Assistant Director, Financial Aid Operations (FT), MFRE13542SFA

College of DuPage

88d • $66,487

About The Position

The Asst Director of Student Financial Assistance Operations is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Student Financial Assistance (SFA) office, with a focus on electronic data processing, system integrations, and compliance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies. The role includes managing the administration of electronic financial aid systems, maintaining compliance with regulatory guidelines, and ensuring smooth financial aid processing from application through disbursement. The Asst Director will also supervise a team of financial aid professionals and serve as the primary liaison to the IT department for systems support.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree in related field required.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in financial aid operations, including experience with electronic data exchange, federal aid programs, and financial aid management systems.
• Proven experience with Electronic Data Environment (EDE), ElmResources, and Department of Education programs.
• Strong knowledge of Ellucian Colleague or other student information systems is required.
• Experience managing teams, including hiring, training, and performance evaluation.
• Solid understanding of federal and state financial aid regulations, as well as institutional financial aid policies.
• Ability to interpret complex financial aid data and regulations and apply them effectively within the department.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality control.

Nice To Haves

• Additional course work in computer science area preferred.
• Relevant financial aid certifications preferred (e.g., CASFA, NASFAA)

Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily management of the electronic financial aid process, including the retrieval, posting, and reconciliation of data from various sources (e.g., ISIRs, COD, NSLDS).
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate Financial Aid staff members, including Financial Aid Representatives, ensuring staff meets performance expectations.
• Maintain and monitor the U.S. Department of Education’s (USDE) Electronic Data Exchange (EDE) process with federally approved entities (e.g., CPS, NSLDS, COD), including processing Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs), corrections, and reporting.
• Collaborate with the IT department to review and coordinate annual financial aid setup, including document tracking, rule maintenance, and communication codes.
• Ensure accurate data exchange between the financial aid office and external agencies (e.g., NSLDS, COD) and manage internal office reporting.
• Develop, update, and enforce office policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations.
• Coordinate reconciliation processes between the Financial Aid office and other institutional departments (e.g., Finance, Enrollment Services).
• Manage the Return of Title IV (R2T4) process and ensure accurate implementation of the procedures.
• Oversee the federal Direct Loan and Pell Grant closeout process with the Department of Education.
• Maintain and ensure proper configuration of the student information system to meet financial aid regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for IT-related support for the financial aid office.
• Monitor and ensure daily quality control of the Ellucian Colleague student information system and troubleshoot account control issues.
• Generate special reports as requested by the Director and conduct research to address unique reporting needs.
• Assist in the collection and compilation of data for annual financial aid reports and institutional audits.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Director of Student Financial Assistance.
• Ensure smooth communication between the financial aid office and internal departments to maintain efficient processing workflows.
• Review and recommend improvements to financial aid processes to increase efficiency and reduce processing errors.
• Provide support and training to staff and other departments on financial aid processes and systems.

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Tuition discounts for employees and dependents
• Medical, dental, vision effective the first day of employment
• Retirement benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree