Assistant Director of Financial Aid

Maria College of Albany • Albany, NY

103d • $60,405 - $60,405

About The Position

Maria College is a Catholic college sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, providing career-relevant education in the context of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. The college is committed to outstanding student support services and financial sustainability, aiming to foster graduates who respect the dignity of every human person and transform their knowledge into compassionate service. The college is currently seeking an energetic and innovative Assistant Director of Financial Aid to assist students and families in understanding financial aid options and ensuring compliance with regulations. This position requires in-person attendance with occasional nights and weekends.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, communications, psychology or other related field is required.
• Three years of college financial aid experience is required.
• Ability to interpret and apply financial aid regulations.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• High degree of organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Advanced competency in Windows operating environment using MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Competency in COD, NSLDS, and HESC; experience with Jenzabar and Edconnect is preferred.
• Must not be in default on any Title IV loans.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in an educational setting is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Communicate with prospective and current students in person, through phone calls and via email promptly and professionally.
• Explain various forms of financial assistance available to students and provide counseling regarding payment options.
• Conduct financial needs analysis, perform verification, certify federal loan eligibility, review SAP status, and make judgment decisions regarding individual student eligibility.
• Counsel and assist students with scholarship opportunities and manage scholarship applications.
• Review and process Parent PLUS, Grad PLUS, and Alternative loans.
• Follow up with students to ensure all required documentation is on file and maintain accurate record-keeping.
• Process student aid through the College's financial aid software (Jenzabar) and other financial aid systems.
• Generate and process reports required for enrollment, awarding and reconciliation.
• Serve as an information resource for all incoming and transfer students, as well as staff.
• Inform students on loan repayment procedures.
• Assist with monthly loan and grant reconciliation.
• Assist with processing withdrawals - Generating withdrawal reports and updating student accounts accordingly while reporting to the National Student Clearinghouse.
• Ensure compliance with all regulations and develop and maintain policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with the Business Office on a daily basis regarding aid distribution, determinations concerning payments, etc.
• Remain up-to-date with financial aid regulations by attending webinars and other trainings.
• Assist in the preparation of files for audits.
• Achieve SCO status and award VA benefits to VA population and submit billing for VR&E.
• Work closely with the Advancement Office on Scholarship approvals and disbursements.

What This Job Offers

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