Financial Aid Technical Support Specialist

San Mateo County Community College District • Redwood City, CA

262d • $95,208 - $121,716

About The Position

The Financial Aid Technical Support Specialist performs complex technical work related to analyzing and resolving problems with the Financial Aid systems as they occur and in playing a key role in the testing documentation, and training of business processes related to Financial Aid. The Financial Aid Technical Support Specialist must possess a combination of functional and technical expertise and, under the supervision and direction of the Financial Aid Director, will assist ITS staff with research, analysis, and communication of policies and regulations and their impact on the District's enterprise software (Banner) and other systems configuration. Under direction, the employee compiles data for Financial Aid computer programs; analyzes data, reconciles computer program problems, and prepares statistical and other reports to document. Public contact is extensive, primarily including students, staff, other educational institutions, community organizations, business representatives, funding agencies, and the general public, for the purpose of exchanging policy and procedural information concerning eligibility criteria, assessment, and award packages, and related program services. A high degree of independent judgment and creativity is required to apply prescribed policies and guidelines to a variety of individual situations in order to arrive at appropriate recommendations. Consequences of errors in judgment could be costly in public relations, and employee time, and result in institutional liability and audit exceptions. The Financial Aid Technical Support Specialist can lead and direct the work of student assistants as assigned.

Requirements

• Associate's degree or the equivalent in business administration, accounting, or a closely related field OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three years of experience in a financial aid office with a strong background in computer solutions.
• A strong understanding of the Banner Enterprise System with familiarity with interactions between cashiering, admissions and records, and financial aid.
• Ability to navigate and work with multiple secure federal systems and including, but not limited to NSLDS, COD, EdConnect, and IFAP.
• Ability to manage compliance issues for federal, state, and District procedures and regulations.
• Ability to develop creative solutions to use federally prescribed operations to test and operate District software solutions.
• Demonstrated cultural competence, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds of community college students, faculty and staff.
• Demonstrated skill in oral and written communication, including public speaking.
• Experience leading the work of others.
• Demonstrated skill in the use of a variety of software for compiling data, composing and preparing reports, correspondence, memoranda and other written materials.
• Demonstrated skill in detailed recordkeeping and the use of a database.
• Demonstrated skill in working as part of a customer service team.

Responsibilities

• Maintains currency with Federal and State regulations that may have an effect on financial aid processing and plays a lead role in the research, understanding, and interpretation of policies and regulations and their effect on system configuration.
• Completes necessary research and analysis to communicate with ITS and other staff configuration requirements needed for compliance with policies and regulations.
• Participates in community outreach activities to promote financial aid and enrollment services; drives a motor vehicle to attend off-site meetings, workshops, recruitment programs, and other special events to obtain and provide current information.
• Leads the effort to prepare training documentation and to train other staff on policies and procedures.
• Generates various reports and letters and coordinates automation with ITS.
• Works closely with ITS staff in configuring and testing the annual new year roll setup, Banner upgrades, and related system changes as well as current and forthcoming software from the Department of Education and California Student Aid Commission for monitoring, processing, and reporting of grants, scholarships, loans, and other sources of financial assistance.
• Exchanges financial aid and enrollment services policy and procedural information with students, parents, staff, other educational institutions, community organizations, business representatives, funding agency personnel, and the general public.
• Serves as a technical resource for the College and District regarding financial aid and various student-related services.
• Makes presentations to small and large groups regarding available loans and grants, eligibility criteria, programs and services offered, required forms and timelines, and other information.
• Conducts detailed data assessments in order to select appropriate loans, grants, and other programs for students based on eligibility and need; assists supervisory staff on special and regular projects and reports as assigned; monitors program expenditures using prescribed funding agency and District policies and financial guidelines.
• Confers with or attends training opportunities from government and funding agencies regarding immigration, tax, residency, and other eligibility issues.
• Meets with students to assess their financial aid eligibility, student standing, and projected financial and enrollment service needs.
• Computes and compiles data using various databases from student and funding agency records in conjunction with other colleges, ITS, and other District staff.
• Prepares original correspondence, narratives, memoranda, and research data reports in support of programs and services and to document eligibility.
• Tracks and reports on trends in student population changes, economic status, college completion rates, student usage of related college services, and other data.
• Researches data for and completes required funding agency and District reports and surveys.
• Compiles confidential and other data to assess and document student income status, expenditures and projected budgets, enrollment status, grades, employment records, immigration status, residency, tax filing status, and other information and initiates awards for students.
• Analyzes and verifies students' records using electronic or paper-supporting documentation to identify errors, correct data, and reprocess changes in student records as required.
• Identifies and reports anomalies or other information that may identify potential fraud or misuse of State or Federal funds.
• Uses a variety of computer systems, software, and to set up, maintain, and monitor confidential and other student records and files.
• Confers with students, staff, and others, as applicable to resolve complex application and eligibility issues.
• Leads the work of clerical and other staff on special projects and other workloads as assigned.

Benefits

• Paid holidays, vacation and sick leave.
• The District pays all or a portion of monthly medical plan premiums (depending on the coverage) and pays all of the monthly dental and vision plan premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
• Additional paid include life insurance, salary continuance insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Classified employees participate in the Public Employees' Retirement System, a defined-benefit retirement plan through the State of California.
• Optional tax-deferred 403(b) and 457 retirement plans are also available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Associate degree