Assistant Director of Financial Aid (Categorically Funded)

Assistant Director of Financial Aid (Categorically Funded)

Salary: $140,460.00 - $176,664.00 Annually
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: Assistant Director Fin Aid-26
Closing: 11/10/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Location: 11110 Alondra Blvd., Norwalk, CA
Department: Assistant Director Fin Aid-26
Division: Student Services

Description

Equity and Diversity

The District is strongly committed to achieving staff diversity and the principles of equal opportunity employment. The District encourages a diverse pool of applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation in any of its policies, procedures or practices. In fact, the college encourages applications from all segments of qualified people.

Closing Date
This position will close on November 10 , 2026 at 11:59 PM

College Profile

Cerritos College is ranked 14th among the top 100 schools with the highest Hispanic enrollment in the United States by the United States Department of Education. Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college's district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Enrollment currently averages 20,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at .

Department Profile

Cerritos College invites applications for the position of Assistant Director of Financial Aid, a leadership opportunity within the Enrollment Services Division focused on expanding student access to financial aid resources and supporting student success.

The Enrollment Services Division includes Admissions & Records, Financial Aid, and School Relations. Together, these programs provide high-touch services that meet the needs of a diverse student population. The division supports students throughout their educational journey by conducting community outreach; processing applications for admission and financial aid; supporting placement and enrollment; disbursing financial aid; collecting payments; processing grades; evaluating records for graduation, certificates, and transfer; and providing official transcripts.

Under the supervision of the Dean of Enrollment Services, the Assistant Director of Financial Aid provides leadership and supervision for the Financial Aid department. The Assistant Director of Financial Aid ensures compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, leads staff development and training, oversees the technology used to award and disburse financial aid, and supervises daily departmental operations to expand students' access to financial aid resources.

Summary
Plans, supervises, assesses and evaluates the operations and activities of the District's Financial Aid department, including the coordination of other student financial resources; provides leadership and direction for the policies, procedures and operations involved with the awarding and delivery of all state and federal financial aid programs; determines financial aid eligibility; responsible for the training and scheduling of assigned personnel; coordinates department programs and services with college instructional programs; in coordination with Business Services management personnel, assures periodic review and reconciliation acts as liaison with college offices including Admission and Records, Career and Transfer Center, Counseling Services, Student Accessibility Services (SAS), Falcon's Nest, Student Equity Programs and other support services; assists in addressing concerns related to financial aid recipients; and performs a variety of highly responsible duties associated with financial aid administration in support of the Dean, Enrollment Services

Distinguishing Career Features
The Assistant Director of Financial Aid reports to the Dean, Enrollment Services and is responsible for organizing, implementing, and advancing programs and services that fulfills the District's mission. The position requires experience in student financial assistance, budget, state and federal regulations, culturally responsive counseling, and working with historically under-represented groups. The position requires demonstrated ability to organize and supervise student financial aid services to optimize service, implement best practice work routines, and develop internal controls assuring appropriate compliance with regulations and use of funds.

