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Financial Aid Specialist
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Position Number: 3286946
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Position Type: Financial Aid

Financial Aid Specialist

Cuesta College

Salary: $54,492.00 - $60,084.00 Annually
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: FY2223-00016
Location: Cuesta College - San Luis Obispo Campus & Paso Robles North County Campus, CA
Department: Student Success & Support Programs
Closing: 9/5/2022 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Description Summary
The Financial Aid Specialist will work primarily at the San Luis Obispo Campus, and occasionally at the North County (Paso Robles) Campus. The anticipated schedule is 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, hours may vary depending on office needs.

Highly qualified candidates will have experience in or knowledge of Financial Aid processes and programs. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications (listed below) but do not have professional Financial Aid experience should clearly demonstrate an ability to understand and interpret complex information, high attention to detail, and excellent customer service skills.

DEFINITION

Under direction of the Financial Aid Director, be responsible for the timely and accurate implementation of financial aid programs and the dissemination of related information to the Cuesta community, including students, parents, faculty, and the community-at-large.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This position is distinguished from other specialists in the Student Service Support series in that incumbents are expected to have a full knowledge of all the regulations and guidelines concerning financial aid, the ability to perform verification, and the ability to exercise professional judgment in accordance with the Department of Education's rules and guidelines.

Incumbents in this position support student learning outcomes and institutional effectiveness by ensuring state and federal compliance are met and encouraging student success through the Financial Aid process.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE
Located in the heart of scenic San Luis Obispo County, Cuesta College has provided comprehensive associate degree offerings, certificates, and community programs to the region since 1964. Committed to being an inclusive institution that inspires a diverse student population to achieve their educational goals, we are proud to be designated as an Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education. Cuesta College is committed to racial and socioeconomic diversity that reflects our student population; we strive to hire candidates that share the value of commitment to diversity and inclusion. As part of the Cuesta College team, you can expect to be part of a collaborative community of faculty, classified staff, administrators, students, and community partners advancing educational excellence with intentional support services leading to student success and completion.

Additional information about the college can be found at
https://www.cuesta.edu/about/index.html
The college planning documents can be found at
https://www.cuesta.edu/about/collegeplans/index.html
Our Student Equity Action Plan can be found at
https://www.cuesta.edu/about/info/equity/index.html
We offer comprehensive benefit options. Information about benefits can be found at
https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/benefits-insurance/index.html

Cuesta College requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result. This may be verified through Cleared4Cuesta for all students, employees, and visitors who access Cuesta College campuses and facilities. For the most up to date information, please review our Covid-19 Resources page: https://www.cuesta.edu/covid-19/index.html

Essential Functions & Qualifications
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Assist students and prospective students with their applications for financial aid;
Perform any and all clerical work related to financial aid administration;
Perform eligibility determinations and verification for any federal, state, or local aid program;
Ability to use professional judgment (as defined by the Department of Education) when directed;
Serve as a reviewer for scholarship applications and appeals;
Plan and monitor specific projects, ensuring they are carried out on time and in compliance;
Identify and research potential problems and make recommendations for action to the Director;
Work with Director, Information Technology staff, and any other relevant parties as necessary to update the student information system to make necessary changes to financial aid processing as a result of new regulations, policies, procedures, and/or aid years;
Participate in the annual program planning process, including staff meetings and retreats;
Maintain current knowledge of all laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures related to financial aid programs and analyze policies and procedures to ensure compliance;
Correspond with Cuesta College personnel, students, parents, and various outside agencies to resolve conflicts of information and any other concerns related to financial aid;
Serve as primary administrator and point-of-contact for specific financial aid programs or activities (e.g. loan processing, work-study, outside scholarships, state grant programs, etc.)
Assist Director with the preparation of various financial aid reports;
Conduct outreach activities at local high schools, community functions, and on-campus events;
Perform a variety of technical accounting duties in the review, evaluation, maintenance, reconciliation and adjustment of financial aid accounts;
Ensure accuracy of student and financial data in all transactions involving the student information system or any other software used by the department;
Create queries and extract data to prepare and maintain a variety of statistical records and reports related to financial aid and its administration;
Serve as a financial aid representative on committees or workgroups as necessary; and
Perform other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
Preferred

