Assistant Director of Financial Aid

DEPARTMENT: Enrollment Management

CLASSIFICATION

SHIFT: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm

SUMMARY: The Assistant Director of Financial Aid supports the administration and delivery of financial aid programs by ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations while providing high-quality service to students and families. This role assists in overseeing daily financial aid operations, counseling students on aid eligibility and options, managing verification and awarding processes, and supporting staff training and supervision. The Assistant Director collaborates with internal departments to improve processes, resolve complex cases, analyze data, and contribute to policy development, with a focus on accuracy, efficiency, and student success.

REPORTS TO: Director of Financial Aid

MAJOR DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES (may include but are not limited to):

• Assist in the administration of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs in compliance with all applicable regulations and policies.
• Assist in the administration of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs in compliance with all applicable regulations and policies.
• Oversee verification, professional judgment, satisfactory academic progress (SAP), and special circumstance reviews.
• Review, approve, and package financial aid awards, including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study.
• Ensure compliance with Title IV regulations, audits, program reviews, and institutional policies.
• Support the Director in supervising, training, and evaluating financial aid staff and student employees.
• Resolve complex or escalated financial aid cases and respond to inquiries requiring advanced knowledge.
• Collaborate with Admissions, Registrar, Student Accounts, and other campus offices to ensure accurate and timely aid delivery.
• Assist with development, implementation, and documentation of financial aid policies and procedures.
• Monitor deadlines, workflows, and processing timelines to ensure efficient operations.
• Analyze financial aid data, prepare reports, and support strategic planning and decision-making.
• Participate in outreach activities, workshops, orientations, and financial literacy programs.
• Assist with system management, including student information systems and financial aid software.
• Support scholarship administration and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
• Stay current on regulatory changes and best practices in financial aid administration.
• Demonstrated experience with financial aid awarding and disbursement of funds, including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study.
• Strong understanding of disbursement rules, return of Title IV (R2T4), reconciliation processes, and coordination with student accounts or registrar functions.
• Knowledge of Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) and Pell and Direct Loan reconciliation
• Experience collaborating with Student Accounts/Registrar on disbursement schedules, refunds, and reconciliation.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, education, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in financial aid administration within higher education.
• Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs, including Title IV regulations.
• Demonstrated experience with verification, professional judgment, satisfactory academic progress (SAP), and financial aid awarding.
• Strong understanding of compliance, audits, and program reviews related to financial aid.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to counsel students and families effectively.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex regulations, policies, and procedures accurately.
• Proficiency with financial aid management systems, student information systems, and Microsoft Office applications.

Additional Information: Proficient in Campus Café or Colleague preferred.

Employment at Clinton College is contingent upon a background check that is satisfactory to the College. Failure to provide written authorization for a background check will nullify the offer of employment.

Application Instructions

Applications should include a cover letter and resume and must be sent, preferably in PDF format, to [email protected]. The subject line of the email should read "Assistant Director of Financial Aid." The process will continue until the position is filled.