cal Grants, California Chafee Grants for Foster Youth (Chafee Grant), and other special programs and grants; determines and certifies continued eligibility; monitors funds and post payments and reposts results electronically via WebGrants 4 Students (WG4S or WebGrants); processes electronic payments for the Chafee Grant program; reports Cal Grant GPA submissions twice per year via WebGrants; balances funds and year end records for the Business Services Office.

5. Performs funds eligibility and disbursement duties; analyzes applications and verifies eligibility; verifies that preliminary student file work is correct and meets regulations; generates student financial aid packages; monitors attendance and academic progress of federal and state financial aid students; corrects amounts, pulls back funds that were not disbursed, returns checks, and requests stop payment or reissue of checks to ensure accurate receipt of aid by students; accounts for expenditures of financial aid funds; coordinates with appropriate staff to resolve problems.

6. Arranges and performs funds management and reconciliation duties; ensures that procedures, policies, rules, and regulations are applied to all financial aid programs; analyzes and calculates financial aid funding needed from various federal and state programs; monitors federal and state accounts to ensure financial aid monies are accurately drawn and deposited into correct District accounts; coordinates with auditors to guarantee program fund accountability and integrity; completes federal payment documents; oversees and verifies federal and state grant, federal and state student employment, and loan accounts; monitors federal authorization of funding; monitors status of program fund account ledgers with Business Services staff and the Placer County Treasurer accounting systems; monitors repayments; balances fund accounts; reconciles assigned accounts.

7. Verifies and reviews financial aid materials and applications for completeness and conformance, including Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act (CADAA) student records, files, and reports.

8. Performs customer service and marketing duties; serves as point of contact and provides information to students and District staff regarding financial aid programs and services, including providing assistance with completing financial aid and scholarship applications; represents the District at activities with local high schools, agencies and organizations; interacts with other departments to provide students with comprehensive financial aid packages; conducts financial aid workshops; coordinates award activities.

9. Participates in the development and design of financial aid software reporting tools; establishes and maintains financial aid processing rules within the software; inputs data elements to comply with regulatory changes; coordinates with representatives from federal and state agencies to troubleshoot problems with specialized software and data base integrity; designs reports to provide information to applicable agencies.

10. Performs clerical and administrative duties in support of program operations; researches and resolves problems; troubleshoots computer information processing system problems; assembles files and duplicates materials; composes and prepares office correspondence, materials, reports, forms, brochures, presentations, handbooks, manuals, and consumer information; answers phones, refers callers, and takes messages; maintains and orders supplies; maintains and updates interrelated filing systems that include vital documentation in relation to students’ eligibility inclusive of confidential records and financial data.

11. Performs research and reporting duties; gathers, interprets, and analyzes a variety of data; completes and prepares records and reports; develops and creates reconciled data files for transmission to other agencies; gathers data and information to complete surveys and reports including those for other agencies and institutions; performs manual transfer monitoring; manages cohort default rates; conducts manual National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) overrides.

12. Reviews updated or new technical instructions or references; participates in the development of new or revised procedures to accommodate changes; assists in providing training and direction to others regarding changes and new regulations, including creating and disseminating new instructions.

13. Provides onboarding support, general work training, guidance, supervision assistance, and directs activities of students or temporary employees.

14. Performs related duties that support the overall objective of the position.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES

Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates the required above knowledge and abilities is qualifying. Examples of ways to obtain the above knowledge and abilities could include, but are not limited to, the following:

Education/Training

• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade or General Educational Development (GED) supplemented by college level course work in business administration, accounting, or a related field.

Experience

• Two years of increasingly responsible technical and program support experience in a financial aid office or a related field.

QUALIFICATIONS

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.

Knowledge of:

• Student financial aid processes and procedures, including standard and emergency grants and funds, programs, and Federal Direct subsidized or unsubsidized loans and plus loans.

• Sierra College and operations of the Financial Aid Department and other student service departments.