Associate's degree;

Experience:
Required

Two years of experience working with financial aid programs;
Education may be substituted for experience on the basis of one year of education for two years of experience;

Knowledge of:

Title IV Financial Aid and state programs;
Computer systems used in financial aid processing and record keeping;
General accounting principles;
Current technologies, personal computer, and associated office software such as word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and/or database software;
Correct usage of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary;
District policies and procedures; and
Preferred bilingual (Spanish).

Ability to:

Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the performance of duties; and
Demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of staff and students and of staff and students with physical and learning disabilities;

Physical ability to:

Read and comprehend printed matter as well as text and data on computer monitors;
Communicate intelligibly and effectively via speech, telephone, written correspondence, and/or email;
Sit or stand for extended periods of time;
Lift and/or carry 25 pounds; and
Exert manual dexterity sufficient for keyboard and other office equipment operation.

License and Certificates (current within the last year)
Required

Valid driver's license and eligible to obtain California driver's license upon hire.

Additional Information
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO APPLY
Candidates will be required to submit ALL of the required documents below when applying for this position. When uploading documents, PDF uploads are preferred.

Cover letter;
Resume;
Reference List (see further instructions below);
Diversity statement (see further instructions below).

Diversity Statement Instructions: Cuesta College is committed to building and maintaining a workforce that reflects and honors the diversity of our students. It is important to us that our faculty, staff, and administrators demonstrate an understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds as well as sexual orientation and abilities of all constituents in the Cuesta College community.
In 500 words or less, with consideration to our Mission Statement and our values expressed above, please explain how you will demonstrate your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in this position.

Reference List Instructions: Your reference list must include three professional references, their contact information, and their relationship to you.

Completed online applications and all supporting documents must be submitted by the closing date for this position. LATE, INCOMPLETE, FAXED, MAILED OR EMAILED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

SALARY SCHEDULE
Below is the full salary schedule range for this position, steps A through E. Per Cuesta College's bargaining agreement, new employees are placed at Steps A through C, which is the anticipated hiring range also listed below. The bargaining agreement also includes step and longevity increases. For a full salary schedule, please see our website: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/salary_schedules.html

Salary Schedule Range: $4,541 - $5,520 per month.
Anticipated Hiring Range: $4,541 - $5,007 per month.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Cuesta College will not sponsor any visa applications.

San Luis Obispo County Community College District ("Cuesta College") is an equal opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), age, disability (physical and mental), genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal and state law in admission and access to, or treatment in employment, educational programs or activities at any of its campuses. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. Cuesta College also prohibits harassment on any of these bases, including sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

In compliance with California law, all prospective staff and students are entitled to read the Annual Security Report, published each October by the Cuesta College Department of Public Safety. This report contains information about our emergency and crime reporting procedures, as well as crime statistics for the past 3 years. You may request a copy of this report at one of our two Public Safety Offices: on SLO campus at Building 6600A or on North County Campus at building N1021, during campus business hours. You may also access the complete text of this report at the following website address: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/publicsafety/clery_act

Cuesta College uses E-Verify as part of the I-9 process to verify the work eligibility of all new hires. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9 to data from U.S Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records. For further information, visit: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/Job_Opportunities.html

Interview Process Information
Selected applicants will be invited to attend an interview and skills test on Friday, September 23, 2022.

To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cuesta

The San Luis Obispo County Community College District promotes inclusiveness, prohibits discrimination, and encourages all qualified persons to apply. As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, Cuesta College actively seeks candidates with diverse backgrounds to assist students, staff, and faculty. For ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) assistance with the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office: (805) 546-3129.