Job Duties

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervises the daily operations of the department including organizing services for effective service for financial aid, scholarship, grant and work study programs.
• Assists in developing and implementing goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the financial aid function and processes.
• Assists with completing fund reconciliation for Title IV programs, including Pell, FSEOG, Federal Work-Study, federal direct student loan programs and state financial aid programs.
• Selects, trains, motivates and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates trainings and responds to staff questions and concerns.
• Organizes, supervises, performs, and reviews work activities to ensure compliance with regulations, budgets, quality standards and deadlines. Identifies opportunities for continuously improving service.
• Oversees administration of a full range of financial aid programs including but not limited to loans, grants, scholarships, and other student aid programs.
• Oversees the business process of student applications and award eligibility.
• Analyzes and interprets federal and state regulations governing financial aid. Makes recommendations on implementation of policies, and incorporates into Board policies and administrative procedures as appropriate.
• Serves as the point of contact for federal regulations and compliance regarding federal and state financial aid programs, prepares and responds to external and internal audits related to financial aid programs.
• Assists with maintaining and communicating Board policies and administrative procedures in compliance with federal regulations and departmental and college policy. Performs quality control to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations and to minimize financial liability.
• Consults with and advises administrators, faculty, staff, and students regarding financial aid programs, policies, procedures, and problems. Serves on committees dealing with student financial aid.
• Develops proactive outreach, financial literacy, and student support strategies that increase awareness of financial aid opportunities, reduce barriers to application completion, and support recruitment, retention, completion, and equitable student success.
• Uses financial aid data, institutional research, and program assessment results to evaluate service delivery, identify equity gaps, improve processing timelines, strengthen student-centered practices, and recommend strategic improvements.
• Advises students, families, and the public on the procedural and technical aspects of financial aid programs, policies and procedures, and requirements. Provides assistance to the Counseling department on financial aid matters.
• Reviews and makes decisions regarding student appeals of satisfactory academic progress denied by the financial aid professional support staff/faculty.
• Develops and updates communications used to convey and describe financial aid programs and services in accordance with federal consumer information laws, including publications, forms, outreach, and website maintenance.
• Monitors fraudulent activity with college partners, assists with the implementation of fraud mitigation efforts college wide, responds to reports of fraudulent activity and reports information to required agencies.
• Maintains timely, accurate, accessible, and student-centered communications regarding financial aid eligibility, application steps, award status, deadlines, consumer information, and available resources across print, digital, and in-person service channels.
• Oversees technology-enabled financial aid processing, including system configuration, testing, data integrity, workflow automation, electronic records, security controls, and coordination with information technology.
• Coordinates and performs data management functions that include establishing and testing tables and fields for storing information and making computations, and design of data entry and retrieval screens for administering student accounts in coordination with the analyst in the department.
• Composes important, often sensitive and confidential reports and letters, memoranda and bulletins, requiring considerable independent judgment and discretion.
• Assist with the development of budgets and maximizes financial resources.
• Oversees monthly reconciliation of financial aid programs with fiscal services and disbursements to students on loans and grants, accessing computerized databases for information as necessary. Prepares reports for internal use and for compliance with external agency requirements.
• Coordinates with information technology services in the development, implementation, and upgrade of application systems within the department and to ensure up-to-date data entry screens, data fields, tables and other information is contained and accessible through the College's integrated student and business information systems.
• Assigns and/or performs research as assigned or required for external reporting. Prepares fiscal reports, financial statements, studies, surveys, and program reviews.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, procedures and automated business systems that guide or support the functional area. Develops operational policies and procedures that enhance the operations of the work section.
• Participates on committees, task forces, and special assignments.
• Trains staff as it relates to technology issues and regulatory requirements.
• Administers provisions of collective bargaining agreements and manages in compliance with Board policies and administrative procedures.
• Participates in the screening of and recommends selection of assigned personnel.
• Maintains currency of knowledge and skills related to the duties and responsibilities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications for Education and Experience

A master's degree in Business Administration, Management, Public Administration, Finance, Financial Management, Accounting, Higher Education, Administration/Leadership, or a closely related field, and at least four years of progressively responsible experience in student related services within an educational institution, including at least one year of supervisory or oversight experience; OR a bachelor's degree in one of the fields listed above, OR a closely related field, and at least five years of progressively responsible experience in student-related services within an educational institution, including at least one year of supervisory or oversight experience. Experience managing comprehensive financial aid operations, regulatory compliance, fiscal controls, technology systems, staff supervision, and student-centered service delivery.

Understanding of and sensitivity to meeting the needs of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic background of the student, community, and employee population.

Preferred Qualifications

• Oversight of technology enabled financial aid processing, including system configuration, testing data integrity, workflow automation, electronic records, and security controls.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, procedures and automated business systems that guide or support the department and the development of policies and procedures that enhance operations.

Supplemental Information

Knowledge and Skills

The position requires professional knowledge of:

• Theories, principles, and practices associated with higher education counseling, curriculum and instruction, matriculation, and student services.
• Development, maintenance and administration of a budget.
• Principles of functional leadership, training and performance evaluation.
• Pertinent federal and state laws and regulations.
• Development, maintenance and administration or processes assuring accurate, complete, and secure information technology resources.
• Learning and student success process, assessment, student learning outcomes, learning communities and application of technology.
• Strategic planning in organization and management practices, assessment, analysis and evaluation of programs, policies and administrative needs. 
• Specialized professional knowledge of the principles, trends, research, and developments of Financial Aid.
• Federal and state financial aid systems, reporting requirements, audit standards, fraud prevention practices, internal controls, satisfactory academic progress, professional judgment, verification, overaward prevention, return of Title IV funds, and institutional eligibility requirements.