• Federal, State, and local sites and applications, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), National Student Loans (NSLDS), Common Origination and Disbursements (COD), EdConnect, WebGrants, and Electronic Cohort Default Rate (ECDR).

• Federal and State tax returns, schedules, and attachments.

• Federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations regarding financial aid and the support of students, including, but not limited to, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

• Needs analysis methodology.

• General accounting and bookkeeping practices and techniques.

• Moderate to complex mathematical concepts.

• English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary, including proofreading, copy writing, editing, and formatting techniques.

Ability to:

• Provide assistance, training, and information to students, District staff, and the public concerning financial aid programs, services, functions, and resources.

• Function as a technical expert in assigned areas of financial aid.

• Access federal, state, and local sites to report information and retrieve data, and compile reports and transactions, including sensitive personal and monetary transactions.

• Execute and review requests for financial aid to include Direct Student Loan applications, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act (CADAA).

• Make presentations to groups.

• Conduct technical research and prepare comprehensive and statistical reports.

• Properly handle difficult, sensitive, and confidential situations and materials.

• Use sound judgment in recognizing scope of authority.

• Adapt to changing technologies and learn functionality of new equipment and systems.

• Plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.

• Maintain a high level of attention to detail.

• Maintain current, accurate, and confidential records and files.

• Utilize office procedures, methods, and equipment, including computers, technology, and applicable software applications sufficiently to perform the duties of the classification, including financial aid management and student support systems, the District’s Banner Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, and intermediate Microsoft Office skills.

• Maintain confidentiality of information.

• Perform arithmetic calculations of moderate to complex difficulty.

• Follow oral and written directions.

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

• Provide onboarding support, general work training, guidance, supervision assistance, and direct activities of students or temporary employees.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

• Work independently and collaboratively.

• Apply District policies and procedures.

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. Position may be required to work evenings, nights, and weekends.

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 walk, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; 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.

WHY SIERRA?

• One of Aspen Institute’s Top 150 Community Colleges in the nation
• The Accrediting Commission recognized Sierra “for its exemplary practice of providing personnel with opportunities for continued professional development in order to meet its mission.” This includes providing students and employees with a robust set of programs, events, and conferences related to equity-mindedness and supporting the success of our students, etc.
• Public Employee’s Retirement System (PERS)
• 18 paid holidays (including extended time off during the winter break)
• 12 accrued paid vacation days per year (vacation accrual increases over time)
• Competitive benefits package
• Flexible work schedules may be available
• Currently during summers, some employee groups participate in 4x10 schedules
• Qualifying Employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (in most cases)

Sierra College is a Community College located near Sacramento, California where a heavy emphasis is placed on academic excellence and student success. Since its founding in 1936, Sierra College has focused on quality instruction and meeting the evolving needs of the students and communities that it serves. The Sierra Community College District covers more than 3,200 square miles and serves the Northern California foothill counties of Placer and Nevada, as well as parts of El Dorado and Sacramento. We serve over 17,000 students throughout the region in both on-ground and online courses, including students at our main Rocklin Campus as well as at two centers located in Grass Valley and Tahoe/Truckee. Our District prides itself on academic excellence.

Sierra College has a strong commitment to the achievement of equity and inclusion among its faculty, staff, and students and values the rich, diverse backgrounds that make up the campus community. A strong candidate for this position must demonstrate a profound understanding of and experience with successfully supporting individuals with varying backgrounds. This includes persons with disabilities, various gender identities and sexual orientations, as well as individuals from historically underrepresented communities and other groups. Our District is committed to providing strategies for success and proactive student-centered practices and policies focused on eliminating equity gaps to ensure the District provides an inclusive educational and employment environment focused on strategies for success and equitable outcomes for all.

As an institution, Sierra College is committed to eliminating the equity gap in all student populations with dynamic, learner-centered practices and policies that fully engage the college community. The ideal candidate will share the College’s commitment to helping its racially and socioeconomically diverse students succeed in their degree and career objectives. Currently, Sierra College enrolls 17,800 students per term, where approximately: 23% of Sierra College’s students are Latin(o)(a)(x)(e), 3% are African-American/Black, 2% are Filipino, 6% are Asian, 1% are American Indian/Alaskan Native, 8% are Multiethnic and 55% are White.

