Job Title: Director of Financial Aid

Summary: Responsible for the Financial Aid Department and all aspects of their development. Develop, negotiate, and finalize student financial aid plans in accordance with state, federal, accreditation, and company policies and regulations for awarding and packaging financial aid. Act in a manner consistent with the highest ethical standards. Work closely with new, continuing, and re-entry students and their families to ensure that proposed financial aid (whether for new or re-entry students) continues to meet the student’s (and/or families’) needs and best interests. Counsel students about financial aid available based upon their acceptance at CHCP and other matters relevant to student financial aid planning and packaging. In carrying out the duties and responsibilities of this position, the Director of Financial Aid must ensure consideration and implementation of the CHCP philosophy, which provides for providing quality services to all students, visitors, and clients; focusing on the development, growth, and involvement of staff members; offering recognition of employees; adhering to sound economic principles; and creating an environment which is conducive to innovation, positive thinking, and expansion.

Supervisory Responsibilities: The Director of Financial Aid is responsible for management and oversight of staff members in the Financial Aid Department. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; evaluating performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints; and resolving problems (including inter-departmental concerns).

The Director of Financial Aid has specific oversight obligations for:

• Assistant Director of Financial Aid;
• Senior Financial Aid Advisor;
• Financial Aid Advisor; and
• Administrative Staff in the Financial Aid Department.

Key Job Elements:

1. Manage the Financial Aid Department and all aspects of their development.
2. Meet with prospective and current (or returning) students (and their families) to determine financial aid eligibility and provide guidance to them about financial aid-related applications and documents (including, for example, student loan and grant applications).
3. Provide clarifying information or examples to students (and/or their families) when they complete their FAFSAs.
4. Review ISIRs in order to identify verification or C code requirements. Identify and take action to assist with the process of following-up, collecting, and then reconciling documentation needed to resolve verification and C code obstacles.
5. Performs Entrance and Exit counseling, which should be completed within 30 days after a student’s last day of attendance.
6. Work cooperatively and cohesively with staff in the Admissions Department to facilitate outstanding customer service to prospective and current students (and their families).
7. Collect appropriate documentation to process financial aid funding in a timely and compliant manner.
8. Create and present an appropriate budget to a student and then package the student (i.e., schedule their financial aid award(s)). Monitor subsequent aid disbursements to ensure funds are credited to students’ accounts in a timely manner.
9. Maintain consistently clean and accurate financial aid files which demonstrate institutional compliance with federal, state, and accreditation agency requirements as well as internal policies and procedures.
10. Collect, assemble, review, and analyze weekly financial aid reports (e.g., data regarding student packaging, cash flow, balance to scheduled, FA holds, etc.) and provide updates to relevant stakeholders (e.g., CHCP’s Corporate Office).
11. Interact closely with CHCP’s third-party financial aid servicer regarding process and procedure. The purpose of these interactions is to ensure submission of accurate documentation, timely disbursements to students, appropriate cash flow (which meets the needs of the institution and students), and appropriate reporting of financial aid data.
12. Provide excellent customer service by responding clearly, accurately, and timely to student questions or concerns.
13. Develop, review, revise, and update – in conjunction with other campus locations, CHCP’s Corporate Office, and/or regulatory counsel – internal Financial Aid Department policies and procedures
14. Monitor daily activities in the Financial Aid Department to ensure compliance with departmental procedures and policies, as well as requirements imposed by federal, state, or accrediting entities.
15. Mange on-campus events (such as orientation, open house, community outreach activities, etc.) and delegate responsibilities to ensure proper representation by the Financial Aid Department.
16. Effectively managing staff members in the Financial Aid Department and provide them with the training, tools, resources, and support necessary to achieve goals.
17. Perform weekly team trainings and plan team-building activities
18. Hire, coach and evaluate personnel in the Financial Aid Department.
19. Responsible for training all Financial Aid staff within your department.
20. Perform regular (e.g., quarterly) reviews of financial aid files to spot-check and evaluate their completeness, accuracy, and compliance with internal policies and procedures as well as requirements imposed by the U.S. Department of Education, state regulatory bodies, accrediting agencies, or other regulatory entities.
21. Other duties and activities as may be assigned.

Job Requirements:

a) Bachelor’s degree; or combination of education and experience.
b) Minimum 5 years’ successful experience in college financial aid in post-secondary educational environment.
c) Wide knowledge of regulatory requirements (e.g., federal, state, etc.) related to Title IV student financial aid d) Basic knowledge of CampusVue database (preferred)