Assistant Director of Financial Aid

Transylvania University•Lexington, KY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Financial Aid plays an integral role in the administration and delivery of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs at Transylvania University. Working under the direction of the Director of Financial Aid, this position is responsible for managing assigned financial aid programs and processes while ensuring students receive accurate, timely, and compliant financial aid assistance. The Assistant Director works directly with students and families throughout the financial aid process and contributes to the successful execution of annual financial aid cycles for both new and returning students. This position has primary responsibility for the administration of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits, alternative/private loans, outside scholarships, state grant programs, and assigned federal loan processes. The Assistant Director also supports the overall operations of the Financial Aid Office through financial aid packaging, file and document management, federal loan processing, and coordination with other University offices. The position requires strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to evaluate how changes to a student's enrollment, housing, or other financial resources affect overall financial aid eligibility.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Experience in financial aid, student financial services, higher education, or a related field
Working knowledge of financial aid principles, regulations, and processes
Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accuracy while managing multiple responsibilities
Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritize work under established deadlines
Ability to interpret policies and apply them consistently to individual student circumstances
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Demonstrated commitment to providing excellent service to students and families
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive student and financial information with professionalism

Nice To Haves

Four or more years of experience in financial aid administration or a related higher education setting
Experience administering federal, state, institutional, or private financial aid programs
Experience with Veterans Affairs educational benefits
Experience with alternative/private education loan certification
Experience with state grant administration, reporting, or reconciliation
Experience using the U.S. Department of Education's COD system
Experience with financial aid systems such as PowerFAIDS, Ellucian, Technolutions Slate or similar student information systems
Experience at a small, private, tuition-driven institution

Responsibilities

Package financial aid for new and returning students in accordance with federal, state, institutional, and University policies
Review and update student housing status and make appropriate adjustments to financial aid eligibility and awards
Award outside scholarships and evaluate the impact of additional financial resources on existing federal, state, and institutional financial aid
Administer and award Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits for eligible students in accordance with applicable requirements and University procedures
Serve as a resource for students and families regarding the coordination of VA educational benefits with other forms of financial aid
Certify and process alternative/private loan applications and ensure loan amounts are within applicable student eligibility and cost of attendance limits
Utilize the U.S. Department of Education's Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) system to monitor and assist with federal student loan processing
Review federal loan records to help ensure students have completed applicable loan requirements prior to disbursement
Identify and assist in resolving outstanding federal loan requirements or discrepancies
Assist students with federal student loan exit counseling requirements and provide guidance regarding completion of required processes
Administer assigned state grant programs and ensure eligible students are awarded accurately and timely
Monitor student eligibility for state financial aid programs and make necessary award adjustments
Complete required reporting and reconciliation of state grant funds
Maintain accurate and organized physical and electronic financial aid files in accordance with institutional policies and applicable record-retention requirements
Protect the confidentiality and security of student financial information in accordance with FERPA and University policies
Support efforts to maintain consistent and efficient electronic document and file-management processes
Counsel students and families regarding financial aid eligibility, awards, loan requirements, and financial aid processes
Respond to student and family questions in a timely, accurate, and professional manner
Assist students in understanding financial aid requirements, outstanding documentation, and changes to their financial aid packages
Collaborate with the Director and other Financial Aid staff to ensure timely completion of annual processing cycles and office priorities
As a member of the Enrollment Management team, work collaboratively with other University offices, including Admissions, Student Accounts/Billing, Registrar, and other campus partners, to resolve student financial aid issues
Maintain current knowledge of federal, state, institutional, and University financial aid policies and procedures
Perform other duties related to the administration of financial aid as assigned