Financial Aid Technician I

Taft College; Taft (CA); On-site; USD 35,817 - 38,572; Full time

Job summary

Taft College is seeking a Financial Aid Clerk to support the Financial Aid & Scholarships office and assist students with the loan process and enrollment steps.

You will manage front desk operations, handle inquiries via phone, email, and mail, and help prepare materials for department presentations. Experience in a college setting and working with Banner is desirable for this role.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; 1 year of office experience.
• Strong communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to work with diverse student population and manage sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Provide clerical support in the Financial Aid & Scholarships department, including scheduling appointments and guiding students to enroll.
• Communicate with students to clarify needs, schedule appointments, and refer to the correct department or provide necessary forms.
• Research, develop and update forms for student loans and assist with counseling and eligibility determinations.

Skills

Clerical skills

Customer service

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Banner

Job description

If you need an accommodation to access any content on this page or assistance with completing an application, please contact our office at [phone].

Welcome to Taft College! We are pleased you have chosen Taft College as an institution to pursue your career goals.

Taft College prides itself as a small, comprehensive institution with a wide range of educational programs and support services to students. We offer approximately 50 degrees and 50 certificates in transfer education and career-technical education programs. Our enrollment of nearly 12,000 students at our campus in Taft, through our partnership with Westec in Shafter, CA, and through our Distance Learning Program, have access to innovative, caring faculty members and the support programs needed to promote student success.

Taft College is ready to help you achieve your career goals and realize your dreams! We are committed to your success and welcome you to Taft College.

Priority Application Deadline August 9th, 2026. Position will remain open until filled.

Representative Duties

The following duties are typical of those performed by employees in the classification, however, employees may perform other related duties not listed and each employee necessarily performs not all duties listed.

• Provide clerical support in the Financial Aid & Scholarships department which includes scheduling appointments and referring students to the next step to enroll at Taft College.
• Communicate effectively with students, seeks clarification to accurately decipher the student’s need and schedule appointments with the correct person and refer them to the appropriate department, or provide them with appropriate forms.
• Provide professional information and assistance to students in person, by telephone, email or regular mail in regards to financial aid programs.
• Research, develop and update forms and documents required for student who seek to obtain a student loan with Taft College.
• Conduct and/or ensure completion of entrance and exit counseling as well as master promissory note for all loan recipients.
• Oversee daily operations of the front desk, including dissemination and clarification to student workers.
• Processes application and determines eligibility.
• Assist with the coordination of staff and student worker schedules.
• Assist in hiring and training student workers.
• Assist Director in the collection and compilation of Financial Aid data and statistics from various sources, including electronic databases and enterprise systems such as Banner; independently assembles and summarizes information as directed.
• Assist in gathering and preparing materials for department presentations.
• Operate a variety of office equipment including a copier, scanner, fax machine, computer and assigned software. Arranges for computer system modifications, maintenance and repairs as needed.
• Work with IT to ensure the department scanning systems, document readers, and desktop computers are in working order.
• Maintain calendar record for the Director.
• Collect, manage and prepare Financial Aid Petitions and supporting documentation for Financial Aid Appeals Committee meetings.
• Notify students of the decision made by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee in regards to their petitions in a timely manner.
• Assist with the coordination of CalFresh outreach, application completion and follow up services for identified eligible students.
• Assist in the preparation and dissemination of financial aid information.
• Perform a variety of specialized clerical duties such as maintaining electronic Financial Aid file system, typing, data entry and retrieval, reception and general office support and sending out mass emails.
• Attend meetings as assigned and provides administrative staff support, including taking notes and preparing minutes.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of

• Federal and state rules and regulations pertaining to the financial aid process.
• Clerical and office skills.
• Complex and changing state and federal regulations and procedures, including tax forms.
• College policies regarding satisfactory academic progress.
• Accounting procedures and programs for balancing accounts, calculating eligibility, maintaining, and reporting financial records.
• Program referral procedures.
• Effective methods of working with the public.
• Effective written and oral skills.
• Basic research and evaluation methods.
• Basic filing methods.
• Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.
• General secretarial skills and techniques.
• Organizational and prioritization skills.
• Accurate recordkeeping operations and guidelines.

Ability to

• Learn District processes and procedures, rules, laws and regulations.
• Learn financial aid programs and procedures.
• Interpret and explain financial aid processes, rules and eligibility requirements.
• Keep files current, accurate and in order.
• Analyze and comply with requested data, reports and fiscal operations.
• Make presentations to public, parents and students.
• Read and interpret laws, rules and regulations.
• Be efficient, well organized and maintain neatness.
• Work independently with minimal direction.
• Follow guidelines and directions as directed.
• Meet the public, students, and faculty and staff cordially and effectively.
• Provide customer service.
• Enter and retrieve computer information accurately.
• Use a computer database and interpret computer data.
• Communicate with administrators, faculty, staff, students and the public.
• Perform arithmetic calculations with accuracy.
• Communicate effectively orally, in writing, manage time sensitive tasks, and maintain confidentiality.
• Take responsibility and use professional judgment based on established guidelines and procedures.
• Assume responsibility for routine clerical detail.
• Apply knowledge of modern office practices and equipment including expert use of computers for word processing, record management and filing systems.
• Work effectively and demonstrate currency of knowledge with computers and other forms of advanced technology utilized in providing high quality services.
• Establish and maintain comprehensive and accurate files and records; prepare concise and complete reports as required.
• Quickly learn a variety of technological programs, and use them all on a daily basis.

Physical Requirements

• Vision sufficient to read documents and computer terminal displays.
• Speech and hearing to communicate in person or by telephone.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to use a variety of office equipment, computer keyboards and to handle paper.
• Sit for long periods.
• Ability to lift and carry 25 pounds such as paper and reports.
• Ability to bend and reach to retrieve and file supplies, equipment and documents.

Reasonable accommodations will be made for candidates and employees with physical disabilities.

Community college campus serving a diverse student population and with an emphasis on student success. Work is primarily performed in busy office environment serving students, staff and the public.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent and one (1) year of experience working in an office setting; and
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomics, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

Desirable Qualifications

• Prior experience in public education in a Financial Aid office;
• Prior experience with Banner.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, 12-month per year positions with fantastic benefits. At Taft College, you will enjoy a comprehensive fringe benefits package, including District-paid medical, dental and vision coverage for yourself and your dependents. We also offer a generous vacation plan to help you recharge. In addition, you'll be eligible to participate in the CalPers or CalStrs retirement systems, with the option to enhance your retirement savings through 457b and 403b optional retiremene plans. This is an incredible opportunity to secure both your present and future while working with a dynamic team.

This position is a Range 19 on the Classified Salary Schedule with a range of $25.73-$28.36 per hour.

Application Requirements

The West Kern Community College District is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. The District is dedicated to a policy of nondiscrimination and, as such, is an equal opportunity employer. Veterans, women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. This employer participates in E-Verify.

Disclaimer

This program is categorically funded and continued employment is dependent upon adequate funding.