Financial Aid Technician

Under general supervision from assigned manager, performs programmatic, technical, and administrative duties in support of financial aid programs and services; receives, reviews, validates, and analyzes financial aid applications; performs needs analysis and determines eligibility and awards in accordance with District policies and procedures and federal, state, and local requirements; assists students in the completion of student financial aid forms, analysis of tax information, and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) calculations; and monitors and reconciles Federal Work Student program expenditures.

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.

Reviews and processes applications and verification forms; determines student eligibility for federal and state grants, loans, and Federal Work Study (FWS) and California College Promise Grant (CCPG) programs using federal methodology, needs analysis, and state-defined income criteria; establishes initial cost of attendance for each student; identifies circumstances for alternative processing; requests and reviews records and information from federal, state, and judicial organizations; verifies information required by the U.S. Department of Education; identifies, confirms, and adjusts federal, state, and other data to resolve discrepancies or conflicts of parental or student data between applications and supporting documents; finalizes corrected data elements and sets record clearance for financial aid packaging. Verifies and reviews financial aid materials and applications for completeness and compliance, including Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act (CADAA) student records, files, and reports.Maintains adherence to federal and state regulations while completing a variety of Professional Judgment Appeals, including, but not limited to, dependency override, Expected Family Contribution (EFC) appeals, cost of attendance adjustments and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeals.Serves and participates on the Financial Aid Advisory Committee (FAAC); conducts research and analysis of documentation to calculate adjustments to determine student eligibility; processes Professional Judgement files; recognizes and maintains readiness for situations requiring Title IX reporting, as these petitions may require intervention.Participates in fund management for assigned programs; coordinates and maintains award records, data, and activities; monitors entitlements and earnings; provides periodic reports; performs fund expenditure projections; monitors year to date spending; coordinates with other department regarding disbursement of fund programs and student holds to outstanding college debt.Processes student employment requests for District Student Help (DSH), Federal Work Study (FWS), CalWorks Work Study (CWWS), International Student Employees, Community Service, America Reads, and other programs; processes and maintains awards for FWS and CWWS; runs reports to ensure continued eligibility of FWS funds; assists in mandatory annual federal work study reporting; partners with Human Resources to ensure compliance with federal and state employment laws; collects student employment job descriptions; posts and maintains job listing board and department website; monitors enrollment status and SAP of student employees; collects forms and verifies authenticity of supporting documents required for compliance; updates and maintains Supervisor Manual and Student Employee Handbook; ensures compliance with rules and regulations.Verifies eligibility and post awards for special student support programs, including, but not limited to, Extended Opportunity Programs (EOPS), Next Up, and Chafee; maintains resource postings for special programs, including, but not limited to, Puente and Umoja programs; coordinates efforts with special populations staff to ensure financial aid benefits are delivered efficiently and effectively to students; posts book vouchers and awards, corrects aid amounts for special programs, confirms budgets, and processes special circumstances for unmet need issues for students to continue to receive grants or federal aid.Facilitates financial aid processes to ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional laws, regulations, and policies; ensures award amounts are correct each semester and award notifications are sent out on disbursement days; corrects award notifications, as needed; posts Veterans Waivers and uploads information to District tracking systems; maintains accurate case management and intercommunications by logging summary of actions taken on each file and correspondence with students; assists in the preparation of annual audit or program review. Serves as a point of contact to students, parents, District staff, and the public; provides technical information and subject matter expertise regarding financial aid programs, services, benefits, and their applicability to individual situations; instructs students in proper completion of forms and applications; explains application requirements and restrictions; notifies ineligible applicants; explores and resolves conflicts or mitigating circumstances; assists in coordinating and participates in outreach events; composes and presents informational materials on the various financial aid types and how to acquire and retain financial aid funds; promotes realistic expectations for students related to California College Promise Grant (CCPG) tuition waivers, Pell Grants, loans, and scholarships. Checks and confirms homeless eligibility with director or designee of a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded shelter, Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) funded shelter, transitional living program, or other administrator; awards California College Promise Grant (CCPG) and priority registration for homeless students; complies with California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) mandates to prepare and submit required data or reports related to homeless Management Information Systems (MIS) data.Performs and monitors data imports of Federal Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) data; ensures comment codes with default or overpayments are present and comment codes selected by students are reflected for verification.Monitors Pell Grant files from the US Department of Education of Federal ISIRs selected for verification; reviews and verifies student disbursement documents and communicates with department staff to confirm overpayments and requests notification letter be provided to student; provides student with next steps to complete verification within established timeframes.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; schedules and manages appointments; 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.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 regarding changes and new regulations.Participates in reporting duties; assists in gathering, compiling, auditing, maintaining, and analyzing data for the maintenance and preparation of records and reports; identifies required data elements to create database queries; creates selection sets; coordinates with District staff to obtain data; researches and adjusts error reports.Performs Return to Title IV processes; pulls baseline reports; analyzes information to determine correct date of withdraw; calculates institutional charges and portions of a students unearned aid and amount to be returned to the funding source.Participates in mid-term transfer activities, including updating and maintaining reports; informs National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) regarding mid-year transfers for Title IV aid; accesses “alerts” sent to schools by NSLDS and monitors changes in student eligibility of Title IV aid; identifies new information generated by NSLDS Alert Program regarding new loads, disbursements, and changes in outstanding principal balance of loans; analyzes relevant information that could affect student eligibility and disbursement for Pell Grant and Title IV loans.Works to mitigate potential fraud by looking for inconsistencies in reported information and verifying the identity of students flagged by the U.S. Department of Education or Sierra College; enters identity findings in national databases, including Financial Aid Administrators (FAA) Access; assists manager with compiling documentation to support investigations by the Office of Inspector General.Provides onboarding support, general work training, guidance, supervision assistance, and directs activities of students or temporary employees.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 subsidized or unsubsidized loans and plus loans.
• Sierra College and operations of the Financial Aid Department and other student service departments.
• U.S. Department of Education verification requirements.
• 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), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Return to Title IV, and applicable laws governing student employment.
• 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 and student employment processing.
• 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 financial aid and other student loan applications, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act (CADAA).
• Make presentations to groups.
• 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 average to above-average 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: Tue, 23 Sep 2025

• 

• Sierra Community College District

• (916) 660-7100

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