Assistant Director for Financial Aid

Position Description The Assistant Director of Financial Aid, reporting to the Director of Financial Aid, is responsible for the administration of federal, state, institutional, and partner-program financial aid. This role will have oversight for one or more student populations and institutional initiatives as needed. The Assistant Director ensures compliance with all federal, New York State, and institutional regulations while supporting enrollment, retention, and student success goals. Responsibilities Evaluate student eligibility for federal, New York State, institutional, and other applicable aid programs in accordance with established regulations, policies, and awarding guidelines. Package and award financial aid for new and continuing students enrolled in special programs, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and adherence to enrollment and processing timelines. Serve as the institutional lead for the administration of New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and other New York State aid programs, including eligibility review, certification, reconciliation, compliance monitoring, resolution of student eligibility issues, and coordination with the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). Coordinate verification, professional judgment, special circumstances, dependency overrides, and other eligibility review processes in accordance with federal regulations and institutional policies. Maintain a thorough understanding of federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations and implement changes to policies, procedures, and awarding practices as required. Serve as a primary financial aid contact for assigned Sara Schenirer programs and other student populations as assigned, fostering strong partnerships and ensuring alignment between institutional policies, enrollment timelines, and student support initiatives. Maintain and update financial aid calendars for assigned programs and collaborate with campus and partner stakeholders to ensure timely completion of all financial aid processes. Counsel prospective and continuing students and their families regarding financial aid eligibility, financing options, payment responsibilities, and related policies through in person appointments, virtual meetings (Teams, Zoom or similar platforms), telephone consultations, and Email/SMS communications, group presentations, and outreach initiatives. Coordinate financial aid communications through Banner, Slate, EAB Navigate, email, print, and other communication channels to support recruitment, enrollment, retention, and compliance objectives. Perform scheduled imports, exports, and transmission of federal and state data files, ensuring timely and accurate processing of information between internal and external systems. Prepare routine and ad hoc reports utilizing Banner, Argos, Excel, and other reporting tools to support enrollment management, compliance, reconciliation, audit preparation, and strategic decision-making. Assist with financial aid reconciliations, reporting requirements, policy development, procedure documentation, and audit preparation activities. Collaborate with Admissions, Student Accounts, Registrar, Advising, and other campus partners to resolve student issues, support persistence efforts, and improve student experience. Travel as needed to assigned program locations to conduct counseling sessions, workshops, presentations, and enrollment support activities. Maintain partner programs, including occasional evening hours during peak processing and enrollment periods and providing weekend support for other undergraduate student programs as needed. Work schedule aligned with the operational needs and academic calendar of the assigned population, which may include work during times which the university is closed. Review student credit balance refund requests and transactions for accuracy, eligibility, and compliance with federal, state, institutional, and program-specific regulations; approve or deny refunds as appropriate and coordinate with Student Accounts to ensure timely processing and resolution of outstanding issues. Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications Bachelor's degree required. 3 to 5 years of progressively responsible experience in financial aid administration. Extensive knowledge of financial aid policies, procedures, and eligibility requirements. Demonstrated knowledge of federal Title IV regulations and New York State financial aid programs, including TAP. Experience supporting partner, consortium, online, or non-traditional student populations preferred. Experience using Banner, Argos, COD, NSLDS, Slate, Microsoft Office, and HESC systems. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail. Ability to maintain a calendar and schedule of work to meet the needs and timetable of Sara Schenirer partner program constituents or other populations in accordance with the academic and holiday calendars by population. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with students, parents, faculty, staff, and partner organizations. Demonstrated commitment to providing exceptional customer service and the ability to use positive language in challenging situations. Annual Compensation $66,300 - $70,000 Benefits Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for medical and dependent care 100% employer sponsored life insurance, AD&D insurance and Long term disability Retirement plan with employer matching Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays Professional development opportunities via Coursera Undergraduate tuition benefits for employees and their dependents Commuter benefits Employee Assistance Plan #J-18808-Ljbffr University-of-Mount-Saint-Vincent