Financial Aid Specialist

Allan Hancock College•All Campus Locations, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under supervision of the appropriate administrator, the Financial Aid Specialist performs student services work in financial aid, plans and carries out assigned program responsibilities, provides financial aid information and advising, conducts program research and needs assessments, and promotes the college’s mission and vision. The role provides financial aid information and advisement with frequent contact with staff, students, the public, social service agencies, and other educational institutions. The incumbent must read, write, and converse fluently in English and Spanish. The specialist advises new and continuing students, conducts community and high school outreach, organizes and delivers workshops and presentations, interprets financial aid rules, supports borrowers with loan repayment and default prevention, and helps students and parents access applications and understand aid options. The position also leads the Financial Aid Appeals Committee process, evaluates transcripts and educational plans, advises students on maintaining or regaining eligibility, and applies satisfactory academic progress policies. Additional duties include analyzing and verifying financial aid applications, packaging awards, creating and translating Spanish-language financial aid materials, maintaining webpages and electronic displays, coordinating chatbot updates and web changes, and collaborating on graphic design. The specialist conducts outreach to students who do not meet satisfactory academic progress, prepares student learning outcomes data and reports, and attends professional meetings and training to stay current with regulations. This is a full-time, 37-hour, classified, 12-month position. The schedule is Monday and Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. The primary work location is the Santa Maria campus, with two days per week at the Lompoc Valley Center campus. Duties are performed in and out of an office environment and may require travel to other locations. The desired start date is December 2026.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university, with a major in sociology, psychology, education, or a closely related field; qualifying closely related experience may substitute at two years of experience for one year of education.
Fluency in speaking and proficiency in writing in English and Spanish.
Ability to learn, interpret, and apply laws, regulations, policies, guidelines, and procedures independently.
Ability to plan, organize, and conduct group functions and meetings.
Ability to investigate and research problems, devise solutions, and present recommendations.
Ability to prioritize work and meet frequent and changing deadlines.
Ability to present clear and concise oral and written reports and follow oral and written directions.
Ability to make arithmetic computations quickly and accurately.
Ability to plan, organize, and implement specialized financial aid programs and activities and work independently with little direction.
Ability to read, interpret, apply, and explain complex financial aid laws, regulations, requirements, policies, and procedures, and adapt to changing state and federal regulations.
Ability to exercise sound judgment when reviewing and evaluating financial aid applications.
Ability to interpret and evaluate financial statements, complex income tax reports, court documents, immigration documents, and related materials.
Ability to maintain records and prepare reports.
Ability to relate effectively to socially and economically disadvantaged students and to interview and advise students.
Knowledge of educational advisement practices; English usage and business writing; federal, state, and district financial aid rules; applicable education laws; public speaking and presentation techniques; office practices and equipment; local socioeconomic conditions; student interviewing; outreach methods; community resources; and basic statistics, research, and reporting.
Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of staff and students, including people with disabilities.

Responsibilities

Advise new and continuing students on financial aid and conduct outreach to local high schools and communities in the college’s service area.
Organize, plan, and implement financial aid workshops and outreach programs.
Conduct bilingual financial aid presentations, workshops, and information sessions for current and prospective students and parents.
Train college counselors and staff, as well as local high school counselors, on financial aid.
Interpret and apply financial aid regulations.
Use outside databases, vendors, approved resources, and internet sites to locate borrowers and prevent or resolve student loan delinquency and defaults.
Counsel borrowers on loan repayment, forbearance, and deferment options.
Help students and parents access online applications and information, complete forms, and understand sources of aid, including scholarships.
Lead the Financial Aid Appeals Committee process, including reviewing appeals for accuracy and completeness, assessing continued eligibility, recommending alternatives, preparing correspondence, responding to follow-up questions, and implementing and documenting decisions.
Evaluate transcripts and student educational plans to determine eligibility and provide academic advising related to maintaining financial aid eligibility.
Support students who have lost eligibility by explaining issues, policies, and deadlines, helping solve problems, anticipating obstacles, and referring students to appropriate campus or community services.
Meet with students individually and in groups, and host satisfactory academic progress workshops.
Identify students with GPA, unit progression, or mass unit issues and recommend actions to support success during probationary terms.
Explain financial aid probation conditions and requirements for returning to good standing.
Apply financial aid policy to determine satisfactory academic progress and develop and maintain student academic progress monitoring processes.
Analyze and verify financial aid applications, resolve conflicts in applications and supporting documents, determine program eligibility and award levels, and package awards.
Develop and coordinate financial aid guides, brochures, flyers, posters, announcements, and newsletters; translate college forms and documents into Spanish and lead development of Spanish financial aid materials.
Monitor, create, and update financial aid webpages and electronic displays to keep information current and accurate.
Plan, review, update, and maintain the financial aid chatbot account.
Liaise with the webmaster and financial aid administration on new webpages, functionality, changes, and fixes.
Collaborate across teams to design graphic materials such as brochures, flyers, web graphics, banners, promotional items, and signage.
Provide outreach to students who do not meet satisfactory academic progress by phone, letters, and electronic media, and monitor persistence and academic performance.
Write, collect, analyze, and report financial aid student learning outcomes data for institutional effectiveness, program review, planning, and resource requests.
Attend conferences, meetings, and workshops to remain current on federal and state regulations.
Perform other related duties as assigned.