CFO & Financial Management

Assistant Vice President of Financial AidBradley University seeks a strategic, collaborative, and analytically driven leader to serve as its inaugural Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid (AVPFA). Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications, this role is responsible for shaping and executing a comprehensive financial aid strategy that advances the University's enrollment goals, strengthens net tuition revenue, and ensures long-term fiscal sustainability.The AVPFA serves as the University's lead architect for financial aid leveraging strategy and a key advisor to senior leadership on pricing, discounting, and enrollment performance. This leader will guide the development of multi-year modeling strategies, oversee the selection and optimization of financial aid leveraging partners, and ensure data-driven decision-making across all student populations.Bradley seeks a highly collaborative and forward-thinking leader who brings deep expertise in financial aid strategy, predictive modeling, and regulatory compliance, while fostering a student-centered and service-oriented culture. Experience with systems such as PowerFAIDS, Blackbaud Award Management, Workday, and Slate is preferred.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Financial Aid LeadershipLead the development and execution of a comprehensive, multi-year financial aid strategy aligned with the University's Strategic Enrollment Management planPartner with senior leadership to align financial aid strategy with institutional priorities, including enrollment growth, academic program strength, and financial sustainabilityServe as the University's primary advisor on financial aid leveraging, optimizing the balance of discount rate, net tuition revenue, and student profile across undergraduate, transfer, graduate, online, and international populationsOversee predictive modeling and scenario planning to inform enrollment and revenue projectionsMaximize the strategic value of financial aid leveraging and analytics partners, ensuring insights directly drive institutional decision-makingCompliance, Risk, and Policy LeadershipServe as the University's primary authority on federal and state financial aid compliance, ensuring adherence to all regulatory requirementsProvide strategic interpretation of regulatory changes and guide institutional response across policy, systems, and communicationOversee financial aid reporting and audit readiness through strong internal controls and accountability structuresEstablish and maintain institutional policies that ensure compliance while supporting enrollment and student success goalsOperational Strategy and Systems IntegrationProvide executive oversight of financial aid operations, ensuring efficient, accurate, and student-centered delivery through a strong leadership teamLead the strategic integration and optimization of financial aid systems, including Workday, Blackbaud, and Slate, aligning technology with institutional goals and student experienceChampion process improvement and innovation to enhance service delivery, reduce complexity, and improve outcomes for students and familiesProvide expert level experience in industry best practices, including industry best-practice system solutionsLeadership and Organizational DevelopmentLead a high-performing, collaborative financial aid team with a focus on accountability, innovation, and continuous improvementEstablish a culture of professional development, cross-training, and operational excellenceOversee departmental planning, resource allocation, and budget management to ensure alignment with strategic prioritiesInstitutional Collaboration and InfluencePartner with Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications, and Admissions to align financial aid strategy with recruitment and yield effortsCollaborate with Advancement to ensure effective stewardship and compliance of endowed scholarship fundsSupport Athletics in maintaining NCAA Division I compliance while advancing recruitment and retention goalsContribute to a campus-wide culture of enrollment by aligning financial aid strategy with academic and programmatic prioritiesThe OpportunityThis is a foundational leadership role at a pivotal time for Bradley University. The AVPFA will play a central role in advancing a modern, data-informed financial aid strategy that supports sustainable enrollment growth, enhances access and affordability, and strengthens the University's long-term financial position.Ideal Candidate ProfileDeep expertise in financial aid leveraging, modeling, and strategy across multiple student populationsStrong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to translate data into actionable strategyDemonstrated success leading through complexity, change, and system transformationComprehensive knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulationsProven ability to build collaborative relationships and influence decision-making at the senior leadership levelCommitment to student-centered service and access to higher educationRequired QualificationsBachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferredMinimum 7–10 years of progressive financial aid leadership experience in higher educationDemonstrated expertise in federal and state financial aid regulations and complianceExperience managing audits and regulatory reviewsProven experience with financial aid leveraging and enrollment-driven strategyStrong analytical skills with experience interpreting complex enrollment and financial dataSupervisory experience leading professional staffPreferred QualificationsExperience partnering directly with senior leadership and boardsFamiliarity with predictive modeling and enrollment forecasting at a private institutionExperience working at a tuition-driven private institutionKnowledge of CRM Slate, Blackbaud Award Management, ERP Workday, and financial aid technology PowerFAIDS platformsQualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and complete contact information for a minimum of three professional references with telephone numbers.Please submit all materials at the time of initial application.To ensure full consideration, application materials should be received by June 5, 2026. While the review of applications will begin immediately, applications will be accepted until positions are filled. Bradley University offers a competitive benefits package including health, dental, vision, life and disability coverages, FSA, HSA, and retirement plan options. Bradley University is a top-ranked, private university in Peoria, Illinois, offering nearly 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students' opportunities, choices, and resources to build their futures. Our comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate academic programs includes business, communications, education, engineering, fine arts, health sciences, liberal arts and sciences, and technology.