What are the responsibilities and job description for the Financial Aid Specialist (LTO) position at Cabrillo College?
Please apply for this job directly on the Cabrillo College job opportunities page here.
Employment Opportunity
To qualify for this internal lateral transfer opportunity, you must be a current Classified or Confidential employee of Cabrillo College and meet all of the following eligibility requirements:
Successful completion of your probationary period- Placed at Range 36 or higher on the Classified salary schedule or Range I or higher on the Confidential salary schedule
- Meet the qualifications of the lateral transfer opportunity as noted in the “Minimum Qualification” section of this job announcement
Unsure of your salary range? Visit HR’s website to view the salary schedule for Classified or Confidential for this position.
Under general supervision, this full-time, twelve (12) months per year Financial Aid Specialist performs technical duties related to the review and processing of student financial aid information; provides information, assistance and reviews student financial aid applications; performs departmental administrative support duties; and performs related duties as assigned.
The ideal candidate will share Cabrillo's commitment to educating its racially and socioeconomically diverse student population. Cabrillo College serves approximately 10,500 students per term. As of the 2025 Academic Year, 71% of Cabrillo students are members of minoritized populations, identifying themselves as LatinX (49%), Multi Ethnic (20%), Asian (1%), Black Non-Hispanic (<1%), Filipino (<1%), American Indian/Alaskan Native(<1%), and Pacific Islander (<1%). 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.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Starting Salary Range: $4,660 to $5,394 per month; plus 5% annual increases up to step 7. The maximum initial salary step placement on the classified salary schedule is step 4. This is a full-time (40 hours per week) assignment, 12 months per year, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., with evenings and weekends as required.
Classified employees are required to join the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and, as such, contribute 8% of their monthly salary to CalPERS on a pre-tax basis. Position scheduled to begin as soon as possible, pending continued categorical funding and Governing Board ratification. Salary is subject to proration based on the beginning date of assignment. Cabrillo is unable to sponsor work visas.
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.
Work-Life Balance: This opportunity is a full-time assignment, 12 months per year. Classified employee benefits include:
- Twelve (12) days vacation leave accrued annually; rate increases up to a maximum of twenty (20) days at year ten (10)
- Twelve (12) days of sick leave accrued annually, seven (7) of which can be used as Personal Necessity days annually
- Nineteen (19) paid holidays annually
- Five percent (5%) Longevity award annually after ten (10) years of service with increases to fifteen percent (15%) at twenty (20) years
- Professional Growth educational incentive program
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
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this class.
- Performs financial aid customer service at a front desk, via email or over the phone; answers escalated questions and explains financial aid processes, procedures, rules and guidelines; explains and assists students with understanding and completing financial aid applications and forms; explains deadlines and disbursement dates; refers students to other departments as necessary to obtain required documentation
- Performs administrative financial aid support functions requiring specialized knowledge of financial aid application and work processes; reviews financial aid documents and applications for completeness and consistency of information and forwards to Financial Aid Advisor; verifies student status and academic progress; prepares, verifies, processes and posts information and documents to various records.
- Processes award verification requests from students and outside agencies.
- Monitors financial aid department budget allocations and expenditures; maintains financial and statistical records and prepares reports; assists in developing program budgets, objectives, and procedures within District guidelines.
- Runs queries and reports to track and notify students of financial aid eligibility; assists higher-level Financial Aid staff with data entry of student records and access to reports and data; assists with tracking of payments to students.
- Oversees the logistics of and participates in outreach and in-reach events, activities, and workshops.
- Provides backup to student services front counter support staff.
OTHER DUTIES
- Demonstrates sensitivity to and understanding of diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff.
- Assists with the recruitment, hiring, and training of student employees; monitors work for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with District, department, and legal/regulatory requirements and standards.
- Participates in financial aid department marketing, including preparation of informational materials and publications; updates and maintains the department website and social media accounts.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
- Understanding of, and sensitivity to, the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, disability, and sexual orientation, of community college students, faculty, and staff; AND
- Graduation from an associate degree program with coursework in finance or accounting, AND
- At least three years of progressively responsible clerical support experience in student services or customer support; OR
- An equivalent combination of training and experience.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
- Financial aid department goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and practices.
- Customer service practices and telephone etiquette.
- Common issues and challenges facing a diverse population of community college students.
- District rules, policies, and procedures applicable to departmental and division operations.
- Basic research methods and analysis techniques.
- Modern office practices, procedures, and equipment, including advanced knowledge of computers and applicable software programs and specialized financial aid databases and systems.
- Basic knowledge of federal, state, and local financial aid programs and regulations.
- Applicable sections of the California Education Code, Title V, and other applicable laws.
- The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and other District, state, and federal laws, rules, regulations, and policies governing student records.
Skills and Abilities to:
- Perform administrative support duties for financial aid programs and services.
- Provide customer service in person, over the phone, and via email.
- Comprehend requests for information or assistance; maintain a courteous and tactful manner when under pressure or in an antagonistic situation.
- Calculate, track, and report financial and statistical information utilizing complex spreadsheets and databases.
- Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential student issues and situations.
- Maintain the confidentiality of District and student files and records.
- Compose clear, concise and comprehensive correspondence, reports, studies, agreements, presentations and other written materials.
- Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
- Operate a computer and use standard business software.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
- Uphold the District’s mission, values and objectives, including equity and Guided Pathways.
- Support an inclusive work environment that fosters diversity, respect, and engagement.
LICENSES, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
A valid California driver’s license or ability to access and use alternative transportation.
Additional Information
Starting Salary Range: $4,660 to $6,245 per month; plus 5% annual increases up to step 7. This is a full-time (40 hours per week) assignment, twelve (12) months per year, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., with evenings and weekends as required.
Application Process:
- Complete the application with a minimum of three (3) professional references and answer all supplemental questions; provide detailed information to aid in determining that the minimum qualification requirements have been met
- Attach resume
- Attach all unofficial transcripts for college coursework completed, if applicable (copies, photos, and downloads are acceptable), displaying any degrees conferred. Foreign transcripts must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency at the applicant’s expense
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 cover letters or letters of recommendation) 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.
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 can also be accessed through your application profile.
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 cabrillohr@cabrillo.edu.
Questions? Concerns? Please contact HR as Departments, Divisions, and Committee Members are unable to discuss active recruitments with potential candidates.
Salary : $4,660 - $6,245