Associate Director for Financial Aid

Associate Director for Financial Aid

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of four years of relevant experience.
• In-depth knowledge of financial aid policies, procedures, and eligibility requirements.
• Strong ability to foster collaboration across departments.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proven customer service skills with the ability to navigate challenging situations using positive language.
• Evening and weekend availability.

Responsibilities

• Manage, support, and advise a caseload of prospective and current students.
• Oversee the department’s communication and marketing strategy, including developing and coordinating messaging across multiple channels for new and continuing students, families, and educators.
• Stay informed on updates to federal financial aid regulations, systems, and policies, and brief staff on changes.
• Conduct proactive outreach to students via email, phone, text, and virtual appointments.
• Assess students’ financial needs and provide guidance to students and parents on financial aid options, processes, and requirements.
• Evaluate student academic progress and facilitate the appeal process.
• Perform Banner-related activities, such as reviewing financial aid records, generating reports, and troubleshooting system issues.
• Assist with daily processing tasks related to COD and CPS as assigned.
• Monitor technical processes involving financial aid software, including importing and exporting files with the U.S. Department of Education and other regulatory agencies.
• Collaborate with the Director to prepare documentation for the Uniform Audit (A-133) and other federal and state reports.
• Assist with annual Banner Roll, FISAP reporting, monthly reconciliations (including Pell, Direct Loans, and Perkins reporting).
• Provide support to first-generation students and their families.
• Partner with the Admissions team to provide financial aid presentations and one-on-one counseling at recruitment events, including weekends as needed (e.g., Accepted Students Day, Open House, Early Action Brunch, Last Look Weekend, evening outreach events).
• Develop and deliver workshops on and off campus to promote FAFSA filing and financial aid clearance for students.
• Collaborate with student facing department and Program Directors to share information on students with outstanding balances.
• Establish and maintain partnerships across academic and support programs.
• Conduct financial literacy workshops to engage students.
• Coordinate closely with Student Accounts.
• Assist with New York State HESC awards.
• Implement, coordinate, and oversee specific administrative programs and services as assigned.
• Train and serve as an operational resource for staff and students; may supervise student employees or lower-level staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred experience with Banner, Argos, ED Connect, HESC, COD, NSLDS, and Microsoft Excel.