Assistant Director of Financial Aid

Assistant Director of Financial Aid

Trinity Washington University seeks an Assistant Director of Financial Aid located in Enrollment Services. The Assistant Director of Financial Aid is responsible for managing financial aid, billing, educational financing and related services for Trinity students. In this position you will have a vital role in the management of the Federal financial programs, as well as some operations of PowerFAIDS, which is the student financial aid management system used by Trinity. The primary goal in this role is to provide comprehensive financial aid guidance, support and resources to help students achieve their educational goals at Trinity Washington University. This position will report directly to the Vice President for Enrollment Services.

Education Requirements & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in appropriate field such as business, finance, education or public administration.
• 3 to 5 years of hands-on experience in a post-secondary financial aid office.
• Deep understanding of federal Title IV regulations, state programs, and institutional compliance standards.
• Proficiency with financial aid software and data systems such as PowerFAIDS.

Responsibilities & Functions:

• Administer, maintain and reconcile the Federal Direct Student Loan Program and Federal Pell Grant programs.
• Stay current on all federal, state, and institutional regulations and policies.
• Serve as liaison with Technology Services, College Board, COD, NSLDS, and other partners in electronic data exchange.
• Oversee all external updates to PowerFAIDS.
• Responsible for transmitting and receiving all electronic data from PowerFAIDS to the U.S. Department of Education.
• Complete monthly reconciliation for Federal Direct Loans and Pell programs.
• Assist in the preparation of various office reports (e.g. FISAP, end-of-year, etc.) all related to financial aid programs.
• Download loan counseling and MPN data.
• Process all loan certifications and submit all disbursement rosters for processing.
• Manage and send financial aid information, requests and updates to students through PowerFAIDS.
• Create workflow processes to improve efficiency.
• Monitor and resolve data integration errors and COD errors.
• Download and screen all incoming ISIRs, verify selected ISIRs, resolve rejects as required.
• Participate in professional training workshops as required.
• Provide accurate and timely assistance to students, parents, faculty and staff regarding enrollment and financial aid.
• Work closely with other administrative offices to assist in the recruitment and retention of students.
• Assist with Open House, New Student Orientation, and other special campus events, as needed.
• Comply with confidentiality requirements as set by HIPAA, FERPA, federal, and state and local regulation.
• Other duties as requested by the Vice President for Enrollment Services.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong verbal and written skills to guide students and families through financial processes.
• Ability to manage heavy workloads, meet funding deadlines, and solve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team, support diverse populations, and assistant with daily administrative oversight.
• Working knowledge of Title IV regulations.
• Strong proficiency in Aid Management Software.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal communication skills.
• Familiarity with federal grants, direct loans, work-study administration, and institutional or state scholarship criteria.
• Strong knowledge of federal platforms.
• Hands-on experience with financial aid software systems such as PowerFAID.
• Ability to run reports, complete reconciliation processes, and utilize data to support administrative decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to problem-solve, and use high degree of professional judgement.
• Excellent time management skills in prioritizing tasks and managing multiple shifting deadlines in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work cross-functionally in a collaborative environment with Admissions, the Registrar, etc. to support student recruitment and retention goals.
• High degree of discretion for handling sensitive and confidential financial records with empathy and integrity.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft office.

Schedule and Work Environment:

• 40 hours per week minimum, including regular office hours to support the business hours of the University: 9am to 7pm. Includes regular Saturday hours 8am to 2pm.
• This is an all year-around,12-month, full-time, in-person position.
• Ability to work efficiently with many interruptions from walk-ins, telephone inquiries and other student requests.
• The noise level is usually quiet.

Trinity offers comprehensive and competitive benefits to full-time employees to include Health, Dental & Vision insurance, Employer Paid Life and Disability benefits, 403(b) Retirement plan with employer match up to 6%, Paid Family Leave, Trinity Center Membership Free to all employees to include full size pool, walking track, weight & Cardio equipment, Free campus parking, Free Shuttle bus between campus & Brookland Metro station and more.

Trinity is dedicated to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its students, faculty and staff. Trinity is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community and strongly encourages all qualified individuals to apply.