Director of Financial Aid

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Under general executive supervision, the candidate must be able to work independently to perform duties in relation to guiding, operating, controlling the Financial Aid Office. Must demonstrate accurate and easily understood spoken and written skills for communicating information to audiences spanning from individual applicants to the school’s population of students and staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES – May include but are not limited to:

• Key role responsible for overall performance of timely, accurate, and compliant awarding of aid and reconciliation that eligible awards are received from government and private aid programs including from Federal Student Aid, California Student Aid, Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and others.
• Designation as School Coordinating Official for reconciliation of Federal Student Aid (FSA) funds and liaison to COD Reconciliation Coordinator. Responsible for school reconciliation of FSA financial records at least monthly and verifying any corrections identified are resolved in a timely manner in the appropriate system(s).
• Prepare and monitor data export from student information system (SIS), Jenzabar SONIS, for accuracy and raise inconsistencies or variances to leadership partners. Responsible for routine export and transmission of prepared data to Regent Award financial aid management system (FAMS).
• Interpret and use program academic schedules along with other sources of data to deliver accurate, usable setup data to third-party servicer and Regent Award FAMS.
• Verify data exported from SIS to Clearinghouse for monthly National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) Enrollment Reporting and participate in any error resolution process for NSLDS data.
• Preparation, monitoring, and primary responsibility for the annual FSA compliance audit process and results.
• Designation as School Certifying Official (SCO) to Veterans Benefits Administration with primary function verifying direct costs for academic period for use with enrollment certifications. Participates in compliance review activities.
• Designation as Designated School Official (DSO) to Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) with primary function determining a candidate’s financial ability to afford Cost of Attendance for one academic year of the program applied. Participates in compliance review activities.
• Represents the School and Financial Aid Office to outside agencies including but not limited to federal, state, and accrediting bodies.
• Establish, prepare, and maintain operational guides, policies and procedures used in Financial Aid Office and make any necessary modifications, based on analysis and other applicable research to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Responsible for bringing attention to institutional opportunities and risks from the perspective of financial aid and compliance with financial aid programs.
• Responsible for routine review and coordinating updates with interdepartmental partners to ensure Consumer Information materials comply FSA requirements. Responsible for delivering communication of Consumer Information to school population.
• Recruit, hire, train, and terminate departmental personnel. Guide, verify, and evaluate work performed by Financial Aid Advisors as part of routine performance monitoring. Fulfill essential duties of a Financial Aid Advisor when needed.
• Develop timely and accurate reports for the College as requested.
• Performs such similar, comparable or related duties as may be assigned or required.
• Promote the university by participating in community, state, and national events or meetings, and by developing partnerships with industry and secondary education institutions.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

• Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems. Knowledge of arithmetic, statistics, and their applications.
• Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Economics and Accounting — Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Sales and Marketing — Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Law and Government — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process as applicable to U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, and administering financial aid programs.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Position duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintaining them over time.
• Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Working with Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores and receiving clients or guests.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Providing Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, and the work of others.

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

Federal laws prohibit job discrimination based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, religion, age (40 and older), equal pay, disability or genetic information (including family medical history or genetic tests or services), and retaliation for filing a charge, reasonably opposing discrimination, or participating in a discrimination lawsuit, investigation, or proceeding.

Salary : $67,000 - $96,000