Financial Aid Advisor

Employment Opportunity

Are you interested in creating an amazing educational environment for students who are part of an equity driven community? Staff at Cabrillo College support quality programs and services to students that promote their diverse and evolving needs as they progress toward their individual educational goals. Come join us in our vision to improve the world, one student at a time!

This full-time, 12 month per year Financial Aid Advisor performs specialized duties involving financial aid programs.

The ideal candidate will share Cabrillo's commitment to educating its racially and socioeconomically diverse student population. Cabrillo College serves approximately 11,400 students per term, of which 44% are LatinX, 5% multi-ethnic, 2.75% Asian, 1.25% African-American, 1% Filipino, 0.25% American Indian or Alaskan Native, and 0.18% Pacific Islander as of Fall 2019. In 2006, Cabrillo College was designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, reflecting the great responsibility that the College has to the educational attainment and economic well-being of the surrounding community.

As a classified staff member at Cabrillo College, you will join a vibrant community of professionals and educators working together to provide a positive educational environment where our students experience diverse academic and cultural perspectives.

Examples of Duties

• Works with students on a one-on-one basis to provide such financial aid information
• Resolves difficult student financial aid problems by meeting with students and others as appropriate, obtaining additional information and exploring alternative sources of aid
• Provides instruction and technical direction to office staff
• Reviews, analyzes, and processes student applications for various types of financial aid and/or similar benefits in accordance with state, federal, and College guidelines
• Explains the benefits and requirements of various programs to students
• Assists students in completing applications and other materials
• Certifies students' eligibility for particular programs
• Provides information requiring the use of judgement and the interpretation of policies, laws, rules, and regulations
• Facilitates electronic data exchange processes required for receipt and transmission of data
• Researches, compiles, and prepares a variety of correspondence, periodic, and special reports, which requires the use of a computer and various software such as email, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and website management
• Conducts workshops for potential students, their parents, and school counselors to explain policies and procedures
• Prepares, edits, and updates brochures and other information related to financial aid programs
• Monitors ongoing status of students receiving aid
• Performs technical duties related to departmental computer systems including assisting with implementing, testing, and debugging program changes
• Keeps abreast of financial aid programs through informational workshops, conferences, and meetings which may require driving and travel; gathers and disseminates information to staff
• Works with the Lead Financial Aid Advisor on the annual Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) setup
• Maintains accurate records and files
• May provide bilingual and/or biliterate services to the monolingual and limited English speaking program participants and their parents
• Performs related duties as required or assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Equivalent to completion of two years of college with major coursework in business, accounting, social sciences or a related field and three years of increasingly responsible experience involving financial aid, public contact in student services, or a college setting.

Please note : Additional experience as outlined above may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis and possession of a four-year degree may reduce the work experience requirement to one year.

Desirable:

• Experience in reviewing and processing student financial aid applications
• Experience using Colleague

Knowledge of:

• Federal and state laws and College rules and regulations relating to financial aid for students
• Business data processing principles and the database model used for financial aid applications
• Recordkeeping principles and procedures
• Standard office practices and procedures
• Business mathematics
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Basic supervisory principles and practices

Ability to:

• Resolve financial aid problems in a creative manner
• Interpret, explain and apply complex rules, and procedures
• Analyze and evaluate alternatives, recommend solutions, and assist students to obtain the maximum financial assistance available
• Organize and prioritize work
• Determine eligibility for a variety of federal, state, and district grants, services, loans, and other financial assistance
• Operate a computer to prepare clear and concise correspondence and reports, using various software such as word processing, spreadsheet, website management, and database
• Coordinate multiple projects and meet critical deadlines
• Demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and the community
• Instruct others in work procedures
• Interview students and obtain required information
• Use initiative and sound judgment within established procedural guidelines
• Maintain accurate records and files
• Maintain confidentiality of information
• Make accurate mathematic calculations
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships

Other Requirements:

• Possession of and ability to maintain a valid California driver's license and a safe driving record during the course of employment or be otherwise able to get to work related activities
• Must be willing to work evenings and weekends

Additional Information

Starting Salary Range : $4,222 to $4,655 per month; maximum initial salary step placement on the classified salary schedule is step 3. Full-time assignment, 12 months per year. Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with occasional evenings as required. Position scheduled to begin as soon as possible, pending continued funding and Governing Board ratification. Salary is subject to proration based on beginning date of assignment.

Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, life, short and long term, and vision (optional) insurance provided at a share of cost on a pretax basis, CalPERS Retirement and an Employee Assistance Program. Please see the Benefits link on the HR webpage for more information.

Application Process:

1. Completed application
2. Resume
3. Answer Supplemental Questions
4. Attach/Include at least one of the following:

• Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended showing degree(s) conferred (copies, and downloads are acceptable). Foreign transcripts must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency at the applicant’s expense – click here for more information OR
• Experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis. Applicant must provide written evidence that proves additional experience is equivalent by including such experience within the application for purposes of substitution.

Please note: All application materials must be received by 11:59 pm on the closing date indicated above.

Attention Applicants
Only completed applications with the above required documents will be reviewed by the committee. Application materials not required (including reference letters) for this position will not be reviewed. Remove personally identifiable information such as personal photos, social security number, birth date, age, and gender from your application materials. Expenses related to the recruitment process are the responsibility of the applicant. Cabrillo is unable to sponsor work visas. A position eligibility pool may be established in order to fill other full-time, part-time, or substitute assignments as needs arise.

Selection Procedure
A search committee will review and invite applicants for an interview. Meeting the posted requirements does not guarantee an interview. A written performance exercise and/or presentation may be a part of the interview, and finalists may be invited to return for a second interview. All notifications will be via email, and by accessing your application profile .

Conditions of Employment
Selected candidates given a conditional offer of employment are required to submit tuberculosis screening clearance results, official transcripts, proof of eligibility to work in the United States, and present their Social Security card upon hire (for payroll purposes).

EEO Statement
Cabrillo College is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks a diverse pool of qualified applicants. The policy of the College is to encourage applications from all persons. No person shall be denied employment because of ethnicity or race, color, sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, medical conditions, status or protected veteran status.

Accommodations
Persons with disabilities who require reasonable accommodation to complete the employment process must notify Human Resources at (831) 479-6217.