Financial Aid Analyst

Location

Orange, CA

Job Type

Full-Time, 40 hours/week; 12 months/year

Job Number

CL25-01213

Division

SCC Enrollment Support Services

Department

Financial Aid

Opening Date

07/17/2025

Closing Date

8/12/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

California School Employees Association 579

Start Date

Contingent upon the Board of Trustee's approval.

Site

Santiago Canyon College

2024 CSEA Annual Salary

Grade 11: $61,300.66 - $78,290.33

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Position Duration

This position is grant- and/or categorically funded, and its continuation is contingent upon the grant's renewal or availability of categorical funds. The District reserves the right to extend, modify, or eliminate this position by this end date or based on the availability of funds.

Description

Benefits

POSITION DETAILS

About Rancho Santiago Community College District

Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is one of the most established districts in the state and has been in operation for nearly 50 years. Located in the heart of Orange County, it is one of the largest of California's 72 community college districts, based on the number of credit and non-credit students. RSCCD encompasses 25 percent of Orange County's total area and serves a population of more than 700,000 residents in the communities of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Santa Ana, Villa Park, and portions of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Tustin, and Yorba Linda. The district includes Santiago Canyon College and Santa Ana College, as well as the Centennial and Orange Continuing Education Centers, the Digital Media Center, the Joint Powers Fire Training Center, the Orange County Sheriff's Regional Training Academy, the College and Workforce Preparation Center, and the District Operations Center. RSCCD's three (3) auxiliary Foundations are actively involved in supporting both community and campus programs.

RSCCD’s student population is a direct reflection of the diverse communities in the surrounding neighborhoods. As a whole, the district has the honor of serving approximately 55,537 students: 51% Hispanic/Latinx, 20% White, 9% Asian & Filipino, and 2% are African American. RSCCD is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and serves predominately historically underrepresented students. There is a commitment to foster student centered values among our employees to provide equitable student learning, academic excellence, and workforce development. By delivering high-quality educational programs and student support services, the district ensures that students have the appropriate resources to achieve their goals.

At RSCCD, our mission is to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice into all aspects of student academics and employee relations. Thus, creating transformational experiences that prepares students and employees to engage in the world with a renewed sense-of-self. Through this commitment, Rancho Santiago Community College District strives to cultivate a learning environment that prioritizes respect, to ensure that RSCCD stakeholders feel valued and supported throughout their academic and professional careers.

About the Position

The ideal candidate will demonstrate cultural competency in serving diverse community college populations, including faculty, management, and students from varied ethnic, racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This includes those with differing abilities, AB 540 students, DACA recipients, Foreign Residents, VACA participants, and Continuing Education students. They will support RSCCD’s mission to promote self-awareness, knowledge, and communication skills, enabling all members of the college community to participate creatively and confidently in an ever-changing world.

Candidates will contribute to an inclusive and collaborative workplace culture that supports the diverse needs of faculty, management, staff, and students. They will effectively provide services and support to individuals with differing academic preparation levels and unique learning or workplace needs, ensuring equitable access and opportunities for success. Candidates should demonstrate cultural competency, sensitivity, equity-mindedness, and a commitment to anti-racism in all interactions and contributions. Through their role, they will empower students to achieve their educational and career goals while promoting a positive and inclusive environment where faculty and management can thrive, fostering creativity, confidence, and lifelong learning throughout the college community.

Class Summary

Under general supervision and the direction of the Financial Aid Administrator, performs a variety of complex and technical duties involved in providing financial aid assistance for students; exercises independent judgment to develop and award student financial aid packages in accordance with prescribed procedures, policies, and regulations; provides technical assistance and information to students, parents, and staff concerning program requirements, state and federal guidelines and eligibility determination.

Representative Duties

Serves as a resource to students, parents and staff; responds to questions and provides technical expertise and assistance through appointments, email and workshops; assists students at the counter; trains and provides work direction to financial aid technicians and office staff; advises students regarding financial aid opportunities and eligibility requirements; explains complex rules, regulations and guidelines; keeps abreast of federal and state laws and policies which affect financial aid programs; performs file verification; accepts packets for review and processing; performs final documentation of files and supplemental forms for accuracy, consistency, and completeness; analyzes students' and parent's circumstances; determines eligibility; corresponds with students to explain problem resolution and eligibility status; reviews and corrects student aid reports; performs needs analyses; determines tolerance level, student budget, veteran's benefits, and total family contribution to determine financial need; awards federal grants, work study, loans, state grants and fee waivers; performs revisions and cancellations of disbursements; prints award letters; evaluates special circumstances to override dependency status of students; maintains accurate data for management information systems and electronic payment voucher reports; develops and conducts workshops; receives and processes loan applications; determines amount of borrowing eligibility; evaluates academic progress, student budgets, grade level eligibility, length of program, family contribution, and prorated loan amounts; responsible for institutional certification signature on loan applications; prepares award letters; prepares and recertifies loan checks in coordination with the student business office; reconciles expenditures of loan funds using accounting procedures and completes required reports; acts as a liaison for students between the guarantor and lenders; interprets and implements current regulations; maintains student default list; responsible for correspondence concerning delinquency and default status and grace period notification; performs related duties as required.

