Centralized Financial Services Team Lead

About the Role

The Financial Services Team Lead provides oversight and leadership to the Financial Services department. As part of the Financial Services leadership team, the Team Lead assists the Financial Services Manager with scheduling, planning, and training to ensure all work products, solutions, and recommendations are accurate and compliant with federal, state, and other agency regulatory requirements. The role also involves assisting in the overall project management control of Financial Services’ projects, preparing reports, developing and updating processes, and providing motivation, leadership, and support to Financial Services Analysts.

Responsibilities

• Assists in managing the financial aid process:
  • Supports the Financial Services Manager and Analysts in the accurate and timely review of student files, including verification, ISIR corrections, professional judgments, COD rejects, conflicting information, approving funds, calculating R2T4s, processing credit balances, and answering financial aid inquiries from students and staff.
  • Ensures accuracy in academic years, payment periods, loan periods, term codes, and disbursement dates.
  • Provides instruction, assistance, and leadership to support Financial Services objectives and goals.
  • Prepares reports for the Financial Services Manager reflecting team activity.
• Ensures compliance with Title IV policy:
  • Serves as a subject matter expert on financial aid policy (Federal and institutional) to ensure compliance with all federal regulations and procedures.
  • Assists the Financial Services Manager with responding to internal quality assurance findings and recommending improvements.
• Provides financial aid customer service:
  • Responds to inquiries and requests from staff and students to ensure prompt resolution of financial aid issues.
  • Ensures Financial Services Analysts review student files within service level agreements and Federal regulations.
  • Communicates regularly with team members, including campus and regional staff, to resolve issues and discuss process improvements.
  • Handles escalations from Financial Services Analysts and escalates issues to the Financial Services Manager as needed.
  • Manages complaints and suggestions from Financial Services Analysts and internal customers.
• Assists in leading and developing others:
  • Provides individual and/or team training under the direction of the Financial Services Manager to minimize skill gaps.
  • Assists in improving performance levels to achieve individual and group goals.
  • Resolves performance issues in a timely manner to foster teamwork.
  • Identifies opportunities for skill development through new and challenging work assignments.
  • Assists in problem-solving to ensure the team achieves daily/weekly goals.
  • Supports the Financial Services Manager with interviewing and hiring qualified candidates.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree (or equivalent experience and education) in Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• 1-2 years of progressive financial aid experience.
• Experience with student management software (e.g., CampusVue and Broadleaf).
• Solid working knowledge of federal/state government education regulations.
• Knowledge of Title IV compliance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, CampusVue, and Broadleaf.
• High level of integrity and a strong sense of personal responsibility.
• Ability to lead and recommend changes to mitigate exceptions.
• Ability to operate in a dynamic and flexible environment with confidence and poise.
• Ability to manage internal relationships effectively at all organizational levels.
• Superior oral and written communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to manage multiple documents and projects simultaneously.
• Attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• 2-3 years of progressive financial aid experience.
• 1-2 years of experience with CampusVue and Broadleaf software.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk or hear, and taste or smell.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Usually not exposed to weather conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.