Executive Director of Student Financial Services

About Massachusetts College of Liberal

Arts

At MCLA, we're here for all, and focused on each of our students.

Classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching, and

about seeing their students thrive on every level of their lives.

In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed to

elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators,

fully empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition

to our 130-year commitment to public education, we have fortified

our dedication to equitable academic excellence. MCLA has appeared

on U.S. News & World Report's list of Top Ten Public Colleges

for 11 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top

Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for 2026. The College's

focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected

in additional 2026 U.S. News rankings: No. 6 for Top Performer on

Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 4

for Top Performer on Social Mobility for public liberal arts

colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools

graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Learn more at

www.mcla.edu

Job Description

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

The Executive Director of Student Financial Services provides

strategic leadership and operational oversight for all financial

aid, student accounts, and related student financial services at

the College. The Executive Director plays a critical role in

advancing enrollment, access, affordability, and student success

while ensuring full compliance with federal, state, and

institutional regulations. As a member of the divisional leadership

team, the Executive Director partners closely with Enrollment

Management, Finance, and campus leadership to develop and implement

financial strategies that support recruitment, retention, and

institutional sustainability.

SCOPE, AUTHORITY & ACCOUNTABILITY

• Serves as the College's chief financial aid officer, with

institution-wide responsibility for the administration, compliance,

and strategic use of all federal, state, institutional, and private

financial aid programs.

• Exercises delegated authority to establish, implement, and

enforce operational policies, procedures, and internal controls for

financial aid, student accounts, and related student financial

services functions, within applicable federal, state, and

institutional regulatory frameworks.

• Provides executive-level leadership and decision-making

authority for student financial services operations, ensuring

alignment with institutional priorities related to enrollment

management, access, affordability, and student success.

• Oversees and manages operating budgets and financial aid funds

totaling approximately $7 million annually, including federal,

state, and institutional resources, with responsibility for fiscal

stewardship, forecasting, and compliance.

• Acts as the College's primary institutional representative to

federal and state agencies, system offices, external auditors, and

regulatory bodies related to financial aid and student financial

services.

• Has authority to recommend policy changes and strategic

financial aid initiatives to senior leadership in response to

regulatory, funding, and enrollment-related changes.

• Leads innovation and continuous process improvement to enhance

efficiency, effectiveness, and student-centered focus of all

financial aid and student financial services operations.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Reports to the Vice President of

Administration & Finance

SUPERVISION EXERCISED : Supervises professional, classified

and student employee personnel assigned to the Office of Student

Financial Services.

STRATEGIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Strategic Leadership & Enrollment Impact

• Lead the development of financial aid strategies that support

recruitment, retention, and completion

• Partner with Enrollment Management and Admissions to

communicate MCLA's value and affordability

• Analyze enrollment, aid, and budget data to inform

institutional decision-making

• Advise senior leadership on policy changes, funding shifts, and

financial aid trends

B. Financial Aid Administration & Compliance

• Oversee all federal, state, institutional, and private aid

programs

• Ensure full compliance with Title IV, state, VA, and audit

requirements

• Direct federal and state audits and serve as institutional

compliance lead

• Maintain institutional eligibility and certifications

C. Student Accounts & Bursar Operations

• Oversee billing, collections, cashiering, and third-party

payments

• Establish and enforce tuition and fee collection policies with

attention to student retention

• Ensure accurate reconciliation and financial controls across

systems

D. Systems, Data & Reporting

• Provide leadership for Banner and related system

enhancements

• Oversee data integrity, reporting, and regulatory submissions

(IPEDS, CDS, HEIRS)

• Partner with Institutional Research and IT on analytics and

system improvements

E. Team Leadership & Professional Development

• Supervise, evaluate, and develop professional and classified

staff

• Foster a collaborative, service-oriented, and student-centered

team culture

• Promote continuous improvement and operational efficiency

F. Student & Family Engagement

• Ensure clear, accurate, and empathetic counseling and

communication

• Oversee financial literacy initiatives and outreach

programming

• Represent the College at recruitment, outreach, and community

events

TECHNICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

While the Executive Director's primary focus is strategic

leadership and oversight, the role maintains responsibility for

ensuring the effective administration and integrity of core student

financial services operations, including

• Provide executive oversight for the College's student

information and financial systems, including Ellucian Banner,

ensuring accurate configuration, system upgrades, testing, and

ongoing functionality related to financial aid and student

accounts.

• Oversee the integration and use of state and federal financial

systems, including MMARS, Great Plains Dynamics, and Department of

Education platforms (e.g., Pell Payment System), ensuring

compliance, data integrity, and timely reporting.

• Direct the administration, monitoring, and reconciliation of

the Federal College Work-Study program, including tracking awards,

payroll coordination, and compliance with federal guidelines.

• Oversee the administration of student health insurance

enrollment and compliance processes, ensuring accurate billing,

reporting, and coordination with external vendors.

• Provide oversight of auxiliary student financial programs,

including meal plans and cash-to-card programs, ensuring accurate

processing, reconciliation, and vendor payments.

• Establish and maintain internal controls and audit-ready

processes related to cashiering, billing, disbursements, and

third-party payments.

