Associate Director of Financial Aid

About the position

The Associate Director of Financial Aid oversees major functional areas in a highly automated Financial Aid Office. The Associate Director assists the Director with the administration of the Financial Aid Office. Under the general direction of the Director of Financial Aid, the Associate Director provides direction, planning, and coordination over key areas in the Financial Aid offices. This includes financial aid advising, communication and services, supervision and training of professional and support staff. The Associate Director processes financial aid eligibility and awards, advises students, represents the Department in administrative and public venues, and has a key role in decision-making and policy development.

Responsibilities

• Provides support in the day-to-day operations of student financial aid services that includes administering a very large financial aid program while ensuring compliance with all funding source requirements.
• Reads, interprets, communicates, and administers federal and state regulations and College policies as they apply to financial aid.
• Advises students and parents on financial aid and budgeting issues.
• Assists Director in the supervision, management, and training of staff and support employees.
• Oversees and performs monthly and year end reconciliation of State programs with the NJHESAA, Colleague, and the Finance Department, if assigned.
• Oversees and performs monthly and year end reconciliation of federal programs with Student Accounts Office, Colleague, Common Origination and Disbursement, and Finance Department, if assigned.
• Assesses and evaluates the Return to Title IV (RT24) calculations, ensuring correct completion in a timely manner and ensuring the conformance with College and federal regulations.
• Analyzes and processes Satisfactory Academic Progress appeals in a timely manner.
• Acts as the Director in her/his absence and performs all other administrative duties assigned by the Director.
• Maintains expertise in all areas of financial aid so that the department can plan and react positively to changing federal, state, and institutional policies that affect student financial assistance.
• Formulates, implements, reviews, and evaluates policies, procedures and standards to ensure departmental compliance with financial aid guidelines and objectives.
• Leads collaborative efforts with other administrative and academic offices, committees, and individuals in formulating up-to-date procedures and practices related to financial aid.
• Advises students and parents regarding financial aid programs.
• Performs verifications, professional judgment, needs analysis, eligibility confirmation, and financial aid awards in accordance with federal, state, and institutional policies.
• Ensures accurate and timely communications to students and potential students regarding financial aid awards.
• Analyzes various system generated reports such as grade and enrollment status reports to verify compliance and eligibility of students receiving aid under federal and institutional guidelines.
• Coordinates accurate and timely preparation and filing of required state, federal, institutional and other external reports.
• Advises and collaborates with the Director of Financial Aid and senior management to plan and implement short and long-term goals, policies, and objectives that enforces and ensures adherence to policies and procedures.
• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Master's degree required.
• Demonstrable experience in Excel and has proficiency in the Microsoft Suite.
• Experience in computer-based financial aid systems, Colleague is preferred.
• Five years of experience in financial aid operations preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Thorough knowledge of integrated financial aid systems is required.
• Knowledge of Colleague system is preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of federal, state, and College scholarship and financial aid regulations, policies, procedures, and practices.
• Experience in managing complex projects as well as familiarity with maintaining complex technical rules in support of business processes.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to take required initiative to solve problems.
• Ability to collaborate with others.
• Excellent customer service skills as well as excellent oral and written communication skills for a community diverse in language, ethnicity and race.
• Commitment to student service.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits.
• Twenty vacation days.
• Ten paid holidays.
• Ten-week summer work schedule which allows the college to close on Fridays.
• Gym privileges.
• Tuition remission for credit and non-credit courses at UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ.
• Tuition reimbursement for an approved degree program at an accredited college or university.