What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Vice President, Student Financial Services position at Lindenwood University?
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Benefits of Being a Lindenwood Employee:
- Upon hire, employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s (employee, spouse, and dependent) and master’s degree programs (employee and spouse only).
- Tuition discounts for doctoral programs (employee only).
- Comprehensive benefits plan: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement options.
- Paid holidays: MLK Jr. day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break (Wednesday – Friday), and winter break (Dec. 23 – Jan. 1).
- Free lunch Fridays: LU employees are eligible for a free meal on Fridays at the Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman Dining Hall; Chick-fil-A and Qdoba included.
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Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy.
JOB TITLE SUMMARY
Job Title: Assistant Vice President, Student Financial Services
Division: Enrollment and Marketing
Evaluation Group: Staff Administrator
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports To: Vice President, Enrollment and Marketing
Positions Supervised: Director, Student Accounts; Director, Student Financial Services
Job Summary
The assistant vice president (AVP) of Student Financial Services (SFS) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the University's student financial services functions. This position ensures seamless integration between financial aid, student accounts, and collections to enhance the student experience while supporting institutional enrollment, retention, and revenue growth goals. The AVP, SFS also works closely with the vice president of Enrollment and Marketing, the admissions team, and the marketing team to align financial aid strategies with student recruitment, branding, and communication efforts. This position is responsible for financial planning, compliance, and service delivery related to Title IV programs, institutional and state aid, student billing, payment processing, and collections. The AVP leads efforts to ensure that financial aid and student account processes are student-friendly, transparent, and support enrollment growth while maintaining fiscal responsibility for the institution.
Essential Job Functions and Performance Indicators
The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and level of responsibility that will be required of positions given this title. This job description shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Job Responsibilities and Execution
- Provides leadership and oversight for Student Accounts, Financial Aid, and Collections, ensuring effective service delivery and regulatory compliance
- Develops and implements student financial policies and strategies to improve operational efficiency, student satisfaction, and institutional financial health
- Ensures proper administration of federal, state, and institutional aid programs in compliance with all regulatory requirements
- Leads initiatives to enhance student account management, including payment plans, refunds, billing communications, and third-party payments
- Works closely with admissions and marketing teams to develop financial aid messaging, communication strategies, and affordability tools that enhance student recruitment and yield efforts
- Establishes and maintains data-driven financial aid and student accounts forecasting models to inform University leadership
- Works closely with Information Technology (IT) and University leadership to improve systems integration, financial aid automation, and self-service tools
- Oversees the collections process for outstanding student balances, implementing proactive strategies to reduce receivables
Leadership and Strategic Thinking
- Establishes long- and short-term strategic goals based on assessment data and ensures standards for the department and its field are met or exceeded
- Adapts and modifies leadership based on new information and/or data; works to set and unite people on the new direction
- Utilizes effective strategies to build collaboration for maximum execution
- Aligns division/department purpose and actions with relevant University initiatives and higher education trends
- Aligns SFS operations with institutional enrollment, marketing, and retention goals
- Collaborates with senior leadership, admissions, finance, and registrar teams to enhance the student experience and financial services efficiency
- Establishes clear customer service standards within the SFS division to ensure positive interactions with students and families
- Partners with marketing and communications to develop clear, compelling financial aid and affordability messaging
- Analyzes industry trends and institutional data to develop innovative strategies for student affordability, financial literacy, and access
- Leads efforts to streamline financial aid packaging and student account processes to support timely decision-making and enrollment commitments
- Ensures compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Title IV, and cash management policies
Employee Management and Development
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Supports the missionof the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence
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Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University’s values
- Establishes clear performance expectations and accountability measures for all SFS leadership
- Develops and oversees training programs to ensure team members stay updated on financial aid regulations, student accounts policies, and best practices
- Fosters a culture of continuous improvement, teamwork, and professional development within the department
- Oversees hiring, onboarding, and retention strategies to maintain a high-performing and customer-focused SFS team
- Sets clear performance expectations and holds employees accountable
- Conducts annual employee evaluations based on evidence, observation, and feedback
Job may require other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications – An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered. Additional requirements may be designated by position.
- Master’s degree
- Minimum of 5 years’ leadership experience in student financial services, financial aid, or higher education finance
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – May be representative, but not all inclusive, of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform this job competently.
- Demonstrated ability to lead large teams across multiple financial service functions
- Strong knowledge of federal financial aid regulations, student account management, and collections processes
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and financial modeling skills
- Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities
- Strong leadership and change management skills with a proven track record of building high-performing teams
- Ability to develop and execute long-term financial strategies that align with institutional goals
- Experience with student information systems and financial reporting tools
- Deep understanding of FERPA, Title IV, and higher education financial policies
- Strong collaboration skills to ensure financial aid is effectively communicated as part of the enrollment strategy
- Ability to use general office software, including Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe products
Work Environment – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of this job’s functions. Please
click here
to view Lindenwood University’s flexible work designation descriptions.- General office setting
- Non-Standard Flex strongly preferred
- Occasional local travel required
- Considerable phone and computer time, utilizing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) system
- Designated, quiet, distraction-free workspace with reliable, high-speed internet and camera for video calls
Physical Abilities – The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Ability to work effectively at a computer for extended time daily
- Ability to sit/stand for extended periods of time
- Ability to lift/carry items commonly found in an office setting including, but not limited to, documents, laptops, keyboards, etc.
- Ability to use repetitive wrist, hand, and finger movements to type regularly
- Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function
Equal Opportunity Employer
Lindenwood University is an Equal Opportunity employer. The University complies with appropriate federal, state, and local laws and provides equal employment opportunities and access to educational programs without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status to all qualified applicants and employees. Lindenwood University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and dedicated to providing a positive discrimination-free educational work environment.