Organizational Relationships

This classification reports to the designated administrator and directs the work of those assigned.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of: financial aid awarding and verification procedures, policies and regulations; state and federal regulations and guidelines concerning financial aid eligibility, application procedures, and program requirements; Electronic Needs Analysis System; use of a personal computer; operations, processes and activities of a college financial aid office; modern office practices, procedures, and equipment; interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy; financial and statistical record keeping techniques; oral and written communication skills; telephone techniques and etiquette; basic math; interview techniques and problem solving skills in a variety of sensitive situations.

Ability to: maintain current knowledge of guidelines, regulations and application procedures for a variety of financial aid programs; review financial aid applications to verify accuracy and completeness; analyze documentation according to specifically prescribed guidelines; maintain complex records, files and documents; work effectively with a diversity of students with special needs; read, interpret, apply and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures; communicate effectively and accurately with students and staff; perform a variety of tasks using independent judgment and decision making skills; establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with other staff members; meet schedules and timelines; work independently with minimal supervision, prioritizing responsibilities; present workshops in an articulate and organized manner.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

Training and Experience

Any combination of training and/or experience equivalent to four years of college coursework in business, accounting, social services, student services or related field and two years of increasingly responsible financial aid related field experience, including training and electronic needs analysis systems, financial aid awarding and student advisement.

Additional Qualifications

Candidate must demonstrate clear evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff, and the community.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To ensure full consideration, all applicants must submit a complete Rancho Santiago Community College District online application that includes the items listed below by the position's closing date. Recruitment will review all applications for completeness, and only complete application packets will be forwarded to the screening committee for further review.

A Complete Application Packet Must Include the Following:

RSCCD Online Application

Resume – details all relevant education, training, and other work experience

Academic Transcripts (unofficial copies are accepted)

Foreign Degrees

Transcripts from countries other than the United States must be evaluated by an agency that is approved by or a member of the National Association of Credentials Evaluation Service (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE), or Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

Application Screening

Job announcements will include screening criteria to be used during screening and interviews. This may include, but is not limited to:

Education experience (breadth and depth)

Work experience (breadth and depth)

Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with others

Bilingual ability (if needed)

Demonstrated experience and sensitivity to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Professional growth activities

Specialized skills training

Leadership skills

Written and/or oral communication skills

Presentation

Problem Solving.

Based on the information presented in the application materials, a limited number of candidates with qualifications most pertinent to the position will be invited to participate in the selection process, which may include a written test and an oral interview.

Meeting the position's minimum requirements does not guarantee advancement in the selection process. Candidate qualifications will be assessed to determine those who meet and exceed requirements and are deemed the most competitive in the applicant pool.

Interview

Applicants selected for an interview may be required to take additional tests or assessments and will be notified of such prior to the date of the interview. During the oral session, those selected for interviews will, in addition to the above, also be evaluated on the following factors:

Oral communication skills

Presentation

Problem-solving skills

A predetermined set of questions will be asked of all applicants interviewed. Applicants are requested to provide thorough yet concise information on their related experience to ensure the correct evaluation of their qualifications. Evaluation criteria will be applied consistently to all applicants.

Disability Accommodations

Individuals who require reasonable accommodations in the Application or Interviewing Process in accordance with ADA should notify the Recruitment Office in the Human Resources Division at least two days prior to the closing date, by calling (714) 480-7455.

Conditions of Employment

The selected candidate is required to complete the following before employment as part of the onboarding process:

Present original documents for proof of eligibility to work in the United States.

Provide a certificate of Tuberculosis Exam.

Fingerprints (by a Live Scan Agency at the candidate's expense, and clearance must be received before the first day of employment)

EEO STATEMENT

The Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is committed to the concept and principles of staff diversity and equal employment opportunity by prohibiting discrimination based on ethnic group identification, national origin, religion, age, sex, race, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, gender identity, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), marital status, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services, or on the basis of these perceived characteristics or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. Applications from all persons interested in the position are encouraged.

RSCCD will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional employment offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if RSCCD is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

Job Details

Financial Aid Analyst

About the Role: