Director of Financial Aid

Primary function: The Director of Financial Aid reports to the VP for Finance and is primarily responsible for the overall operation of the student financial aid program. The Director of Financial Aid is responsible for operationalizing and directing all short, intermediate, and long-range planning for the financial aid program. This position coordinates with other department heads for the implementation of financial aid regulations, policies and procedures related to individual departments and the campus as a whole. This is a full-time, in-person administrator position.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES § Maintains a high level of professional competence in best practices in financial aid, program assessment, operational budgeting, and a working knowledge of the college software system. The AVP will collaborate across departments for effective and accurate service to students.

§ Provides leadership and participates in committees across campus.

§ Supervises professional and clerical staff assigned to the Financial Aid Office. Determines work priorities, trains, delegates tasks, and evaluates work efforts.

§ Administers, controls, and coordinates federal, state and institutional financial aid funds from numerous individual programs. Ensures compliance with all laws and regulations through accurate reporting and auditing and resolves any issues related to auditors’ findings.

§ Processes the awarding of financial aid funds utilizing federal needs analysis calculations. Reviews the processing and edits work performed by the department staff. Resolves complex problems for office staff, students and other parties involving funding, awarding and/or disbursement of funds.

§ Develops, implements, recommends, and revises policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations. Responsible for the development and implementation of college policies as they relate to financial and institutional aid.

§ Manages the student satisfaction process through delivery of quality customer service in all aspects of the administration of financial aid. § Supervises and monitors the financial aid satisfactory academic progress (SAP) process for all students, ensuring that review and notification to students is done based on the established college policy and schedule, and federal and state financial aid regulations.

§ Maintains the office policy and procedures manual as it relates to financial aid programs.

§ Creates and maintains effective communication plans for transmitting and receiving critical data between offices such as Admissions, Registrar, and Student Accounts.

§ Works closely with Admissions to establish packaging policies yearly and participates with consultants on such.

§ Collaborates with college staff and other offices in strategic and operational planning aimed at achieving office, departmental and institutional goals and objectives.

§ Counsels students and parents regarding financial eligibility. Uses professional judgment in determining the appropriate handling of information based on individual circumstances.

§ Serves as the liaison with federal, state and local agencies on issues related to financial aid.

§ Establishes financial aid presentations for Admission events and participates in student visits and orientations.

§ Responsible for all phases of the Direct Loan program including creation of loan applications, origination of funding, receipt of payments, monthly adjustments and reconciliation, and final annual reconciliation of all funds received.

§ Responsible for all phases of the Pell Grant program including the origination, disbursement, and annual reconciliation of Pell Grant funds. § Establishes Costs of Attendance budgets. § Responsible for Return to Title IV Calculations

§ Prepares financial aid reports such as FISAP, Common Data Set, IPEDs and numerous other financial aid related surveys. REQUIRED SKILLS

1. Ability to work effectively with a diverse student and public population in stressful situations.

2. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing and to work with highly confidential information

3. Ability to manage (plan, budget, staff, evaluate) an office with a variety of functions.

4. Ability to conduct research related to the financial aid field.

5. In-depth knowledge of federal and state financial aid rules and regulations.

6. Knowledge of state and federal regulations and guidelines governing financial aid, including Title IV.

7. Knowledge of the principles and practices of private higher education organization and structure.

8. Knowledge of general accounting procedures, business management, leadership, and supervision.

9. Knowledge of institutional policies that govern admissions and registration.

10. Knowledge of immigration and naturalization service categories of citizens, residents and visas.

11. Knowledge of college programs.

12. Knowledge of tutorial services.

13. Ability to develop and manage budgets.

14. Ability to make effective decisions and take independent action.

15. Ability to interpret and apply rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

16. Ability to prioritize workload and conflicting demands.

17. Ability to effectively work in a demanding environment.

18. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing, with a variety of student, staff and management groups.

19. Ability to demonstrate organizational, time management, analytical and problem-solving skills.

20. Ability to demonstrate presentation skills.

21. Ability to operate a computer and use related software