Director of Financial Aid NCC

Job Title

Financial Aid Administrator

Division

College Operations & Finance

About the Role

This position is responsible for administering all federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs and related non-governmental student aid programs in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Maintain knowledge of current federal and state regulations governing the awarding and usage of federal and state financial aid monies.
• Ensure compliance with all federal and state regulations pertaining to the maintenance of student financial assistance records.
• Administer financial aid awarding process.
• Oversee the awarding, disbursement, reporting and reconciliation of all financial aid funds including federal, state, and institutional grants, loans, work-study, Iowa National Guard Educational Assistance, and scholarship funds.
• Develop and update internal controls and institutional policies/procedures relative to Title IV assistance to ensure compliance at the local, state, and federal levels. Assure all campus-based funds correctly and entirely disbursed each award year.
• Supervise and direct operational procedures for the financial aid department.
• Assist students, parents, agency personnel, and high school representatives with questions concerning all aspects of the Title IV program application process.
• Assist prospective students in the completion of financial assistance and student loan applications. Coordinate the notification of each eligible applicant relative to the amount of his/her award for all federal Title IV and state programs.
• Provide financial aid counseling to students and parents requesting assistance.
• Plan, instruct, supervise, evaluate, coordinate activities, and assign work of the financial aid personnel and assist in hiring process.
• Work closely with the Registrar, the Director of Admissions, the Executive Dean of Student & Academic Services, the Executive Director of Operations & Finance, the College President as well as other college staff to ensure opportunities for student success.
• Establish and maintain open communication with internal departments and external agencies.
• Review/coordinate the timeliness of packages in coordination with registration and enrollment.
• Develop and implement systems of internal controls to ensure accuracy and consistency of financial aid delivery.
• Develop and administer financial aid budgets.
• Direct preparation of various federal, state, and institutional financial aid reports in a timely and accurate manner.
• Facilitate the development and presentation of internal and external financial aid presentations.
• Gather statistics on an annual basis to develop cost of attendance budget(s) for financial assistance recipients.
• Complete annual surveys relative to financial assistance data and/or student aid recipients.
• Assist coworkers in completing agency forms, reviewing applicant data, completing internal forms, requesting student information, reviewing student loan information and completing Title IV refund calculations.
• Provide financial aid statistical information upon request.
• Establish and maintain open communication with the United States Department of Education, the appropriate State of Iowa offices, and related agencies on all matters concerning financial assistance to eligible students.
• Assist Federal, State, and College auditors in conducting audits within the student financial assistance area.
• Work with CAST and IT on issues and projects including data and reporting needs.
• Direct the set up and maintenance of the financial aid computer systems.
• Research, review and interpret past, present, and proposed Title IV and other federal and state regulations to ensure institutional compliance. Notify appropriate College personnel of changes in legislation that may affect participation on the student financial assistance programs.
• Update and maintain College Financial Aid Policies and Procedures Manual.
• Coordinate implementation of College financial aid probation/suspension policy.
• Coordinate refund and repayment calculations according to current federal and state guidelines and regulations.
• Develop and coordinate professional judgement guidelines and decision-making process.
• Assess accuracy of College publications to assure that adequate financial aid information is provided to current and prospective students and the public.
• Oversee the work-study programs in accordance with the federal and state regulations and College policy.
• Administer user accounts and permissions of users with federal, state, and institutional entities that ensures compliance with said entities.
• Work with third-party sponsors (Vocational Rehabilitation, WIOA, Veteran FTA, Proteus, etc.) to provide accurate recording on student accounts and timely service.
• Attend and participate in state, regional, and national meetings and workshops that relate to college responsibilities.
• Network with state and regional financial aid professionals (community college, private, and state colleges, CAST).
• Create and oversee financial literacy education to students.
• Participate in college committees or meetings as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, or Counseling or equivalent financial assistance experience.
• High degree of advising and technical expertise of the financial assistance process.
• Ability to recognize and analyze problems and implement corrections.
• Strong computer skills.
• Demonstrate knowledge of financial aid regulations and program administration.
• Supervisory, organization, and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to develop and manage all policies and procedures related to financial aid and communicate those policies and procedures to students, parents, and college staff and administration.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of one year of supervisory financial aid experience.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish languages.