Financial Aid Assistant

Kern Community College District; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 40,564 - 57,317; Full time

Job summary

Kern Community College District's Bakersfield campus seeks a Financial Aid Assistant to help students complete financial aid applications, verify eligibility, and guide them through the process. This position supports the Financial Aid department with clerical tasks and record-keeping.

Work involves answering inquiries, scheduling interviews, maintaining files, and producing notices and reports. The role requires strong English, accuracy, and the ability to handle interruptions in a busy office.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or equivalent with clerical experience.
• Proficient in standard office software and data entry.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to explain policies and guide students through forms.
• Maintains confidentiality and accurate record-keeping.

Responsibilities

• Provide assistance and information to students applying for financial aid; answer telephones and greet visitors; interpret and explain related rules, policies, procedures and regulations.
• Assist students in the completion of financial aid applications and verification forms; review documentation; determine applicant status; determine eligibility for fee waivers; schedule interview appointments.
• Perform clerical duties; compose routine correspondence; maintain filing systems; type and process forms and lists.
• Compile and maintain statistical information; prepare reports as required.
• Produce and mail verification forms and notices; update student records in computer systems.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Oral and written communication

Telephone etiquette

Office software

English grammar

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Two years general clerical experience

Job description

Financial Aid Assistant

Kern Community College District

Salary: $40,564.92 - $57,317.28 Annually35.0

Job Type: Classified

Job Number: FY25-2600448

Location: Bakersfield College -- Panorama Campus, CA

Department: Financial Aid

Basic Function

Under the direction of an assigned supervisor, provide assistance and information to students applying for financial aid; perform a variety of general clerical duties; maintain lists and statistics related to assigned activities.

Representative Duties

• Provide assistance and information to students applying for financial aid; answer telephones and greet visitors; interpret and explain related rules, policies, procedures and regulations.
• Assist students in the completion of financial aid applications and verification forms; review documentation; determine applicant status; determine eligibility for fee waivers; schedule interview appointments.
• Perform a variety of general clerical duties; compose routine correspondence; maintain filing systems; type and process various lists, forms and cards.
• Compile and maintain a variety of statistical information related to financial aid; prepare statistical reports as required.
• Produce and mail various verification forms and notices to students including award and eligibility letters; update student records in computer utilizing specialized software.
• Communicate with the public, other departments and outside agencies to exchange information; refer to appropriate financial aid staff; provide information on the availability of grants, loans and scholarships.
• Provide work direction and guidance to student workers.
• Attend various workshops and training seminars as assigned.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination equivalent to: graduation from high school and two years of general clerical experience.

Knowledge & Abilities

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Modern office practices, procedures and equipment.
• Telephone techniques and etiquette.
• Statistical record-keeping techniques.
• Operation of a computer, specified software and data entry techniques.
• Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
• Business letter composition and basic report preparation.

ABILITY TO

• Learn the financial aid application procedure.
• Maintain accurate and complete files and records.
• Learn and explain the scholarships, grants, loans and awards available through the college and the requirements of these programs.
• Learn, apply and explain laws, rules and regulations related to assigned activities.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Perform clerical duties such as filing, typing and duplicating materials.
• Answer telephones and greet the public courteously.
• Complete work with many interruptions.
• Compose correspondence and written materials independently.
• Operate office machines including a computer and specified software.
• Meet schedules and time lines.
• Work confidentially with discretion.

Important Instructions & Additional Information

Complete applications received by the "assured consideration date" above are guaranteed to be reviewed by Human Resources. If you apply after this date, there is no guarantee that your application will be reviewed. However, we still recommend that you apply because recruitments remain open until filled. The District and/or College reserves the right to extend time limits and/or repost or restart recruitments at any point.

Completed applications must include the following.

• Completed online application for employment
• Current resume
• Letter of interest (cover letter)
• List of 5 (five) professional references (entered in online application)
• Copy of legible transcripts (if required for the position)

It is your responsibility to redact or remove any personally identifiable information from all documents prior to uploading, including Social Security numbers, date of birth, photos, etc.

Equivalency for Minimum Qualifications

Applicants for faculty and educational administrator positions in California Community Colleges are required to meet certain minimum qualifications as provided by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and detailed in the Minimum Qualifications for Faculty and Administrators in California Community Colleges handbook. If you do not meet these minimum qualifications, you may still be eligible by completing the KernCCD Application for Equivalence process. Please see our Faculty Equivalency Process website for more information.

International or Foreign Degrees

Applicants with international or foreign degrees from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have their coursework evaluated by a professional association that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, INC. (ACEI). A copy of the evaluation must be submitted with your online application.

Accommodations

Applicants who require reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection process should contact Human Resources to make the necessary arrangements. (For more information, see our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Equal Employment Opportunities website.)

Discrimination Free Work Environment

Discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation of any person, military and veteran status, or the perception that a person has one or more of these characteristics is illegal and violates Kern Community College District policy.

The Kern CCD Equal Employment Opportunity Plan guides the development, implementation, and monitoring of the District's efforts to foster equal employment opportunities and workplace diversity.

Work Authorization

Kern Community College District does not provide sponsorship for authorization to work in the United States. Work authorization should be established at the time of application submission.

E-Verify

The Kern Community College District participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify program to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, please visit e-verify.gov.

Helpful Links

• Kern Community College District
• Salary Schedules
• Job Descriptions
• Benefits
• Faculty Minimum Qualifications/Equivalency Process