Associate Director of Financial Aid

Description :

Job Description Summary :

The purpose of the position is to support the Director with the daily operations of the financial aid office. The Associate Director will lead the office when the Director is away.

• This position is responsible for assisting the Director of Student Financial Aid with compliance management; monitoring processes that integrate student financial aid with business affairs, state and federal agencies, accrediting bodies and the US Department of Education;
• collaborating with the Director to prepare reports such as the Financial Institutions Shared Assessments Program (FISAP) and improving the image of the Office of Student Financial Aid through training, sharing ideas for improving marketing materials, working effectively with internal and external constituents;

and representing the Director at conferences and planning sessions when necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities :

Responsibilities :

Provides leadership, directs, and oversees all counseling related activities and federal financial aid application processing activities, including : supervising advising staff to insure they conduct themselves with professionalism and students receive quality customer service, maintaining appropriate distribution of advising, verification, and appeal workloads, and overseeing the maintenance of all departmental policies and procedures related to the federal financial aid process.

Assists in development and implementation of processes and procedures for the smooth transition of students from prospective to current / enrolled students.

Reviews professional judgment and appeal decisions of officers and ensures consistent and compliant application of professional judgment authority in the Department.

Oversees the training of advising staff in conjunction with the Director. Reviews and, working with the Director, Loan Coordinators and Systems Analyst, ensures that standard processing times and deadlines are being met and all student aid applications are being processed in a timely manner.

Communicates with students, parents and other visitors to the Financial Aid Office concerning student financial aid procedures.

Provides new employee staff orientation. Selects, trains, and supervises counseling staff members and provides overall supervision to the department staff.

all departmental policies and procedures related to the federal financial aid process.

Assists the Director in the development of new programs in student financial aid. Provides leadership in the establishing and development of both long and short-range goals in student financial aid.

Provides leadership and guidance to departmental by providing counseling, administrative and managerial support in the day-to-day operations of the financial aid office and its programs.

Provides leadership by serving in state, regional, and national associations and presenting at conferences. Provides leadership and guidance to parents and students who are visiting the University and desire student financial aid information.

Coordinates with University departments, federal and state agencies, and professional organizations regarding all aspects of the financial aid delivery system.

Provides leadership in establishing short- and long-range goals and objectives for the Financial Aid Office. Communicates with faculty, administrative staff, top-level administrators, as well as departments, agencies, and organizations, both on and off campus to obtain information, cooperation, or approval of desired action or other concerns which impact upon the Financial Aid Office.

Assists the Director in the development of programs at affiliated locations, relating to compliance and functional issues.

Assists with the preparation of federal, state and operational reports. Attends numerous official functions representing the Financial Aid Office.

Maintains membership with recognized student financial aid, student employment, and other related organizations at national, regional, state, and local levels and serves on various committees.

Develop departmental budget requests based on needs and cost effectiveness. Performs other duties as assigned.

Uses data driven methods to review, improve, develop, and / or implement changes and monitor effectiveness of those changes.

Reviews, determines, and implements effective training programming for the office staff. Ensures appropriate customer service and financial aid training is provided in cooperation with the Director.

Leads, reviews and counsels with administration to identify opportunities for improvement. Reviews, directs, and encourages high quality work performance for all levels of staffing.

Reviews program audits on all grants programs to take appropriate action. Reviews program audits on all grants programs to take appropriate action.

Reviews and ensures compliance with federal, state and local program regulations and audits as it relates to financial aid programs, records retention, and donors and takes appropriate corrective action.

Ensures that the administration of the various financial aid programs is consistent with the laws, regulations, and policies governing their administration.

Consults with the appropriate agency, organization or office whenever necessary to ensure the correct administration of the financial aid programs.

May assist with the evaluation and finalization action on Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals. Engages in proactive planning with the Director and staff to identify possible problems and opportunities for improving the programs and services offered by the Financial Aid Office.

Provides leadership and direct support to carry out the recommendations and instructions of Director for Financial Aid as it affects student financial aid programs.

Ensures that the administration of the various financial aid programs is consistent with the laws, regulations, and policies governing their administration and coordinates appropriate and timely communication to outreach staff as appropriate.

Ensures that all incoming inquiries relating to student consumer information are promptly answered and the department web site is accurate and up to date.

Assists the Director with the enforcement of personnel matters, formulating department policies and procedures, and implementing identified strategic priorities.

Keep current on all federal financial aid regulations. Develops analytics to detect potential compliance breaches. Advise compliance management of issues, recommend corrective actions and work with other departments to implement changes.

Prepares the FISAP. Monitor with the Director policy interpretation and the communication of updates and changes in federal and state regulations and the implementation of institutional procedures ensuring compliance and adherence.

Coordinates with the outreach coordinators and the training specialist to ensure information is accurately conveyed to outreach staff in a timely manner.

Evaluates the organizational structure to recommend changes to the Director.

Promotes the expansion and improvement of the Financial Aid Office. Monitors financial aid packages. Plans, leads, and participates in strategic planning and new program development enhancing the availability of funds and the delivery of assistance to students and the operations of the department and its employees.

Provides guidance to Financial Aid Coordinator and coordinates activities and decisions of the financial aid counselors.

Assist the Director with personnel matters, formulating office policies and procedures, and implementing departmental objectives and goals.

Responsible for coordinating and preparing departmental fiscal reporting with managerial staff, University officials, and outside organizations for audits and internal, state and federally funded programs.

Interprets and communicates updates and changes in federal and state regulations and implements institutional procedures for compliance.

Ensures financial accountability for funds authorized for disbursement by the Financial Aid Office. Recommends salary adjustments for all employees based on annual evaluations and available funding.

Required Education & Experience :

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5 years of related experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Knowledge of higher education.
• Knowledge of student financial aid processes and related federal and state regulations.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Organizational skills.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Demonstrated leadership ability. Ability to solve complex problems.

Benefits of Working at SMU

Health, Dental, Vision Care

SMU offers a broad range of employee benefits including health, vision, and dental care; sick leave, vacation and holiday leave, 403(b) retirement plan, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, voluntary tax-deferred annuities, educational leaves, sabbatical leaves, tuition reimbursement, tuition remission on SMU courses, disability insurance, and more.

SMU offers HMO, EPO and PPO health insurance plans, Delta Dental coverage, and VSP vision coverage.

Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

A Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses that aren’t covered by your insurance plan or elsewhere.

It’s a smart, simple way to save money while keeping you and your family healthy and protected.

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or elder daycare.

A DCFSA is a smart, simple way to save money while taking care of your loved ones so that you can continue to work.

Life Insurance

As a means of financial protection, basic life insurance is provided for employees. Insurance may be purchased to benefit-eligible employees in order to supplement additional basic life insurance coverage.

Employees that purchase supplemental life insurance may also purchase coverage for dependents.

Retirement 403(b)

A retirement plan that includes investment alternative and a matching contribution plan is available to all benefit-eligible employees.

The retirement plan rewards special contributions of the long-service employee by providing a measure of financial security during retirement.

You Are Welcome Here

SMU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, ethnicity, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, familial status, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any resolution process within the University or within the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other human rights agencies.

Nondiscrimination is consistent with the principles and practice of the University and is in compliance with Title VII of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of The Education Amendments of 1972, and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.