• Ensure accurate posting, reconciliation, and resolution of

discrepancies across student account transactions and the general

ledger.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND MEASURES OF SUCCESS

• Financial aid and student account operations that are

efficient, transparent, and student-centered, with clear

communication and timely processing.

• Strategic use of financial aid resources that effectively

supports enrollment, retention, and completion goals, while

maintaining compliance and fiscal stewardship.

• Strong audit outcomes for federal, state, and institutional

reviews, with minimal findings and timely resolution of any

corrective actions.

• Improved aid packaging strategies that maximize available

resources, promote equity, and support access and affordability for

diverse student populations.

• High levels of student and family satisfaction with financial

services, reflected in responsiveness, clarity of information, and

quality of counseling.

• Effective collaboration with Admissions, Enrollment Management,

Finance, and campus partners to ensure consistent messaging around

cost, value, and affordability.

• A well-trained, engaged, and high-performing staff, supported

through ongoing professional development and clear performance

expectations.

• Accurate, timely, and actionable data and reporting that

informs institutional planning, budgeting, and policy

decisions.

• Continuous improvement of systems and processes, leveraging

technology to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and service

delivery.

Requirements

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree: Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible

experience in student financial services, financial aid

administration, or related higher education functions.

• Demonstrated experience designing, directing, and leading

complex organizations, programs, or operational units.

• Proven experience leading or directing financial aid, student

accounts, and/or regulatory compliance functions in a higher

education environment.

• Demonstrated understanding of federal, state, and institutional

scholarship and grant programs, including applicable compliance

requirements and regulations.

• Demonstrated experience aligning financial aid strategy with

enrollment goals, including recruitment, retention, and student

success initiatives.

• Demonstrated success leading organizations through regulatory,

policy, or funding changes, with the ability to assess impact and

implement effective responses.

• Experience managing cross-functional partnerships, particularly

with enrollment management, admissions, finance, institutional

research, information technology, and student services.

• Strong planning, organizational, and analytical skills, with

the ability to make strategic projections using complex data

sets.

• Ability to analyze financial, enrollment, and operational data

and make evidence-based recommendations for strategic action.

• Strong customer-service orientation, with demonstrated

experience providing high-quality, empathetic support to students

and families navigating financial processes.

• Superior supervisory, managerial, and staff development

skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities with professionalism,

diplomacy, and sound judgment.

• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with

discretion and professionalism.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the

ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and

effectively to diverse audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to streamline and enhance operations

through the effective use of technology.

• Experience working with student information systems; Ellucian

Banner experience preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a 4-year public higher education environment,

including familiarity with state financial systems, public-sector

reporting, and accountability requirements.

• Knowledge of equity-focused financial aid practices, including

strategies that promote access, affordability, and student success

for historically underserved student populations.

• Experience supporting enrollment management, institutional

research, or strategic planning initiatives.

Additional Information

This is a full-time, permanent position within the APA Union.

Salary for this position is $120,000-$130,000 per year.

Employee Benefits

Health Insurance: MCLA offers a variety of HMO, POS, and PPO-type

health insurance plans for eligible employees. Coverage is

effective on the 1st of the month following the date of hire.

Exceptions to employees hired on the 1st of the month, coverage is

effective immediately.

Retirement: The MA State Employee Retirement System provides

eligible employees with a retirement pension following a 10-year

vesting period. In lieu of the retirement pension, eligible

employees may select the Optional Retirement Plan with a maximum 5%

employer matching contribution.

Tuition Waivers & Discounts: eligible employees, including

spouses and dependent children, receive reduced tuition at MA state

colleges, community colleges, and universities.

Paid Time Off: employees receive 12 paid holidays and generous

vacation, personal, and sick leave benefits.

Until further notice, in response to the Presidential proclamation,

issued on September 19, 2025, imposing a significant fee on the

entry of individuals with new H-1B visas, this position is not

eligible for visa sponsorship.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts complies with the Americans

with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodations to

qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Should you

need to request a reasonable accommodation for the application

process, please email Brenda Stokes, Executive Director of Human

Resources.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is deeply committed to

fostering a community of excellence, equity, diversity, and

inclusion. We provide equal access to educational, co-curricular

and employment opportunities for all applicants, students, and

employees regardless of race, color, religion, national origin,

age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity,

gender expression, genetic information, marital or parental status,

veteran status, or membership in any other legally protected class.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts does not discriminate on the

basis of sex in any educational program or activity that they

operate, which extends to admission and employment.

Inquiries about Title IX, Equal Opportunity, or ADA/504 and other

non-discrimination policies may be directed to MCLA's Interim Title

IX and Equal Opportunity Coordinator, to the Assistant Secretary of

the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, or both.

Lucas Morrill

Interim Title IX and EO Coordinator

375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247

Telephone: (413) 662-5103

[email protected]

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights

33 Arch Street, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02119-1424

Telephone: (617) 289-0111; FAX: (617) 289-0150; TDD (877)

521-2172

[email protected]

Application Instructions

Applicants should electronically submit an application by clicking

on the APPLY NOW button below.