The successful candidate will join a College dedicated to the use of culturally responsive strategies and methods that meet the varying needs of our students, faculty, staff, and surrounding community. Sierra College demonstrates its commitment to equity by supporting ongoing professional development for students, faculty, and staff. These opportunities include trainings and workshops on equity and inclusion, active Academic Senate standing committees concerned with student success and equity, a Presidential Equity Advisory Committee (PEAC), culturally responsive student engagement centers, support for our undocumented and AB540 students, campus-wide equity summits, a robust set of programs, events, and conferences related to equity-mindedness and supporting the success of our diverse students.

Need Help With Your Online Account?

• Use the online Help Guide or contact the NEOED Applicants Support Line at 855-524-5627 if you need assistance with your online applicant account.
• Applicant Support is available between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at hr@sierracollege.edu .

Helpful Tip:

Please note that as described above a strong candidate for this position must demonstrate a profound understanding of and experience with successfully supporting individuals with varying backgrounds; and therefore, hiring committees assess candidates for these knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Applicants may want to consider incorporating culturally-inclusive/equity-minded strategies practiced and/or evidence of the responsiveness to and understanding of the racial, socioeconomic, and cultural diversity of community college student populations throughout their application materials (including application and documents uploaded, if any).

Please see the Sierra College website for additional helpful tips and tools for prospective applicants .

Travel expenses may be partially reimbursed for candidates traveling beyond a 150 mile radius for second round interviews. All other travel expenses will be borne by the candidate (if in person interviews).

Key Information Regarding Our Hiring Process

Hiring Subject to Board of Trustees Approval

Please note that all new hires require approval from our Board of Trustees during one of their public meetings. Official hire dates will follow this approval. More information about the Board of Trustees and their meetings can be found at https://www.sierracollege.edu/administration/board-of-trustees/ .

H1B1 Visa Sponsorship Not Available

At this time, we do not offer H1B1 visa sponsorship for new employees.

Terms and Conditions of Employment:

Other terms and conditions of employment are specified in the applicable collective bargaining agreements on file in the District Human Resources Department. Position description of record on file in the Human Resources Department.

*Sierra Community College District currently operates campuses in Rocklin, Truckee and Grass Valley. In its management of a multi-campus environment, the District reserves right of assignment including the right to change assignment locations and shift assignments based on District need. Although this position may currently reside at the Rocklin campus, the assignment location may be subject to change as needed. Additionally, the district reserves the right to cancel, revise or re-announce this position as well as any and all positions at any time.

EEO / TITLE IX EMPLOYER

Sierra College is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination and the achievement of diversity and equity among its faculty, staff, and students.

Persons with inquiries about the application of Title IX and/or EEO may contact the Director of Diversity, EEO & Title IX (Title IX Coordinator) at the address below, at (916) 660-7006 or via email at EEOT9@sierracollege.edu .

Persons with questions regarding reasonable accommodation of physical and other disabilities should contact the Sierra College Human Resources Department at (916) 660-7105.

If you have limitations hearing or speaking, the State of California offers a specially-trained Communications Assistant (CA) that can relay telephone conversations for all of your calls. Dial 711 to reach the California Relay Service (CRS). Dialing 711 is for everyone, not just those who have difficulty hearing on a standard phone. If you prefer having your calls immediately answered in your mode of communication, dial one of the toll-free modality and language-specific numbers below. The call will be routed to the CRS provider.

TTY/VCO/HCO to Voice

English 1-800-735-2929

Spanish 1-800-855-3000

Voice to TTY/VCO/HCO

English 1-800-735-2922

Spanish 1-800-855-3000

From or to Speech-to- Speech

English & Spanish 1-800-854-7784

Closing Date/Time: Mon, 15 Sep 2025

• 

• Sierra Community College District

• (916) 660-7100

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