Los Angeles Community College District

Performs moderately complex assignments related to identifying, defining, troubleshooting, and resolving student financial aid transactional and business process issues and developing requirements and specifications for financial aid system/module development and modification while receiving on-the-job training in more advance skills in the preparation for promotion to higher-level specialist positions.

Under the guidance of a financial aid manager and higher-level business analysts, performs a variety of moderately complex assignments related to:

• Auditing of student financial aid transactional data, reports, financial aid system functionalities
• Consulting with financial aid system users to discuss operational problems, needs, and objectives
• Identifying opportunities for improved business processes
• Developing requirements/specifications for new systems/module
• Writing documentation for business processes and modifications
• Participating in discussion with IT systems and programming staff engaged in analyzing, designing, coding, implementing, maintaining, and modifying technology components of financial aid information technology systems and applications
• Testing of financial aid system modification
• Responding to questions for users related to usage of PeopleSoft and legacy DEC systems functionality

Receives on-the-job training from higher-level business analysts in the tools and application of business process analysis and management and feature of PeopleSoft and legacy DEC financial aid modules.

May perform technical work in the absence of assigned personnel and during peak workload periods.

Performs related duties as assigned.

An Assistant Financial Aid Systems Specialist applies a thorough knowledge of student financial aid Federal and state regulations, requirements and procedural guidelines and basic understanding of PeopleSoft and legacy DEC financial aid systems to moderately complex level assignments in student financial aid business process review and system maintenance and development. Assignments are selected to enhance the employee’s skills and professional development in the preparation for promotion to higher-level specialist positions.

A Financial Aid Systems Specialist through continuous audit and user consultation identifies and defines student financial aid transactional, business process, and financial aid system issues; reviews and translates departmental requirements into specifications based on a thorough understanding of Federal and state regulations, requirements and procedural guidelines and PeopleSoft and legacy DEC financial aid systems; performs testing, and maintenance tasks; and serves as a technical resource to financial aid office staff at both the District Office and colleges.

Immediate supervision is received from a manager or higher-level analyst. Work direction may be provided to technical and clerical financial aid staff.

Knowledge of:

Federal and state regulations, requirements, and procedural guidelines pertaining to governmentally-funded programs of student financial assistance

Eligibility requirements and application procedures for financial aid programs 

Goals and objectives of the District and Division of Finance as they relate to financial aid operations

Characteristics and capabilities of state-of-the-art technology related to financial aid administration including PeopleSoft, and legacy DEC financial aid systems/modules

Capabilities of computer applications, systems, and hardware used in financial aid operations

Principles and methods of system developing operational process specifications and documentation

Principles of work simplification and modification

Basic principles of training and coaching

Ability to:

Assemble and review facts, and draw sound conclusions related to financial aid system problems

Write elements of the technical specifications for the development and improvement of business processes and related technology systems

Document operational processes, functions, and procedures involving PeopleSoft and legacy DEC financial aid modules

Perform routine testing tasks related to PeopleSoft and financial aid systems modules

Effectively utilize computer equipment and software in the performance of duties

Express concepts clearly and concisely both orally and in writing

Interpret and apply applicable federal and state regulations, requirements, and procedures to financial aid operations

Write clear and comprehensive reports, documents, instructions, and training materials

Provide work direction to others in specialized financial aid processes and the use of related technology systems

Work effectively and independently on assigned projects

Meet work deadlines

Work effectively and cooperatively with administrators, functional and technical team members, and users

Learn PeopleSoft and legacy DEC financial aid modules

Education and Experience:

A.  A bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university, preferably with a major in accounting, finance, economics, business administration, public administration, or a related field AND one year of recent, full-time, paid, experience in a technical financial aid position which included assistance in business process review, design, or modification in an ERP environment such as PeopleSoft.

OR

B.  An associate degree from a recognized college or university, preferably with course work in accounting, finance, economics, business administration, public administration, or a related field AND three years of recent, full-time, paid experience in in a technical financial aid position which included assistance in business process review, design, or modification in an ERP environment such as PeopleSoft.

Special:

A valid Class "C" California driver's license may be required for some positions.

Travel to locations throughout the District may be required for some positions.

• Medical and dental insurance and vision care plans are provided for employees and their dependents.
• A $50,000 life insurance policy is provided free of charge for each employee.
• New employees receive 12 full-pay days and 88 half-pay days of illness leave.
• 19 paid holidays per year.
• Vacation days accrue annually beginning at 10 days and increasing incrementally to 24 days depending on years of service with the District. Vacation days for management and confidential positions begin at 15, 20, or 24 days.
• Other paid time off includes: bereavement leave, personal necessity leave, court subpoena, and jury duty.
• Employees become members of the Public Employees Retirement System. Employees are also covered by Social Security.
• Employee Assistance Program

Our class specification generally describes the duties, responsibilities, and requirements characteristic of the position(s) within this job class. The duties, responsibilities, and requirements of a particular position within this class may vary from the duties of other positions within the class.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Los Angeles Community College District provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with covered disabilities on a case-by-case basis throughout the application, examination, and hiring processes and throughout employment. If an individual is in doubt about their ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of a position or possession of any other requirement noted in a class specification or job announcement, they should always apply for a position and request reasonable accommodation at the appropriate time.