The position requires demonstrated skill in:

• Developing assessment, teaching, and learning processes that enhance student success and outcomes.
• Organizing work and building an effective team to meet the needs of the assigned areas.
• Oral and written language sufficient to prepare reports and professional correspondence.
• Human relations/interpersonal skills to conduct performance reviews, deliver presentations, and convey technical information to a wide variety of audiences.
• Using data, technology, and continuous improvement methods to streamline financial aid processes, strengthen compliance, improve communication, and advance equitable access to financial aid resources.

Abilities

This position requires the ability to: 

• Learn, interpret, and ensure compliance with state and federal laws, Title 5, and other federal and state regulations as related to the responsibilities of the position.
• Learn, articulate, monitor, and assure accuracy of departmental functions carried out in online and other information technology environments.
• Be open to change and new methods in the assigned area of responsibility.
• Continuously engage in learning and self-improvement.
• Meet change with innovation to promote and meet the college mission.
• Organize, plan, develop, and write new programs, develop new concepts, analyze outcomes, and prepare clear and concise reports.
• Guide and direct others in goal achievement.
• Direct and facilitate development of personal and team perspectives, and develop and deliver training programs.
• Develop and monitor budgets and maximize financial resources.
• Work cooperatively and productively with internal and external constituencies.
• Advocate for shared governance, collegiality, staff cohesiveness and for the core values of the institution.
• Lead financial aid operations through regulatory change, system implementation, audit response, fraud prevention, and cross-functional collaboration with instructional, student services, fiscal services, information technology, and external agency partners.

Physical Abilities
The position requires the physical ability to:

• Function in an office environment performing work of primarily a sedentary nature with some requirement to move about campus and to off-campus locales.
• Use hearing and speech to make presentations to groups and carry on conversations over the phone and in person.
• See with sufficient visual acuity to read printed materials and computer screens.
• Use hand/arm/finger dexterity to retrieve work materials and operate standard office equipment.
• Work a flexible schedule which may include evenings, weekends, and split schedules.

Licenses and Certificates
Requires a valid driver's license.

Working Conditions
Work is performed indoors where minimal safety considerations exist.

Salary/Fringe Benefits

Grade 32 on District Management Salary Schedule ($11,705.00 - $14,722.00/month).

Health and welfare benefits include District contribution for medical/dental/vision benefits and employee life insurance ($50,000). (Cash in lieu option available on medical insurance.)

Participation in the Public Employee's Retirement System that is also integrated with Social Security or State Teacher's Retirement System

22 days annual vacation.

An annual stipend of $4,069 shall be provided to management employees with an earned doctorate degree.

Selection Procedure
After the application closing date, a search committee will review and invite the most qualified applicants for an interview. As these are highly competitive positions, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview. If you have questions or would like to follow-up regarding your application, please contact Human Resources at View email address on communitycolleges.academickeys.com as search committee members are unable to discuss specific recruitments.

Conditions of Employment

This is a full-time 12-calendar month categorically funded classified manager position. Employment is to be effective as soon as possible following completion of the selection process. Individual who is offered employment shall be required to obtain fingerprints for a criminal history clearance through the State Department of Justice and remit the required fee for processing the fingerprints, Federal Bureau of Investigation (no fee if obtained at Cerritos College Campus Police Station), produce an original social security card, and submit a TB Risk Assessment reviewed and signed by a health professional before employment before employment.

Candidates must be available to work on site and be able to provide proof of California residency prior to employment.

Application Procedures

Application materials must be submitted by the closing date. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible application process. If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview due to a disability, please contact Human Resources at View email address on communitycolleges.academickeys.com as early as possible. While advance notice (ideally at least 72 hours before the application deadline or scheduled interview) helps ensure we can meet your needs, we will make every effort to accommodate requests made at any time.

It is the applicant's responsibility to provide copies of all transcript(s) verifying all educational degree(s) and/or coursework required for the position. Transcripts must be from regionally accredited institutions. A foreign transcript must be evaluated by a NACES certified agency. The website address is .

Required Documen ts

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume/CV
3. Copy of Unofficial Transcripts (Must show all coursework completed and conferral date of the degree)

To apply, visit

The District ensures that all qualified applicants for employment and employees have full and equal access to employment opportunity, and are not subjected to discrimination in any program or activity of the District on the basis of national origin, religion, age, sex or gender, race, color, medical condition, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or because he or she is perceived to have one or more of the foregoing characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. .