Associate Director of Financial Aid

Position Responsibilities

• Manage core financial aid operations including application review, verification, eligibility determination, awarding, and disbursement of federal, state, and institutional aid.
• Serve as a final reviewer for financial aid files to ensure regulatory accuracy, compliance, and ethical processing.
• Process and monitor federal aid programs including Direct Loans and Pell Grants through Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) and complete monthly reconciliation and reporting.
• Monitor federal and state regulatory updates and implement process changes to ensure institutional compliance.
• Oversee staff members responsible for key program areas including Federal Work Study, state aid programs, and R2T4 processes.
• Partner closely with Admission to support incoming undergraduate and graduate students through financial aid awarding, communication strategies, and enrollment support.
• Collaborate with Admission, Registrar and Student Accounts leadership to improve communication, reduce processing delays, and create a more seamless student experience.
• Serve as a point of contact for resolving complex student cases that require coordination across multiple departments.
• Support the training of Admission and campus staff on financial aid policies, processes, and timelines.
• Supervise and mentor financial aid professional staff, providing training, guidance, and support in daily operations.
• Aid in the development of office policies, workflows, and best practices to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Assist in implementing new initiatives and improving service delivery.
• Represent the institution at recruitment events, information sessions, and campus-wide programs.
• Counsel prospective and current students and families on financial aid processes, eligibility, and timelines.
• Develop and contribute to student communications, financial aid materials, and website content.
• Deliver financial aid presentations to prospective and currently enrolled students, families, and campus partners.
• Utilize advanced Excel skills for reconciliation, financial modeling, audit preparation, regulatory reporting, and data analysis to inform decision-making and institutional planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree; minimum of 5-7 years of progressive student financial services management experience (including staff supervision, budget and project management).
• Thorough knowledge of Federal Title IV financial aid regulations as it pertains to both traditional and non-traditional programs.